How to Buy a Washer & Dryer

Shopping for a washer and dryer can be difficult. With so many new features and functions on the market, it can be hard to know exactly what you need. Finding a set that is energy-efficient, big enough to support the needs of your household, and in your price range is difficult enough, but modern appliances are available in so many finishes and colors that even that can be a tricky decision.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape Notepad

The Steps

1. Calculate how may pounds of laundry you do each week. It's OK, you don't need to weigh your laundry. Your current washer and dryer have an average capacity per load. Smaller-capacity top loaders, like a stackable unit with the washer below, can only hold six to eight pounds of laundry, whereas a larger top-loading washer can sometimes hold 18 pounds of laundry. The suggested weight-load capacity is likely on the product identification sticker on your washer. Simply multiply it by the number of loads you do per week.

2. Decide if you'd like a larger-capacity unit so that you have to do fewer loads (good for a big family) or if you need a smaller unit. Perhaps you want more room in your laundry area, or the kids have grown and moved away and you don't need a large unit anymore.

3. Measure the height, width and depth of the area where you plan to have the washer and dryer installed. It's important to make sure that your new appliances will fit nicely in place. Imagine, finally finding a set you love and bringing it home to discover that it doesn't fit.

4. Visit two to three local appliance stores, home improvement stores or even department stores that sell appliances. Bring a notepad and make a note of the machines you like. Some of the special features you may find on washers and dryers are wrinkle control, dry-cleaning settings, additional rinses, moisture percentage indicators, and combination units that wash and dry without moving the clothes to another machine. Energy efficiency statistics are commonly displayed in a prominent location.

5. Talk to the salespeople at each store you visit, asking advice and listening to promotional information, like special sales. Often, appliance companies will offer rebates when you buy both a washer and dryer from the same product line. Sometimes, you can get floor models on sale. Be sure to get the business card or name of each salesperson you speak with. Chances are they're working on a commission, so when you return, you'll want to make sure that your clerk gets credit for the sale.

6. Compare all of the pricing information for the models that are most likely to meet your needs. You may also want to factor in the store's ability to deliver the product or to provide installation. Don't forget the style value. If your heart is set on choosing a color, just think back to those avocado green sinks, tubs and toilets from the 1970s. People thought those colors were pretty, too. Neutral blacks, whites and stainless steel are more likely to age gracefully.

7. Return to the store with the names and model numbers of the appliances you've decided to purchase. Arrange for delivery and installation, making sure that the original fees you were quoted are still the same. Ask about additional incentives or discounts. It never hurts to ask. Schedule a delivery and installation time.

Tips & Warnings

• If the store provides installation, it's important to know if the installation is covered by warranty and if they'll help you dispose of your old set. Some stores will recycle the older units, others will donate them.
• Preserve all of your receipts and warranty information in a safe place. If they give you a thermal receipt, make a photocopy of it before you store it because the paper will degrade over time, and either turn completely black or completely white and you'll have no record of the sale.