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How to Buy Dryers

All dryers basically do the same thing; they expose some quantity of wet clothes to heated air for a period of time, while rotating the clothes in a drum. The systems that control the four elements of  capacity, heat, time, and rotation are the primary differences among models.

Features
Capacity: Drum size determines the amount of clothing that can be dried per load. Capacities generally vary between five and seven cubic feet. A large drum will save time for a large family with lots of laundry.

Number of Temperatures: Most dryers have at least three temperature settings: regular, low, and cool. The more sophisticated the dryer, the more choice you have in temperature setting. Top-of-the-line models may have infinitely variable temperature settings. This allows you to fine tune the temperature to the type of fabric being dried.

Number of Cycles: Automatic drying cycles leave the decisions about time and heat to the cycle settings as opposed to requiring you to set time and temperature. Basic dryers will have one auto dry cycle while top-of-the-line models will have as many as nine auto dry cycles, covering permanent press, knit, delicate, etc.

Interior Light: A seemingly minor feature, an interior light makes the search for small articles of clothing within the drum much easier, even in a well lit laundry room.

Moisture Sensor: Most dryers adjust the temperature by measuring the temperature of the air leaving the dryer and allowing a thermostat to turn the heat on or off accordingly. Some newer machines are using moisture sensor fingers or grids, which touch the clothes and make the temperature adjustment according to the sensed moisture levels. This system is generally more adept at controlling temperature, but can be fooled by clothing that is tightly bunched or trapped in the center of the drum.

Anti-wrinkle: Most dryers will allow the drum to continue spinning after the heat has turned off at the end of an auto dry cycle. This cool down period helps reduce wrinkling.

Mechanical or Electronic Control: Controls don't change how well a machine dries, but electronic controls offer many conveniences, such as stored, customized temperature/cycle settings and easy-to- read displays. They are generally available on top-of-the-line dryers.

Lint Filter Warning: This is a buzzer, bell, or whistle that tells you the lint filter is full.

End of Cycle Warning: This is a sound that tells you that the drying cycle is over. Some models allow you to turn this sound on or off.

Gas or Electric: This choice is probably predetermined by what exists in your home. Given the choice, however, gas dryers cost less to operate than electric.
 


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