If you’re a homeowner who’s been in the same house for quite some time, then you’ve probably already come across your fair share of appliance replacements and repairs. After all, most household appliances don’t tend to last forever, and with so many newer models on the market, it can be tempting to make upgrades in favor of an outdated, poorly functioning piece of equipment.
When it comes to clothes dryers, it can be difficult to know which replacement models are more worthwhile from a monetary perspective. The interesting thing about dryers is that for the most part, their energy-efficiency levels tend to be the same. In fact, despite the fact that the appliance industry on a whole has been rolling out so many energy-efficient options, the Energy Star program does not currently apply to dryers, as it has yet to find models that do a significantly better job than others at preserving energy and lowering utility costs.
If you’re in the market for a new clothes dryer, then you might find yourself tempted to spend extra money on a high-end model that claims to be super efficient. However, this might not actually be such a wise move. Nick Sidon is the owner of Nick’s Dryer Vent Cleaning, a family owned and operated business that has been serving the San Diego area since 2007, and according to him, there’s little sense in paying up for a dryer unless it happens to offer specific features that appeal to you, such as added cubic foot capacity or specialty cycle options.
While Sidon does understand that some might be inclined to pay in exchange for a name brand dryer, in his experience, the price of a dryer does not necessarily lend to its longevity and effectiveness. Therefore, he doesn’t see the point in spending extra money on a dryer when lower-cost options might do just as good a job. Additionally, Sidon insists that if you’re looking to invest in a new dryer that will perform well, then you’re going to need to do your part to properly maintain it. This includes cleaning out your lint trap regularly, loading your dryer with a moderate amount of clothing, and having your dryer vent cleaned out professionally every one to three years, depending on the extent to which you do laundry. However, paying extra for a name brand dryer is not going to help you one bit on the maintenance front, and an expensive dryer is just as likely to break as a cheaper one is in the event that you decide to abuse it.
As you search for your new dryer, another thing to keep in mind is that most manufacturers do offer warranties as part of dryer purchases. Therefore, if you’re concerned about the notion of buying a less expensive dryer and having it break down after a year, then you might want to inspect the included warranty to see what it covers. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that a low cost dryer’s warranty is similar to that of a high-end model.
When buying appliances, it’s natural to attempt to take comfort in the fact that the item you’re looking at costs more than the competition. However, when it comes to buying a new dryer, you can’t derive quality from a price tag alone. So as you browse through those appliance stores, ask questions about the various models and pay attention to their features and warranties, not their relative costs. With any luck, you’ll end up finding the dryer that will serve your home well without breaking the bank.
