Older electric dryers are just one of the many household products in your home that may be serious energy hogs. As they age, dryers lose sufficient fresh air intake as well as heat and moisture discharge capabilities due to a number of factors, such as worn or broken blower wheels, worn or dry-rotted drum seals, stretched belts, or slow motor rotation and aging thermostats. And, of course, keep in mind that all dryers accumulate lint within their components throughout their lifetime.
If you’re finding your current dryer either gobbles electricity or needs multiple runs to properly dry your laundry, then wait no longer … it's time to replace it. New dryers have more efficient motors and blowers, fresh drum seals and better thermostats and moisture sensors, allowing them to finish the job quicker, which means less run time and thus lower operating costs.
When you begin your dryer research, consider the brands GE and Frigidaire. Both GE and Frigidaire have been in the laundry business for as long as we can remember for good reason: quality products! We've put together these electric clothes dryer reviews of two of their top budget-priced models to help you make an informed decision.
The GE GTX33EASKWW - $599
General Electric's model GTX33EASKWW, priced at $599, is a traditional style 6.2 cubic foot capacity electric dryer with simple backguard controls. It can be vented up to 120 feet and has an aluminized alloy drum that is corrosion-resistant. The flat back design makes it a good option for installations in small areas like closets or utility rooms, and the door is reversible.
It uses a basic temperature sensing system for the Auto Dry option rather than a more accurate moisture sensing system, but it's still an improvement over manual timed drying! The Auto Dry options include settings for Cottons or Casuals with several drying levels to choose from as well as three temperature settings. You can set Time Dry up to 80 minutes. The two rotary electromechanical controls are ultra-simple and easy to use!
The lint filter is up front for easy cleaning. This model comes in a pretty typical 27-inch width, but has a noticeably shallower-than-average depth at 26.75 inches. That makes it an effective choice for small laundry areas. It's front serviceable so you won't have to drag it out of its installation location if you or a repair professional need to perform maintenance - an added bonus for small laundry rooms or closet laundry installations!
Dimensions:
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Width: 27"
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Depth: 26.75"
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Height: 44"
Click here to read over 50 real customer reviews of this product!
The Frigidaire FFRE4120SW - $599
The next option in our electric clothes dryer reviews comes from Frigidaire. Frigidaire currently offers a limited selection of laundry appliances in their Frigidaire Value line. If you're looking for a cheap electric dryer, you can't beat the Frigidaire FFRE4120SW at $599. Rather than a front load look, this model has a traditional top load style with backguard controls plus a roomy 6.7 cubic foot capacity drum.
This model offers 10 dry cycles, including Active Wear, Towels, and Sanitize to handle all of your drying needs. Options include an anti-wrinkle feature to reduce ironing if you can't move a load out of the dryer right away and a delay start option. There are also 5 dryness levels and 4 temperature selections. The combination of digital touch controls and a turn-dial plus a time remaining readout make this model a step up from dryers that only offer dial controls.
Other handy features include the reversible door and durable stainless steel drum. The lint screen is up front in easy reach, and the DrySense technology with moisture sensor means you don't have to guess how long to dry your clothes. Overall, this model offers a more extensive array of options while maintaining a low price!
Dimensions:
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Width: 27"
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Depth: 30"
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Height: 42.875"
Click here to read over 55 real customer reviews of this product!
Features Comparison
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Programs & Options: Frigidaire wins in this category for the overall variety of programs it offers. The time remaining display is a helpful feature. If you prefer a more limited set of options, you may prefer the GE model.
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Energy Efficiency: Neither product is Energy Star rated, but the Frigidaire model uses a moisture sensor for its automatic drying cycles while the GE model uses a temperature sensor. Moisture sensors are more accurate, so if you want to avoid over- or under-drying clothes, the Frigidaire model is a better option.
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Look & Feel: Both models offer pretty basic styling, but the Frigidaire has a more extensive and detailed control panel. Both models have reversible doors and up-front lint filters.
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Installation Options: The GE model is slightly smaller at 6.2 cubic feet, but has a shallower depth (26.75" compared to the Frigidaire model's 30") so it may be a better choice for closets and other space-limited installations. The GE model also requires lower rear clearance for installation (1" vs 6" minimum rear clearance).
GE and Frigidaire are known for making quality laundry products, so you can't go wrong. Pick the model that most closely matches your needs in terms of features. If you prefer simple controls and need a dryer that will fit into a small space, the GE model may be for you! On the other hand, the Frigidaire model offers improved features like moisture sensor drying and more programs and options at the same price point.
We hope you enjoyed our electric clothes dryer reviews on these two great models. Please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!
Editor's Note: This blog was originally published in April of 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy as of the publication date noted above.
