Washer Dryer Question

Guess I'm not sure why you'd replace a perfectly good, working major appliance?

I think the whole "set" thing is really a marketing tool. When our washer died several years ago, we bought a new washer but kept our old dryer. Six years later, the "new" washer is working well -- but so is the old dryer! I can't help but think I'd rather have the money for the dryer in my pocket than have a matching set.

Good luck --

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It would depend on sales/ rebates/ how much I loved my own washer. I rather despise my washer... so if my dryer broke... I would rather get a set.

CHECK WITH YOUR UTILITY COMPANY.

Ours does a rather hefty rebate ($150 last I looked) for buying energyStar machines. With the sales that happen a couple times a year, that would be essentially buy 1 get 1 free.

It really depends on when the sales are happening, though!

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That may be a question for the salesman, however, washing machines now have higher efficiency and in some areas you don't pay sales tax-and the company that delivers the new appliances may even take the old ones away for free. You just have to start shopping.

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I would just buy the dryer and try to get the same size as the washer.

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I would say it depends on your finances and what kind of a deal you can get on a set. But DO NOT buy LG brand. I just posted about them on someone elses question. They are very expensive, very few techs are trained to repair them and the parts have to be shipped from China or Japan or something crazy. Good luck!!!

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Depends, I had a matching set, washer went out, dryer was fine. Set was only 6 or so years old to begin with. I LOVE my dryer, it has a hanging cabinet and is just awesome. So I just bought a new washer.

Check and see how water and energy efficient your washer is. Front or top loader? and then see what you want and need. There really is no reason to replace both if you are happy with your washer. The only real benefit to a set is that you will have a matching set.

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When my Frigidaire washer broke two years ago, I just replaced the washer, not my Maytag dryer even though I bought them both at the same time. I actually believe my dryer was a better quality brand than the washer because it's held up very well even though Whirlpool makes both Maytag and Frigidaire, go figure. I've had very good luck with Whirlpool/Maytag appliances and not Frigidaire. It really depends on how well your washer is working. If it runs funny, is loud, or the inside looks pretty wore out, I would replace it just because it may be on its last leg. It's usually more economical to buy a set than it is to buy each piece individually.

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Most rebates and discounts are on a set. Other than that there isn't a benefit to buying them in sets unless you just like them to match.

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We replaced our set about 9 months ago. Washer was fine but dryer was dying. My mom & MIL both said you buy them in pairs, so we did. A new washer will be more efficient than your 14 year old one for sure.

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I would buy them both. I got a top load LG HE washer and it is so much larger than the old one that if I had kept the dryer the loads from the washer wouldn't have fit in it. So it depends. If you don't plan to get a HE washer, you can probably just get the dryer. But I wouldn't buy 1 new big HE and not the pair. (alot of my friends are getting rid of their front load washers because of the odor of the water that sits in them - they are switching to the top loads)

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I just replaced my dryer when it went. That was 5 years ago and the washing machine is still doing fine. My motto is the more gadgets on an appliance the more things that can go wrong so I am hopeful when the time comes to replace the washer there will still be simple washers out there.

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Our dryer quit on us a few years ago, and we opted for a new set. When I went out to price dryers, I came across a great deal on a set and since our washer was 10yrs + we decided to splurge.

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Do some research. Sometimes you can manage to talk yourself (or find) a pretty good deal on a "set" vs. just one machine. Generally speaking, if one works fine, then I wouldn't replace it. However, in your case, you are talking about a washing machine that is 14 years old. Pretty much anything you buy "should" be more efficient. Certainly if you get a front loader it will use much less water. But there are other considerations... most machines today are also jam packed with electronics that were absent on older machines. So no worries about a lightning storm frying the control panel on your washing machine. Today---most of them have electronic rather than mechanical controls. So it is something to consider. I was warned to unplug my machine in lightning storms (ever seen a 4 prong surge protector ? me either, lol). Well, we get lots of those where we live, and I have never unplugged it. Never had a problem with it. But for the first 2 years I 'worried' about it every time we had a storm (every afternoon in the summer practically). I mean... what if you aren't even home, ya know?
So if that sort of thing would bother you, (worrying over a potentially fried electrical panel and expensive non-warranty repair), and you can't find or negotiate a super deal on a "set", then I probably would just wait it out and continue to use the washer you have.

If it were the reverse, and your washer died and you were looking at dryer replacement as the "optional" piece, then I would go for it for sure, because the technology (moisture sensors and the like) is far advanced over 14 years ago and they are more energy efficient. Well, as energy efficient as a clothes dryer can be--which isn't that efficient, lol.
Shop Sears and price compare brands. Some stores also price match with a % less to "beat" the competitor---so shop around and always ask if it is their best deal.

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