Cant believe I'm asking questions here, but here goes! I grew up with Kenmore washer/dryers with the dryer lint filter the long pullout on the console top. I know my Mother complained about it being in the way of folding clothes! Anyway, when Lynn and I bought our first house we bought a new Kenmore washer/dryer and this dryer had the new lint filter in the bottom of the door. So my question is this: is one style better than the other? I think I've read that members like the top mounted filters better! Am I correct? Thanks Greg
Kenmore/Whirlpool lint filters
- Thread starter luxflairguy
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I was just thinking about this
All of my Kenmore dryers had the lint filter on the front, inside of the door. My latest (old) Kenmore and my LG are the same way- filter on the front. My parents had an old (mid 70s) Kenmore set for a long time, and the lint filter was on the top. I think the top lint filters allow for more airflow, since it goes down the length of the exhaust duct. Lint filters located on the front are more likely to be regularly cleaned, but the get lint over your clean clothes if you clean it without emptying the dryer between loads.
All of my Kenmore dryers had the lint filter on the front, inside of the door. My latest (old) Kenmore and my LG are the same way- filter on the front. My parents had an old (mid 70s) Kenmore set for a long time, and the lint filter was on the top. I think the top lint filters allow for more airflow, since it goes down the length of the exhaust duct. Lint filters located on the front are more likely to be regularly cleaned, but the get lint over your clean clothes if you clean it without emptying the dryer between loads.
repairguy
Well-known member
I think this question is one that is a preference on the filter design. I like both designs personally.
The filter at front inside the drum came about in 1996/97 with the 27" dryer design which matched the width of direct-drive washers. The drum is deeper with insufficient room behind the bulkhead for the top-filter housing and blower. The heater input flume is back there (the element is on the base under the drum) but it doesn't require as much room as the filter/blower. The drum is supported at the front with two rollers instead of a bearing ring riding on a felt cushion, in addition to the two rollers at back. Front-filter is, of course, the only design that's workable for a frontloader-match dryer when the machines are stacked.
repairguy
Well-known member
The front filter 27” dryer was introduced in the late eighties. I believe around 1988.
Ah. I was referencing the .pdf I have of L-63 which shows ©1997 and references model/serial example of E/G.
Thanks Glenn! I knew I could depend on you for the RIGHT answer!
Front mount lint filters are okay, but the Whirlpool 27” design is basically a copy of Maytag’s Stream Of Heat dryer which debuted in 1972 and went into full production in 1976 when it replaced the Halo Of Heat design. The downside about the Whirlpool 27” design (really any 27” front mount lint filter design) is they tend to struggle with smaller loads since they aren’t in the air stream as opposed to a Whirlpool 29” dryer with both the inlet and exhaust outlet on the bulkhead.
repairguy
Well-known member
Here is a 1987 Sears ad and the stock numbers show that these 27” front filter kenmore dryers are 1986 models.
www.automaticwasher.org
Kenmore Washer & Dryer Brochures '87 & '88
I dug these out of the files today and thought some of you might enjoy them. '87 dryer has top mounted lint filter. '88 dryer has front (door frame) mounted lint filter. Enjoy!
www.automaticwasher.org
Kenmore typically got the new stuff first.
repairguy
Well-known member
I’ve only seen one whirlpool branded front filter model in person other than the ones that matched the front load machines as you mentioned, Glenn.
I haven't used many dryers with the filter in the door but the very few times I have I didn't care for it. I find the slide out filter on top convenient. We bought our Kenmore dryer in 1987 and it's still chugging along with only one belt replacement about 18 years ago.
The Calypso-match model is a 27" front-filter, there's a specimen in my garage.
L-63 references Clean Touch model LEC9858EQ0.
Catalyst-match electronic model interestingly is a 29" top-filter, there's one at one of RJ's rental properties (with a VMW washer, the Catalyst washer is at my house).
Dryer lint filter
Personally, I prefer the front filters.
I had a Kenmore 29" dryer with the top mounted filter that kicked ass, though.
My grandparents had the exact same dryer, but it was front mounted and there was no clear difference in performance between them. The biggest difference I have noticed is with 27" and 29" machines. The 29" seem to run cooler and have far less wrinkles and tangling!
Personally, I prefer the front filters.
I had a Kenmore 29" dryer with the top mounted filter that kicked ass, though.
My grandparents had the exact same dryer, but it was front mounted and there was no clear difference in performance between them. The biggest difference I have noticed is with 27" and 29" machines. The 29" seem to run cooler and have far less wrinkles and tangling!
I prefer the 29" WP top-filter design to most others. I have both top and front-filter versions (and a couple of perforated back models) and when drying large and bulky items, the 29" dryer completes the cycle without balling and rolling items. I've been using a WP Mark XII 30k BTU and it makes me wonder if it's not one of the best dryers, ever.
