Dryers

tonyb

My older Kenmore just took a dump after 12 years, not fixing it again. Looking at dryers today, they all come with a one year warranty ? Whats up with that ? Speed Queen has a standard 3 year warranty parts and labor so the question is.....any of you guys own any speed queen dryers ? Yes, I know they are in every Laundromat for the last 50 years, but is their home stuff any good ?

One guy told me they are taking LG stuff off the floor, too many problems. Don't need bells and whistles either, just something that's dependable and dry's clothes.....go figure. They all dry clothes, it's the dependable part that's some what skeptical.

pitdogg2

tonyb wrote: »

My older Kenmore just took a dump after 12 years, not fixing it again. Looking at dryers today, they all come with a one year warranty ? Whats up with that ? Speed Queen has a standard 3 year warranty parts and labor so the question is.....any of you guys own any speed queen dryers ? Yes, I know they are in every Laundromat for the last 50 years, but is their home stuff any good ?

Tony my mom and dad ALWAYS bought Speed Queen and never had any problems....until that is they quit selling to the home market about 30yrs ago. My buddy bought a pair about an 1hr south of you about 5-8 yrs ago not one problem at all. VERY GOOD STUFF not much different from the commercial stuff built to last.

oldmodman

I have a 20 year old Kenmore that a friend gave me after his mother passed away. It was bought new and never used. just sat in the garage for years. When I got it I took it apart and replaced the rubber belt and a rusty pulley and bearing and it's worked like a champ ever since.

And my washer is also a Kenmore front loader. 12 years old and still works great.

Moose68Bash

Too bad you're not near me. My wife and I have perfectly good Asko dryer that we decommissioned a couple of years ago when we bought a new washer/dryer combo after the Asko washer quit on us.

Not much help, but I wish I could be more helpful.

We purchased a Miele set after the Askos because it heats the water to a temperature that sanitizes the clothes, which my wife believes is worth the money. The build quality is also good. The set should outlive any produced in the USA -- sadly -- at this point.

charley95

tonyb wrote: »

My older Kenmore just took a dump after 12 years, not fixing it again. Looking at dryers today, they all come with a one year warranty ? Whats up with that ? Speed Queen has a standard 3 year warranty parts and labor so the question is.....any of you guys own any speed queen dryers ? Yes, I know they are in every Laundromat for the last 50 years, but is their home stuff any good ?

One guy told me they are taking LG stuff off the floor, too many problems. Don't need bells and whistles either, just something that's dependable and dry's clothes.....go figure. They all dry clothes, it's the dependable part that's some what skeptical.

The reason you cannot buy a quality dryer anymore is because of "planned obsolescence". Older appliances are better made units. I have a local repair shop I use here in Peoria that gives me free advice. I have kept my old appliances going for years without spending much $$ on them. Good luck!

tonyb

Thanks guys, haven't seen too many Speed queens out there which is why I asked. Definitely a no thrills dryer but I don't need one with internet connectivity. They haven't changed the design much internally over the years and still use metal parts where others went to plastic. From what I can gather, well built machines that should last 20+ years....wish I could say the same for myself. Consumer reports absolutely hated their electric dryers, but I'm buying gas so I don't know if that is any difference.

Judging by talking to a few people in the field of appliance repairs, it's a toss up with other brands as they all seem to have limited dependability. I mention LG or Samsung and get a scowl. I usually go into these things with a grain of salt, but when you hear the same thing from various people you can't ignore the bad.

pitdogg2

found a bunch near me try you zip and see

http://www.speedqueen.com/home/en-us.aspx?

by the way I've got 20+ yrs out of my whirlpool set with small repairs over the years.
would love to have a front loader but my repair GOD tells me I'd be stupid to go that route as he makes his bread and butter off those expensive repairs. I had one given to me whirlpool (front load washer) the board went out cost of the board 375.00 went to the salvage yard. The washer was 3y.o. cost 1200.00 new now i know why he said what he did......

treitz3

Hello, Tony. This may sound like some strange advice but I would advise you to keep your current dryer if it has metal parts. We actually have a brand new set sitting in our dining room that we will sell at a garage sale. Their is just no way I'm going to install them and replace something that has had minimal maintenance for close to 30 years. The washer has never been serviced. The dryer has only had wearable parts replaced by me, along with a heating element and a couple of relays. My neighbors all have new washers and dryers and I am constantly repairing them. On every occasion, cheap parts had failed. FWIW....

Tom

EndersShadow

Tony, I agree with Tom here.

In talking to some sales guys they admit that the older dryers and washers are just plain better. They weren't meant to break and need expensive parts every 3 years like the stuff nowadays does.

Kinda like older cars, dont need to much maintenance and what they do need you can do yourself and doesnt cost you an arm and a leg.

Heck I had a 25+ year old set from a neighbor that I was sad to see go and was told multiple times that it was better than the new stuff for maintenance.

charley95

pitdogg2 wrote: »

found a bunch near me try you zip and see

http://www.speedqueen.com/home/en-us.aspx?

by the way I've got 20+ yrs out of my whirlpool set with small repairs over the years.
would love to have a front loader but my repair GOD tells me I'd be stupid to go that route as he makes his bread and butter off those expensive repairs. I had one given to me whirlpool (front load washer) the board went out cost of the board 375.00 went to the salvage yard. The washer was 3y.o. cost 1200.00 new now i know why he said what he did......

I totally agree. I'm going on about 15yrs. with my Whirlpool's. Repairs have been simple and inexpensive on my units. I wouldn't trade them for anything new. It's always good to know repair people in the business.

pearsall001

tonyb wrote: »

My older Kenmore just took a dump after 12 years, not fixing it again. Looking at dryers today, they all come with a one year warranty ? Whats up with that ? Speed Queen has a standard 3 year warranty parts and labor so the question is.....any of you guys own any speed queen dryers ? Yes, I know they are in every Laundromat for the last 50 years, but is their home stuff any good ?

One guy told me they are taking LG stuff off the floor, too many problems. Don't need bells and whistles either, just something that's dependable and dry's clothes.....go figure. They all dry clothes, it's the dependable part that's some what skeptical.

Tony, keep the dryer & have it repaired. I paid under $300.00 for my Kenmore about 10yrs ago. It just started acting up & I wondered if paying to fix a $300.00 dryer was worth it. But the cost of a new one is nuts especially when you see what lousy warranties they come with. That should tell you something. Anyway, the repair guys comes out & I give him the same story about balking about fixing a 10yr old dryer. His words to me were...buddy don't ever get rid of this dryer!!!! It's built like a tank & it should last you another 15-20 yrs or longer with maybe one or two repairs down the road. He said the parts that are used today are pure junk & nothing like the parts in my dryer. Hell he loves the new stuff...it keeps him in business. Total bill $191.50! He said I'll see you in another 10yrs, maybe!!!

treitz3

Hey, one other piece of advice. If you do decide to purchase new and are ordering a washer and dyer set online, be sure to check the capacity of both. Here's why. The new set I have sitting in the dining room states that it has an extra large capacity. The older Whirlpool set states that it is only a large set. However, when you take a peek inside the "extra large" washer? You would be lucky to stuff a single comforter in the dang thing. The "large" capacity washer I have had for all of these years? I can slip a comforter in and still have plenty of room for a blanket or two and some bed sheets....and I don't have to stuff them, just place them in.

That's a big difference when you want something bigger cleaned or just plain have a boatload of laundry to do after, say, a vacation.

Tom

zane77

If you can get a dryer repaired that is probably the way to go but the new high efficiancy washers kick butT. I get an employees discount on GE but they have worked great for me. I'm in Healthcare not Appliances so I'm trying to be neutral but these have worked very well for me.

Jimbo18

My Maytag dryer is about 15 years old. Had to replace the impeller (plastic fan basically) about 8 years ago. Other than that, it's running great. And after reading this thread, I will be keeping it as long as I have my father-in-law's experience to draw on.

hochpt21

Sorry to thread crap, but it's kind-of-related.

Anyone know a good way to isolate noise from a washer and dryer? I've heard rubber or cork under the feet, but anyone have more specifics.

Ours is on the main floor and I can hear if for sure during a listening session if one or both of them are running.

treitz3

Hello, hochpt21. You can try these http://www.vibrationsolution.com/onlinestore.html and make sure your load is even and free of unneeded debris but if it's on the main floor? I do not think there is anything you can do besides making sure they are level. Perhaps installing a fan from inside the laundry room for heat exhaust and sealing the doors as if it were an exterior door would help but you would [I would imagine] still be bothered by the noise emanating from both of them.

I will be honest.....the link I provided reminded me of coconut audio at first glance. All promises, all BS. Caveat emptor with that. If you have the main floor on a suspended substrate, you may want to look into bracing the sub floor or securing the beams a little better in that particular area, if at all possible. Other than that, move the location to out in the garage or other area that is not in such a commonly used area of the house.

Tom

hochpt21

Thanks for the link, Tom.

I feel like I'm in the Matrix...the red feet or the green.

I make sure they are never running during actual critical listening sessions, but sometimes I sit my **** down after dinner for some decent quality listening and realize the wife is running a load.

I would just like to quiet them down a bit for those occasions.

Those may work, but I also may research a cheaper option first.

tonyb

Well, picked up the speed queen today. Grabbed my neighbor, his Tahoe, and picked it up myself local. Heavy sucker compared to others too. Decent machine, basic cycles...blah blah. Steel drum and huge too, more than enough for a king size comforter. Thing is dead arse quiet too. Time will tell on these matters eh ?

BTW, the old machine had the electronic board go out, and a heating sensor. The sensor alone was 200 bucks to fix and the board, just a measly 375. Keeping it wasn't an option. There comes a point in any appliance/car/ even audio gear, where it's time to move on. May she RIP....:biggrin:

I should probably elaborate a bit, the reason for the rush was I have out of town guests staying with me that also need to do laundry before heading out. Can't wait 3 days, needed one pronto.

These things also happen one after the next. Last year it started with the washing machine, this year the furnace/AC and now the dryer. Might as well start looking for a Fridge, Stove, and dishwasher...hot water heater too. Then when that's done, doors, windows, maybe a roof by then, and a new deck. Lets also not forget carpeting.

Who said home ownership is great anyway ? By the time everything is all fixed up, I'll be dead and someone else can enjoy it all.....for 10 more years anyway.:biggrin:

Moose68Bash

Now, have you thought about mods for that new dryer? How about a little Dynamat here and there to reduce cabinet resonance?

:biggrin:

I hope the new Speed Queen gives you years of good service!

tonyb

Lol....yeah man, I thought about installing a glass door and putting spinners on the drum with some neon lights inside. Now why aren't these power cords detachable ?

treitz3

Oh but they are. Coconut Audio perhaps? I'll have my people forward Cheezy's contact information.

Congrat's on the purchase. Didn't know time was of the essence here.

Tom

Upstatemax

My dryer quit late last week. Ordered the new parts online last night and they should be delivered tomorrow.

$32 shipped for a pair of new gas valve solenoids and a new belt for my Maytag.

http://www.appliancepartspros.com

Give them a look.

tonyb

No need to give them a look pal, but thanks for the tip anyway. Already bought one, installed and done deal.....on to the next money draining, life sucking ordeal.

Msabot1

You don't have to work on Maytag products much...lesson learned from my folks!

ViperZ

Newer fancy stuff is definitely a hit and a miss nowadays We bought brand new mid-end Samsung washer and dryer 2.5 years ago. Dryer was faulty from day 1, would not turn off in either sensor or timer mode, or would randomly shut off. Samsung repair people came twice during warranty period - replaced that 'faulty' expensive timer board, which magically kept 'failing'. They blamed 'dirty' electricity in the basement and poor ground until I showed them a brand new dedicated 240V line for that damn dryer, brand new 200A panel with all new grounds.
So 6 months ago (2 year-old dryer), it stopped heating. Obviously, coil failure. Ordered new non-OEM coil, took old coil out - and voila, stupid coil was shorting to its metal base/ground the whole time in THREE places (finally burned out in one spot). Replaced the coil, and now this dryer is working like a charm.
Conclusion: good intentions on the design, poor quality control at manufacturing facility, dumb repair people.

tonyb

Amen brother ^^

I don't have the time or patience to diagnose this stuff as many other probably don't either. Owning a washer or dryer shouldn't require such effort in my book anyway. The more bells and whistles, the more electronics involved, the more costly to repair.

Same with cars, simple designs that are dependable and work well sell cars....ask Honda. If you ever owned an aging luxury car then you know what it costs to keep them maintained. Adjustable suspensions, hybrid designs......wait until you need that stuff repaired, astronomical to say the least.