Should we fix our gas dryer or buy a new one?

[frannn]

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We have a Whirlpool dryer that came with the house when we bought it. Whirlpool says our model was manufactured in '93, and the expected life is 10-13 years. The dryer works, but the timer has stopped working. It does not turn off automatically at the end of a timed cycle, so you have to shut it off manually. All I want to know is if it is worth it to fix (by a serviceman) or should we just go buy a new one. Sears repair won't answer this question unless we pay 30. to talk on their do-it-yourself line. The cost of a new dryer doesn't scare me. I am put off by the fact that they want 130 to install a new gas dryer, though. We would buy either a Kenmore or Whirlpool for around 300.
What should we do? Is Sears on the expensive side?
Someone on the UK board suggested a mains timer (like you would set your Xmas lights on) but will this work with a gas dryer?

 

[monkeyboy]

If SEARS a service call, they usually will credit it towards the purchase of a new appliance. DO NOT use a timer

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would at least pay for a service call to find out the $$$$.
If I had to buy a new dryer I would buy the washer to match it...cha-ching... Unless of course you are ready to ditch it.

 

[Jiminy102]

We just bought a new gas dryer about a month and a half ago. We found the prices at Lowes to be cheaper than sears. They will deliver and install as wel and haul the old one away. We had it delivered and DH hooked it up. He is no machanic but it was very easy for him to do himself.

 

[gallaj0]

If you like the drier, just have it fixed. Call a local appliance shop, they are always glad for the work, and will do a better job cheaper than sears. A timer is usually a pretty easy fix (I've done opne myself, pertty quickly).

Not to sound like an enviroment kook, but even in this "disposable" economy, a major appliance is not a disposable item. I'd toss it only if parts were no longer available.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Seems like a fire hazard if it won't shut off properly. I'd probably replace it for that reason (what if somehow the repair is faulty?). My mother went away once, came home 3 days later and the dryer was still running (dumb to leave it on I know but that's another story). The clothes inside were in tatters, it was a miracle there was no fire.

 

[SC Minnie]

A couple of months ago the heating element or something went out on our electric dryer. We called a local service person and he repaired it for $85 total-- that included the service call.

 

[tar heel]

I had mine fixed last week -- heating element. Unfortunately, I paid quite a bit more than SC Minnie, but I didn't consider not getting it fixed. A new one would have cost at least twice as much and, as gallajO said, takes up a lot of landfill space.

frann -- The $300 dryers are not as big as many families need (mine, for example), so keep that in mind if you decide to get a new one. The names they give them make them sound bigger in the ads than they really are -- kind of like the smallest drink at a fast food restaurant being a "medium."

Needless to say I wouldn't have been getting the matching washer if my dryer had been too sick to fix. Only the family goes in my laundry room, and I don't care what the appliances look like as long as they work. It happens that my current washer and dryer match b/c the old ones broke about six months apart. Before that, I had a Whirlpool and a Maytag.

 

[Lizzydoll73]

I would shop around, $130 seems high for installation. We had a gas dryer and refrigerator delivered and installed by Best Buy and I could swear we only paid a $35 flat rate.
I have also had a bad experience with Sears repair service when we needed our oven fixed. They charged $65 to send a repair man who did not know what he was doing. He said we needed a new touchpad so he ordered that but it would take a week to get. He charged us $300 for parts and labor. After 3 days of not having an oven I told my DH to take it apart and look at it. The only thing wrong with it was a plug had come loose that connected the touchpad, something this guy should have seen. Anyway, we got a refund for the parts and labor and we will never call Sears service again.