Electric Dryer Help Please (purchase)

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Apr 21, 2006

Our electric dryer is making its last loud squeaking sounds & is on the verge of giving up soon. I'm looking for a good mid range priced replacement. We have 2 kids in sports, so it gets a lot of use (usually probably over loaded ). I was leaning toward a new maytag. I'm looking for something to last the next 10 years anyway & it will need large capacity. Comments or suggestions on your experience with maytag or any other brands would be apprieciated..........Thanks.............Tom

mikim · Apr 21, 2006

is it just the belt? you might be able to just replace the belt and have it be good as ever.

Egon · Apr 21, 2006

Dryers are pretty simple and usually easy to repair.

We have a whirlpool that works well.

Egon

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Apr 21, 2006

( is it just the belt? you might be able to just replace the belt and have it be good as ever. ) No, actually the dryer is only 3 years old. I bought it and the store guys loaded it into the back of my pick-up & laid it down. As I was driving home on the expressway, I went under an overpass & a gust of wind blew it up & over my tailgate & onto the hiway. (full size pickup, laying down.......why would I have tied it down ? where could it go ?) Yes it happened !! My new dryer suffered a little road rash, but with a little white duct tape & a short sledge hammer was good as new ! (lucky for me it's out of view in the basement !) So at this point it probably doesn't owe me anything. It's not the belt, the nylon blocks that guide the drum have worn through. Probably due to being misaligned for three years !

mikim · Apr 21, 2006

why would I have tied it down ? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif sorry ... but it coulda been worse ... my wife's friend had the same thing happen to her antique piano /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif it didn't fair so well ... nor did her husband!

texbaylea · Apr 21, 2006

We have always had GE washers and dryers. For us the service life has been in the range of 10-16 years even with a pair that got dunked in a flood. Our current pair is about 8 years old and not showing any signs of problems.

Who knows how good their current production is though.

I used to rely on Consumer's Reports to help select such things but when they started putting all their emphasis on energy efficiency rather than how well the item does its job they lost me. The latest rating of washing machines simply said "they all wash adequately". That is stupid.

Vernon

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Apr 21, 2006

I have a really long vent run (20') due to the layout of my house. They offer a "long vent" model. Would it be worth the extra (about $100) to get this feature ? Sometimes we have to run the dryer thru about 1 1/2 cycles to dry heavier loads (jeans etc.)

_RaT_ · Apr 21, 2006

I used to rely on Consumer's Reports to help select such things 

I agree 100%. With Consumers Guide, you really have to understand that they will make comments that may shed a negative light on one product, not make the comment on another similar product that does the exact same thing. For example, in their automobile tests, they list a con on one vehicle as "requires premium fuel" yet makes no mention that the other three or four vehicles they are comparing it to also have that requirement. Confusing at best, misleading otherwise. Take it along with other research with some salt.

EddieWalker · Apr 21, 2006

Don't know who's good or bad for these things anymore. But thought you might want to try using the old Home Depot Discount scam that I always use.

Go to the post office and get a change of address packet. Inside there will be a Home Depot ten percent discount card that you are supposed to fill out and mail to them, in return they will mail you the coupon for you next purchase.

You can take just the card to Lowes and they will give you the ten percent discount withoug having to mail it in and wait for Home Depots certificate.

I've done this a few times and it's always worked.

Also, awhile ago, another poster mentioned that he bought some dicount cupons on Ebay that saved him allot of money. I've never done this, but it might be worth looking into.

Eddie

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Apr 21, 2006

Since I'll be dryer shopping this weekend, I may cruise into the post office & see if the packets are available. I don't have time to wait too long. (things are piling up, & our forcast is for rain, so no "Solar" power drying will be an option.)