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Clothes Dryers Reviews
Updated November 2007
Consumer Reports' review of dryers is easily the most credible independent review source we were able to find. Editors have tested dozens of clothes dryers by tumbling three-, eight- and 12-pound loads of clothes, towels and bedding. Ratings are based on speed, energy efficiency, temperature consistency and noise. Good Housekeeping used to review dryers extensively, but now it only reports on one or two models here and there. A 16-model comparison from Dulley.com is outdated and available only for a fee. J.D. Power and Associates rates dryer brands based on a survey of over 12,000 homeowners, but it doesn't detail specific models. Which.co.uk and Choice.com.au, the British and Australian equivalents of Consumer Reports, are helpful, although they mainly evaluate dryer models that are not available in the United States. Brief reviews at About.com and Abby's Guide give some insight from a consumer's point of view, but neither site reviews very many dryers. We also checked owner reviews at Epinions and ThatHomeSite.com. Consumer Reports and other experts advise shopping for a dryer with a moisture sensor -- this eliminates the need for thermostats and timers. The dryer can tell when the clothes are dry and then shuts off automatically. This prevents over drying, contributes to energy savings and decreases wear and tear on clothing. Moisture sensors are virtually standard issue on dryers these days -- all models in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers offer them. FlexYourPower.org, a consumer website featuring information about energy efficiency, indicates that clothes dryers are one of the most expensive home appliances to operate, accounting for about six percent of a home's total electricity usage. Therefore, choosing a clothes dryer with the right design features and efficiency can make a difference. As in washers, several new dryers are incorporating new features and technology. The LG DLE8377 (*est. $1,050) matches the company's LG Tromm washer, which also receives high performance scores. The washer and dryer's progress can be monitored remotely, so the dryer can actually alert you when your clothes are dry, even if you are out of earshot of the end-of-cycle signal. The dryer has an antibacterial drying cycle designed to eliminate bacteria in sheets, towels and jeans. A no-tumble cycle can dry items on a rack using regular heat or steam. Its large drum capacity can fit comforters and quilts. In tests, the LG dryer is gentle with delicates and dries other loads efficiently, while being one of the quietest driers on the market. While reviews agree the LG dryer is excellent, dryers costing half as much perform about as well without the fancy design and network connectivity. We excluded
the LG DLE8377 and several additional, otherwise good dryers from ConsumerSearch
Fast Answers based on price. The fact is, drying
technology is fairly standard at this point. Reviewers feel that there is
no reason to spend more than about $600 or so for a typical dryer. Basic models
can be found for around $400. One possible reason to spend more is aesthetics.
Dryers look nicer when paired with their matching washing machines. However,
there are few performance reasons to spend so much on a dryer. If you skip
buying a matched set, choosing an inexpensive dryer is a good way to justify
spending more on a washing machine, where there's more of a difference between
models with respect to performance and reliability. See our companion report
on washing machines
.
... Continued
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
According to reviews, there isn't as much performance variation among dryers as exists among washing machines. Furthermore, dryers in general have a lower rate of repair. While you get the best performance and most flexibility from pricey dryers like the GE Profile Harmony, reviews say you can still purchase an excellent dryer for much less. For ConsumerSearch Fast Answers, we chose dryer models with good tested performance, along with a good repair record. Advertisement
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Clothes Dryers Reviews |
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© 2008 ConsumerSearch, Inc. A service from 
, a part of The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
