Need A New Dryer

[mrsalvo]

Hey Guys!
Hope all is doing well with everyone.
My 17 year old Whirlpool dryer is biting the dust. It’s making loud thumping noises and running rough.
This is especially noticeable if I attempt to dry a heavy load (like towels) so I cut load size in half to lessen the weight, then the thumping noise is not quite as rough and loud.

Looking around at new dryers, want to ask if there is any brand to definitely shy away from. My cousins told me to avoid Samsung. I’d like a basic no frills dryer with high, medium, low heat selection. I do take down and launder my plastic / vinyl shower curtain twice a month. Most of my clothes I hang to dry so it’s not used on every load.

I surprised with sticker shock.
What do you all think of Hotpoint? Also looked at Maytag. The lint screen is in the door. I’m going today to Home Depot and get a dryer vent utensil to clean out the vent.

Barry

 

[pierreandreply4]

maytag are good i have this dryer model pretty simple and very efficient in term of drying since drying high heat is like using medium heat https://www.maytag.ca/en_ca/washers...cu.-ft.ymed6200kw.html?originVariantsOrder=WH

 

[ea56]

I also have the Maytag dryer in photo #2, but the lint filter is on top like in the photo, not in the door. Did you maybe get the Hotpoint confused with the Maytag? I know the filter is in the door on the Hotpoint and most if not all GE dryers.

I’ve been using my Maytag dryer for 6 years without a single complaint. I also believe that the BOL Amana dryer is similar, but the capacity is 6.5 cf vs 7 cf for the Maytag.

Eddie

 

[appnut]

Just go with the Maytag.

 

[DADoES]

 
Your Whirlpool surely is fixable at reasonable cost.  Probably the drum rollers deteriorating.  Or the belt has a tear.  I replaced the drum rollers (and belt just because) on a 20yo Whirlpool couple months ago, parts cost $29.55.

 

[henene4]

The cheapest WP made dryer available

If it is 29" wide, get the cheapest readily available top lint filter dryer that fits that criteria.

Unless you like something about it more (like a door handle or such), paying more for the Maytag over the Amana or Hotpoint dosen't seem to be worth much.

It's still the same machine, motor, heater, sensing, timer, switches, metal, rollers and seels.
The top lint filter dryers should all be basically identical from a technical viewpoint if I am not mistaken.

 

[appnut]

The basic Amana only has high & low, no medium. That's why I suggested the Maytag. Or comparable Whirlpool with a medium heat.

 

[ea56]

I’ve never found the need for medium heat on my Maytag and seldom use low, I let ‘er rip on high and get ‘er done. The only feature on the Maytag that the Amana doesn’t have is a drum light, which I like, but for the price difference if I needed to replace my Maytag dryer I’d seriously consider the basic Whirlpool built Amana.

Eddie

 

[repairguy]

I’d stay away from the GE/Hotpoint and stick with a Whirlpool derivative if you don’t want to repair yours. Older Whirlpool dryers with the issues you have stated are usually reasonable to repair and these dryers are known for long life well over 20 years especially if yours has been lightly used.

 

[iiijohnnymaciii]

I bought a 1999 Whirlpool to get me buy until I buy my LG FL set next year. I have to say my clothes have never been softer. I believe they use the same tried and true design on the new ones.

 

[bendix5]

For 16 years we ran Maytag ( Samsung ) front load machines. Washer went bad and we bought LG thinking we would get dryer at later date to match., No such luck now days so we decided to go and buy a Whirlpool WED4815EW1 basic dryer with lint screen in the top. It has 3 temps, auto dry and mechanical timer. Great dryer. I had forgot over the years how great. Dries and shuts off without damp spots and is very quiet. On sale now at Lowes.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-7-cu-ft-Electric-Dryer-White-While-Supplies-Last/50354426

 

[combo52]

17-year-old Noisy whirlpool dryer

Like other suggested your most practical option is probably to fix the existing dryer.

If you are gonna buy a new one and your house is served by natural gas definitely switch to a gas dryer so that you can start to save back the expense of switching it will eventually pay for the new dryer.

Definitely skip Samsung LG, GE in Hotpoint and Frigidaire dryer’s they’re all more troublesome than whirlpool - Maytag .

Your existing whirlpool dryer if it’s been used for less than 10 loads a week could easily last another 20 years.

John L

 

[maytag85]

I’d take John’s advice and see what’s wrong with your dryer. Could be as something as simple as the rollers or idler pulley or something that’s worked it’s way loose causing noise. Plenty of videos on YouTube showing how to diagnose certain noises on Whirlpool 29” dryers and repairing Whirlpool 29” dryers in general.

 

[henene4]

Not quite sure how locally representative these prices are

But from the US appliance shop websites, the filtering tool on ajmadison appears to me to be the most versatile.
Only the WP 29" design is 29" (with very few obvious exceptions from LG and such I think in the über size category).

Then sort price low to high. While not the best price you can get for each individual model listed, the order from cheap to expensive could line up decently enough.

So you check Amana, only 2 heats.

The next one does have a 3 heat switch with the air only setting being seperate on the timer.
It has a hamper door, you might like that or exclude it.
That would be the WED4950HW.
Don't know many places to check, but bestbuy list it new in box at MSRP of 570$ though open box models are listed for as low as 430.

The first sideswing is the Maytag. Air dry on the 4 setting heat dial now. Pretty much all you asked for I think.
Model is the MEDC465HW.
That is 10$ more at bestbuy aswell.

Would suggest looking the models up on the manufacturer website and check if it checks your needs.

Then go to some stores or call to check prices and availability.
Maybe check some other online retailers aswell. From across the pond, many retailers deny access to their website when you aren't on continent.

 

[vacerator]

Replaced my

Maytag (Whirlpool) Bravos 7.4 cu. ft. dryer drum rollers, idler pulley, and belt 3 years ago after 12 years. It's running fine. The tricky part is getting the belt on. New ones don't stretch. I also had a heloer support the drum.
We had a GE before, and I guess I could have replaced the front plastic inner bulkhead with the teflon drum spacers, but didn't bother. My dad, a Sears service tech. never cared for GE dryers much.

 

[panasonicvac]

Out of all the dryers that I've used over the years, I think Speed Queen is by far the best ones that I've ever used. They could last you even far more than 20 years since SQ is known to be a reliable brand.

 

[roscoe62]

@combo52

I'm looking for a new dryer as well, but I like the steam refresh option, would you say that a steam dryer is also troublesome and skip? I ask because I was looking at whirlpool but I'm having so much trouble with the washer since July'21 I was going to avoid another whirlpool appliance all together. We usually do 4-5 loads per week

 

[maytag85]

Reply #16

Steam dryers are somewhat gimmicky, plus steam is created during he evaporation process when it is drying. Literally put a damp towel in and it will literally do the same thing as a steam dryer.

 

[jon]

Experience with both…

The GE and Top lint filter Maytag Whirlpool designs. The Ge has lesser quality pets that wear out faster. I had too replace the plastic glides on my GE then after that the motor went bad getting louder and louder u til it was unbearably loud and that was inside its own room so I sold it at a yard sale and told the lady it was loud but worked. In laws also had a GE and it got really squeaky as it would spin. It was really annoying.

My Mom sister and Brother and friends and even I have all had the top lint filter Whirlpool designed machines…either Kenmore or Whirlpool and the Maytags now are just rebadged of that design and it’s a proven reliable design from the 50s or 60s. Only My Mom had issues where she chose to replace the dryer instead of repair…igniter went on her first one and the repair guy wanted to replace the timer too and the second one of hers the motor went out and that was pricey to repair. My Sister and Inhad Kenmore versions, she had to get a new one when she changed houses because of no gas line at the new house so she got the Whirlpool per my suggestion. She got a third one used but the second one but the second one was still working but had a huge rusted section on the top. I think her daughter spilled bleach on it and left the puddle there and also dragging the laundry basket on the top wore down the paint finish. My Brother has had same issue but his was more little pin dot rust spots but he finally repainted the top. His is from the early 90s and still going.

Only complaint on most of these from the late 80s on up is the highest temperature is not very hot…more like a medium temp and the automatic cycle has to be set past the “towels or jeans or whatever the max most dry setting is in order for heaviest fabrics in a full load to dry completely before the sensor stops the cycle. But once you realize you can set the dial past the maximum mark these loads will indeed come out dry on one cycle. I think they changed the markings on the dial to be more “energy conscious” and avoid over drying situations but didnt actually change the timer itself so even more dry setting are available but unmarked!!

The most recent one my Mom has is in a seasonal hime and the basement is humid. There was a Kenmore smaller capacity there when we bought the house but it was kinda loud with a rotational sound. Mom replaced it with a new larger Whirlpool and that’s been fine but the tensioner was creating some loud noise a few years ago so my Brother got a new part and replaced it and discovered they have improved the part to have a wheel where there was otherwise just a rounded piece of metal the belt rode on.

I prefer swing to the side doors but they feel cheap to me on these models and the pull down hamper door is nice and feels quality but is annoying because I can’t put my basket right in front of the dryer on the floor and pull the clean dry clothes out of the dryer snd let them fall into the basket for taking away to be folded. Yeah I can pull them on the hamper door then side them into the basket but often things fall off the side of the hamper door onto the floor which is the concrete basement floor and not always perfectly clean for dripping freshly laundered clothes to be dropped on. There’s always the dead bug or spider web or something else down there no matter how much I try to keep the place cleaned. And since it’s seasonal we get a lot of buildup when we are gone.

Get a model with a drum light. Definitely a nice feature when loading or unloading.

I’d recommend getting of that nice clear plastic non stick cabinet liner that is wide enough and making a mat fir the top of the dryer if you plan on putting a plastic laundry basket or other items that could scratch the top. I’ve seen way too many of these dryers get to looking ugly because the tops got trashed from baskets being dragged on the top leading to worn paint and eventually rust if wet loads are put on top even for just 30 mins or so.

It’s a shame they don’t make the tops porcelain anymore. The porcelain ones are much more durable.

Whirlpool Maytag do make ones with front lint filters inside. Their more pricey models use this design. It is a mechanical copy of the only Newton Maytag design but with lesser quality materials. I’m not sure if the longevity of these models. When I was in college they replaced speed Queen dryers when they remodeled the laundry room with top lint filter Whirlpool coin op machines. They were 3 temp. Cottons high…permanent press medium…and delicates low. Not sure if they had set times for these different cycles or used a sensor but everything came out dry no matter which cycle I would use and the lower heat cycles lasted longer which makes sense. I don’t like to dry things on high because mis shaping occurs too easily so I use permanent press and medium for almost everything and get great results….yes takes a little longer and the cool down really works nice so things stay fluffy and not wrinkled. High heat causes natural cotton fibers to tighten up and shrink more. Corners of towels will curl up etc when high heat is used not so much on lower settings.

Jon