Speed Queen Dryers

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stljrs

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Joined
Dec 21, 2017
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5
Location
St. Louis
CR rates SQ dryers as not so good and some reviews suggest burnt clothes. What is the consensus on the SQ dryers that match their top loaders? Our old dryer is being replaced. We have a SQ washer from 2017 and now considering the SQ dryer. We bought a Maytag dryer but it slopes and it is very noisy so it's going back. We might just suck it up and pay for the SQ. Opinions?
 
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I do not see the attraction to a new SQ dryer unless a matching set is that important to you.
Used, sure, why not. At a steep discount to msrp they are fine...but still there are better dryers to be had from other manufacturers at the same price used.
Ours burned a pattern on a sheet. The rear of the machine gets very hot and the load wasn't removed directly after stopping...the sheet got branded. Also the auto-dry is a joke. No way to dial in damp dry in my experience. Either bone dry or wet, live with it.

[this post was last edited: 3/24/2018-23:17]
 
It’s not for the discerning type

It’s very crude, but effective. It will last a long time. That said, they are not great in the performance department at a “fine tuning” level. It’s either too hot, or not hot enough.

I had two in my house for several months and although I was sad that to see the washers go, I wasn’t sad to see the dryers leave.

My wife could not use the medium setting (let alone high), because it shrunk her clothes. The low setting was the only option, and resulted in very long dry times. I personally never burned anything but I had several customers that have. The bottom line is that the dryer is definitely not as impressive as the washer.

You have a tough choice, I’m particular about having a matching set, so I possibly would be inclined to deal with the dryer if I had a sq washer. If you don’t care about matching set, buy a $400 whirlpool product with the lint filter on the top.
 
Speed Queen Dryers

Are very rugged, simple and easy to repair, they can easily go 25,000 loads before being retired.

 

As others have mentioned they lack refinements in their auto dry cycles and ability to give really low and constant drying temperatures.

 

A new dryer today is a tough choice, like others here the 29" WP built dryers are the best performers, BUT they are very cheap and tinny now and have Chinese motors[ personally I will keep slightly vintage 29" WP built dryers for my home laundry.

 

You do have to keep SQ short comings in perspective however, a new SQD is a far better dryer than any dryer that GE-HP [ pre 1990 ], Maytag, Westinghouse or Frigidaire ever built in terms of durability and temperature control, so a SQD really is not that bad.

 

John L.
 
I just sold my SQ dryer.. I must agree with the other posts... it either fried the clothes or left them wet and the auto dry was a joke like mentioned previously. I now own the Maytag dryer that matches the commercial grade washer they recently introduced. Its actually quieter than the SQ and so far it has been consistent in its drying results. The only thing that drives me crazy is the end of the cycle buzzer which sounds the same as a very basic dryer I had 20 years ago. There are no options to stop this feature or I would permanently shut it off. GRRRR. I will get used to it though. I jumped about 10 feet when the first few loads completed.
 
strickly

I hate to mess with something new, but now that you mention it, I will probably open it up and see if its that simple, it probably is. I hope so. When I do it I will report back because I have read other reviews that state they love the dryer but hate the buzzer. I think some of them are even on Maytag's site, can't remember.

Thank you for your post, it is appreciated.
 
I have never had a Whirlpool/Kenmore dryer that I have liked. I want my clothes dryer to DRY the clothes especially towels and heavy loads. I have never had consistent or satisfying results with a WP/KM dryer. I hate the lint filter on top as well, all it does is make a huge mess with fine lint!

I have my SQ dryer over 9 years and never had an issue with performance and I am also into having a matched set.

I also liked my 1990's GE (filter-flo era) dryer as well.

A dryer should dry clothes, I have never had an issue with burned clothes in my SQ
 
Agreed with other posts about SQ dryers running way too hot.  We had an Amana pair (SQ clones) and the dryer ran so hot that the air being discharged out of the vent smelled like somebody was ironing the clothes.  The only setting it knew was "extra crispy."

 

I would never recommend a SQ dryer under any circumstances.  Find an older Whirlpool or Kenmore with the filter access on top and you'll be happy with it.
 
I've had 3 dryers--1978 big door GE with electronic sensor; 1986 LK; 1993 ? Maytag Dependable Care.  I got rid of the GE pair when the speed clutch went out and was going to cost more $$ than I was willing to spend.  The thing I didn't like about the dry3er was the two auto dry cycles, the two fabric buttons selected high heat only.  Low heat was timed dry only, I felt that was unacceptable.  The LK dryer was wonderful, but at 7 years of age, the motor seized up.  And with the extra large drum and drop down door, I almost fell in way too many times.  I needed a dryer with a side-swing door.  Hence the Maytag, the TOL electromechanical dial model.  The only downside is the 6.2 cu. ft. drum was a challenge for full loads from the Lady Shredmore.  And with my Duet, full loads sometimes have to be split up.  Whenever I have to get a new dryer, it will be a WP product, but it will have a side-swing door.  Wouldn't mind having something that will be "compatible" with my 2011 Duet washer, although won't be a control panel definite match. 
 
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">My brand new Speed Queen dryer is superior to the others I've owned...Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, Norge (all gas) and a portable Hitachi. As a kid I dried a few things in my mom's old Apex gas dryer but it was too long ago to remember how well it worked. I do recall the glass window in the door got very hot. Prep time to operate it...lighting pilot with automotive spark plug, ignition and then setting timer and looking through burner viewing window to make sure everything was kosher, was time consuming but fun.</span>
 
I've never singed anything in my SQ dryer. There are only two temp options - delicate, regular/perm press, air fluff/no heat. I don't use the auto dry function; it takes too long. Most of my clothes are dried on the delicate setting and it takes about an hour for a full load. Towels I dry on regular heat. They take about 80 to a hundred minutes depending on how many bath sheets (extra large/thick bath towels) are included.

Here in Oz we don't have much choice with full-size dryers that match a full-size top loader. However, I can't complain as my dryer is a far superior choice to the regular fare that is available. Most Aussie laundries don't have a dedicated space for a full-size dryer, especially one that vents to the outside and requires a 20 AMP power outlet. Mostly Australian dryers are compact, hung above the washing machine, they vent into the room, take between half to two thirds of a regular wash load and require two to three times longer to dry what I can dry in an hour or less.

So, yes, I am very happy with my SQ dryer.
 
Tony singed a sofa cover in my GE once!  I always used LOW heat all the time every time.  He, being the laundry EXPERT that he is (sarcasm intended) would switch it to HI heat...and it scorched!  Our current Frigidaire is not near as hot...I use the towels setting for nearly everything. 

I used a SQ electric coin op dryer in Florida 2 years ago.  It was new.  That thing was so hot.
 
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