ugh, think my dryer is broken. any recs for a new one?

[mtemm]

why why why why why now????????????

why not january after dh gets his bonus (knock wood!)????

why not march when we (hopefully) get our tax return????

whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?????

okay, whining over, it looks like I am in the market for a new dryer. with 3 young kids and dh and I, I can't go for long without one. I suppose I should be happy that MA is having tax free weekend this weekend, that might help.

so any recommendations? I need a gas dryer that is good and will last but won't break the bank if possible!

okay, eta in the op in case people miss this, but I am calmer now and am wondering if maybe it can be fixed. its a different problem from last year. the problem seems to be the dryer not heating at all. will call the appliance repair guy in the morning. so maybe not so bleak!

 

[golfgal]

Chances are it is a minimal fix. Our's went out a couple years ago and through the help of Cathryn Rose's DH, we fixed it ourselves for about $30.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I was going to same the same ting golfgal did. It can probably be repaired easily and cheaply. In the meantime buy a folding rack or two and air dry. Seriously we have two folding racks and I use them outside in good weather and in the basement otherwise. I only have 2 kids but otherwise we are about the same--I run my dryer about 30 times a year. Guests literally run it more than I do I am not suggesting you switch all the time--but it will get you buy for long enough to see if yours can be repaired or to full research what you want to buy.

 

[mtemm]

sadly I had it fixed last summer and the guy told me then that I would most likely need a new dryer in the not-too-distant future. guess I should have listened and started researching then!

eta, just updated my op but realized it is not the same problem, so maybe it can still be fixed! will call the appliance repair guy in the morning and keep my fingers crossed that maybe its an easy enough fix. essentially the dryer is just not heating.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

The bright side, you can go a few days without a dryer in this weather because you can hang things. It's when you can't wash that sucks!

I really hope you can get it fixed cheap and don't have to buy a new one.

 

[torinsmom]

Google the problem like "Kenmore gas dryer will not heat" and you will get links for websites that can help you troubleshoot and give you step by step directions to fix most problems. Dryers are pretty easy; washers are not even worth getting into. I had to replace my heating element last year in my dryer and it was little time consuming, but I save around $125 over getting a repairman to fix it.

Marsha

 

[mtemm]

okay, am feeling much more hopeful here! even youtube has step by step instructions on fixing heating problems, so looks like it just might be fixable after all!!! fingers crossed till I make the call tomorrow.

I am not comfortable fooling around with my dryer because it is a gas one. I just won't do it. but the appliance repair guy we have is very nice and reasonable (at least for what we have used him for so far!), so hopefully its both fixable and not too expensive.

I think I just panicked when I realized it wasn't working earlier. we are trying to dig out of some financial troubles from this recession and we keep getting hit with things. praying nothing more goes and we can keep on digging!