How to Choose the Best Washer and Dryer Set?
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Top Best Washer and Dryer Set Based on Reviews and Price
Why You Need Washer and Dryer Set?
If you’ve ever had to wash an army of dirty clothes with your bare hands, you will know how frustrating laundry can be. Luckily, a savior comes in the form of your washer and dryer and making the right call will remove every traces of dirt and odor from your dirty fabric. You will have more time to do other chores while your washer and dryer attend to your laundry for you.
But making the wrong choice could cause havoc for you – you switch on the washer one morning but won’t work, you try to do your laundry at once but found out the wash load is too small.
When buying a dryer set, you might be overwhelmed by the range of choices out there – loaders, front loaders, all-in-one washer or stackable. Every style comes with its own pros and cons making it even more important for homeowners to dig deep before making any choice.
10 Factors to Consider When Buying Washer and Dryer Set
While your budget will always decide the kind of washer you want, it’s always better to have enough rather than going for a low-budget option that doesn’t align with your needs.
With so many options out there, this guide ensures you only pick the right one by outlining 10 distinct factors every homeowner should consider when buying a washer and dryer set.
1. Power Source
Unlike what most people think, not all washer and dryer are powered by electricity. To dry moisture from your clothes you will need a dryer that comes with a heater powered by either electricity or gas. Before going for any, you will want to analyze the set up of your laundry room. Is there an existing gas line you can connect to? If there isn’t and you favor a gas dryer, you will need to install a gas line to do so.
However, a gas dryer will increase expenses in the long run, especially considering the fact that you will have to pay for refilling. Still, this dryer is more efficient in drying clothes and costs less to maintain.
Electric dryers will naturally fit into your space provided you have a power outlet to plug it in. Electric dryers cost less than gas dryers, but they will increase your utility bill in the long run.
Even if you get a dryer that’s power-efficient, electric dryer takes longer drying time which naturally increases power usage.
2. Wash Load
Ensure you access your wash load before going for any dryer. You will want one that can handle the size of your wash load without having to clean in two wash. The formula used in finding a suitable dryer is to access your choice of clothing as well as frequent usage. Do you have kids at home? Or live alone? These factors will determine your wash load.
Secondly, your washing habits will also be the deciding factor. For instance, if you wash daily, your wash load will be less, making it easier to manage your washer space. However, if you like to pile dirty laundry until the weekends, you will require a machine with a bigger wash load.
3. Agitators
Every washer and dryer set comes with an agitator to clean clothes and get rid of the odor. Taking a closer look at every washer and dryer you will find a set of an agitator. For front load washers, you will find big drums with tiny fins sticking out of every side. These paddles, combined with the turning effect of your drum, create an agitation that’s suitable for all fabric types.
However, the gentler the agitation, the longer the cycling times. Top load washers, on the other hand, have tall agitators that are harsh on fabrics, thereby reducing the longevity of fabrics. One thing you will like about this washer type is that they require shorter cycling time, but the size of the agitator hinders its ability to wash large items.
4. Cycles
Most washers come with basic cycles for handling day-to-day fabric. But some go overboard to provide special cycles that care for the needs of oversized fabric like a duvet, blanket or window covers. While most washers come with a basic cycle, top load and front-loading washers come with sanitizing cycle that uses heat to kill off germs and bacteria.
5. Drum Material
Since your clothes are about to get washed by a machine, you will want to ensure the interior of the machine is safe enough for your fabric. The interior should be designed in a way it won’t cause any snag to your fabric and should be a durable choice for you and your household.
Drums made from stainless steel are said to be the smoothest and less prone to snags. Porcelain-enamel is the choice of most manufacturers and costs less. However, it’s less durable as the porcelain wears out over time, leaving just the steel behind. Hence, causing it to rust which results to stain or snags.
Washers made from porcelain-enamel aren’t durable enough to last for several years and may not fit into washers with a high spinning cycle.
6. Washer Style
There are several styles available in the market, but we’ve narrowed our choice down to the most popular ones. Front and top load washers are the most popular option, but each style comes with its pros and cons. Both washer type comes with more space and guarantees comfort.
However, with a front-loading washer, you may have to bend down to reach your fabric the majority of the time. They use a tumble style combined with the agitator to create a cleaning effect that requires less water.
Top-load washers, on the other hand, comes with a large agitator that reduces its wash load. Top load washers are more convenient and are built in a way you can quickly access items without bending down.
The size of both washer style is usually 27 to 28 inches in width while their depth could go up to 30-35 inches. If you go for any of these washer types, you will have to leave a minimum of 6 inches of space between the machine and the wall.
7. Energy Efficiency
As much as possible, you will want to go for a dryer that minimizes electricity usage to reduce utility bills. Modern dryers are designed to utilize minimum electricity by using moisture sensors to dry the material. In the past, thermostats were utilized in the drying process, but the presence of the moisture sensor allows the machine to detect the amount of moisture the fabric contains and adjust the dryer to the information received.
However, the moisture sensor must be in contact with the fabric to detect the drying time. Hence, drying smaller fabrics might not be ideal for this sensor type.
8. Measuring Your Space
If you’ve zeroed your mind on the washer to buy, you will want to access your space to see if it will fit in. First, you will want to measure the dimension of the machine and compare it with the space you want the machine to live in. Secondly, the washer and dryer set should be positioned close to a water line. Hence, if you go for one powered with electricity, nearness to a power socket should be taken into consideration.
For more convenience, leave between 3-6 inches behind the washer and 1-3 inches between each side. Also, remember to check the entrance the machine will pass through when bringing it to the house. Be sure to avoid entrance with sharp edges as they’ll likely dent the machine.
9. Water Level
Not all machines come with this feature, but if you’re lucky to find one at a good price, don’t hesitate to go for it provided it possess other features that align with your needs. This feature helps you save water bills by telling you the water level of the machine so you can make adjustments. If your machine comes with this sensor, ensure you wipe it off constantly.
10. Other Features to Consider
Moisture sensor not only helps you detect the water content of the fabric but tells you the amount of water required to fill the tank. For instance, if your cloth is supposed to dry up within 30 minutes, but the sensor finds out that it will take just 20 minutes, the sensor will stop the cycle once this time elapses. Doing this not only reduces your utility bill but preserve your fabric.
Some dryers come with wrinkle release settings, but this is no alternative to a pressing iron. It only reduces wrinkles on clothes making it more presentable.
Wrapping It Up
Washer and dryer sets have earned a reputation for getting easily damaged. While there’s an iota of truth in this, you should know that the durability of a machine depends on how well it’s utilized as well as the material it’s built with.
For this reason, read reviews about every product you intend to buy as there are hidden deficiencies only previous users can reveal. Secondly, your purchase should be backed by a minimum of 3 years warranty.
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