Fisher Paykel DE62T27DW2 6.2 Cu. Ft. White Electric Dryer Review

Introduction

Front

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The {{product.name}} is a completely white dryer which - surprise, surprise - isn't stackable. Its lid is located on the top and opens like any standard top-loading washer. The lid is textured, meaning it is resistant to scratches and stains, but the front and sides have a smooth enamel coating like most other dryers. Controls are set at the back, and unlike the rest of the machine, the panel has a gray color that makes it stand out. The lint trap is located on the left wall of the interior drum, which is made from brightly polished stainless steel.

Controls

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Interior

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Unlike the screens found in virtually every other dryer on the market, the {{product.brand.name}} uses a clear plastic bucket. It sits in an indentation on the left side of the interior drum, and just pops in and out when you want to empty it. No scratching or rubbing to pick up or clump stubborn lint - instead, you can just tip it upside down over the trash and all the lint falls out.

Sides

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Back

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Speed & Performance Overview

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Nothing ran either longer or shorter than would be expected for the four standard cycles that we test. The positive thing to note here is that the {{product.brand.name}} was very consistent - each of the four basic cycles are tested twice, and with the exception of our makeshift Quick Dry, the results were remarkably consistent both in terms of duration and final dryness level.

Normal Cycle Performance

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The Regular cycle did just fine on the {{product.brand.name}}. Clothes got completely dry in just over an hour, which is essentially par for the course.

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Delicates Cycle Performance

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The Delicate cycle also got clothes back down to 100 percent of their bone dry weight, and did so in just 89 minutes. The 133 degree peak temperature is a bit warm for delicates, but not as hot as many other models that we've tested. This appliance did an excellent job here, but the top loading design didn't seem to make all that much of a difference. It's possible that the different drying direction allows for greater accuracy with the Auto Sensor, but we've gotten very similar results with standard front loading dryers, too.

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Bulky Cycle Performance

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The Bulky cycle didn't quite hit the nail on the head, as it only got our test comforter down to 86 percent of its bone dry weight. Now, it did this in just 59 minutes, which is impressive. Many dryers this size which run a Bulky cycle in an hour won't get materials this dry. That being said - it was still slightly damp when it finished, and would need to have another go before it was ready to be used.

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Quick Dry Cycle Performance

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The lack of a separate Timed Dry feature on the {{product.brand.name}} means we essentially had to create our own in order to run this test. We set the machine to its Regular cycle, turned the Auto Sensor off, and ran it for 20 minutes. During that time, it managed to get our test materials down to 65 percent of their bone dry weight. This puts it in about the middle of Quick Dry performance - clothes may not have been completely dry, but many dryers with preset Quick Dry options don't do as well as the {{product.brand.name}} did. It also maxed out at 109 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning damp clothes that you just to tumble for a bit won't be hit and damaged by sweltering heat.

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Dry Cycles

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The preset cycles cover all the expected bases, with a few extras thrown in. Standard cycles like Regular, Delicate, and Bulky, are supported by Sheets, Air Dry, and Easy Iron. Beyond those, the {{product.brand.name}} somewhat drops the ball. The preset cycles offer different temperature settings, and you can either run them normally using the Auto-Sensor to determine when clothes are done, or turn it off and have it run for 20, 40, or 80 minutes in lieu of a separate Timed Dry feature.

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Customization

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This is an area where the {{product.name}} is noticeably lacking. As mentioned above, the Timed Dry feature (note: not Timed Dry "_Cycle_") is only available for three durations: 20, 40, and 80 minutes. Beyond that, cycle duration can only be affected by stopping the dryer before it's finished. With the Auto Sensor off, you also have different options for the final dampness level, but that's all. Perhaps the most glaring issue is the inability to adjust temperature. You can only choose from the preset options, which have all been programed for certain temperature settings. In order to dry something at a specific temperature that isn't the norm for the usual preset cycle, you have to sift through all the options to find which one has been calibrated for the heat level you want - an annoying hassle, to say the least.

Additional Drying Options

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The {{product.brand.name}} has just one extra drying feature - a Wrinkle Free setting that tumbles clothes after the cycle has concluded. This is meant to keep wrinkles from forming if you're not around to immediately take clothes out of the machine when they're done. Some preset cycles turn this feature on automatically, while others do not. You may find it very valuable, as the dryer's signal noise is so quiet that unless you're in the room when it stops, you'll likely have no idea when the dryer is done with your clothes.

Controls

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One you get accustomed to the fact that Timed Dry isn't a separate cycle on this machine, you're exponentially closer to mastering the {{product.name}}. The fact that temperature control isn't an adjustable feature makes the layout a little frustrating, as any sort of customized drying involves hitting all the preset cycle buttons until you find the programmed temperature that you want. The buttons themselves are easy to read and the pictures are clear. If you're okay with using the preset settings, this machine is a whiz to use - just push the button for the setting you want, close the lid, hit Start, and walk away.

Door

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While many dryer doors feel quite heavy, the fact that this one opens up means it's made out of a lightweight plastic that is easy to lift. The interior lid that seals the dryer drum means this door doesn't have to lock in clothes like the doors on front loading dryers. This means it's not too heavy, still quite durable, and the textured surface is resistant to scratches and stains. There is a second internal door, as well, which seals into place to close the internal drum when the dryer is in use. This means that if you need to pause the dryer to get at something, you have to wait for the drum to reset and the internal door to open, which takes about 10 seconds.

Lint Trap

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Unlike the screens found in virtually every other dryer on the market, the {{product.brand.name}} uses a clear plastic bucket. It sits in an indentation on the left side of the interior drum, and just pops in and out when you want to empty it. No scratching or rubbing to pick up or clump stubborn lint - instead, you can just tip it upside down over the trash and all the lint falls out.

Conclusion

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When you get past the sense of confused interest created as a result of seeing your first top-loading dryer, you find that the {{product.name}} really isn't all that spectacular. It did better than average...but just barely. In fact, it's less than a regular dryer - controls are painfully limited, there's no separate Timed Dry feature, and you have no ability to adjust the temperature control. These basic features are almost considered standard on many regular dryers, but are painfully absent here. Drying performance is, alas, just average. Cycle durations aren't any longer or shorter than you would expect, and the Regular and Delicate cycles work perfectly. Bulky loads came out a bit damp, unfortunately, and our make-shift Quick Dry test resulted in clothes that were as damp as the loads that ran through most other dryers for a similarly short amount of time. Retailers sell this machine for anywhere from $795 to over $1000. If you can only find the higher prices, frankly, it's not worth it. Sales prices, however, make this a machine that is a decent buy, and adds some novelty to a somewhat mundane chore.