Michael Gentile, a Granada Hills real estate agent, shares his knowledge in buying appliances, particularly clothes dryer.
A clothes dryer price ranges from $280 to $1,200. Its life span averages from 12 to 18 years. Installation, delivery, gas line hookup, and haul away are mostly responsible for additional costs.
Electric or Gas Dryer? Gas dryers cut as much as 50% on operating cost, depending on the price of natural gas in your location. Gas dryers are more expensive than electric models by around $80. A gas dryer and electric dryer needs 110-volt and 22-volt outlet, respectively.
Many people prefer a dryer design that matches their washer. It will cost $650 to buy a dryer that blends well with a modern energy-saving washer. The price of a non-white dryer starts at $600.
Image via WikipediaDryer’s Settings, Size and Capacity. You have to cough up at least $350 to buy a dryer that has additional settings for temperature and time. Some of the settings of pricier dryers are rarely used.
A regular-sized dryer is 27 to 29 inches wide. You can buy a slimmer model if you don’t have ample room. The drum capacity of a most dryers ranges from 5.5 to 7 cubic feet. Granada Hills REALTOR Sue and experts agree that an upscale dryer with 8 cubic feet is only a waste of space. Search for a dryer that can load clothes two times more than your washer.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Dryer Rack and Moisture Sensor. The purpose of a dryer rack is to protect sneakers, hats and delicate items from getting knocked out by other clothes. The cheapest model of dryers starts at a price of $450. A dryer with moisture sensor saves 15% on energy cost.
Dryer Steam Technology. A steam feature eliminates odors and wrinkles on clothes. The cost of a dryer with steam technology starts at $900. Steam-equipped dryers either get its water from a reservoir filled by the owner or through a water hookup. You can opt for a regular dryer and just put a damp washcloth along with a wrinkled load.
Noise Dampening Feature. If you plan to place your dryer near bedrooms or living areas, buy a quiet dryer. You will shell out at least $600 for a dryer that has a sound-muffling material on its top and sides.
Stainless Steel Drums are not prone to scratches, rust, and nicks unlike their ceramic-coated steel counterpart. Buying one will cost you around $500.
Image via WikipediaCaring for Your Dryer. Clean and examine exhaust lines and vent hoses every year. Clean lint trays before loading the dryer. Replacement for busted digital control sections can cost as much as $250. Replacing a burned-out electric heating costs $125, exclusive of labor.
