I was watching a video about three types of clothes dryers. Although the presenter is overseas, he makes some good points about how technology can cost us more.
The old tumble dryer has few parts and can be repaired cheaply and oftentimes by the owner. Certainly I have repaired old style washers and dryers many times myself. I also have ventured into repairs of newer ‘efficient’ units too, however not as many. They have all sorts of interlocks on the doors, electronic boards and complexity.
So why do we have all these new ‘efficient’ machines? Partly because manufactorers want to add options as a way to differentiate themselves from the competition. In reality, like TV’s, there are really only a few actual manufacturers and other companys make a minor change and stick their name on it.
Other than options, I think the real issue is trying to conserve power. We have been forced to eliminate incandescent lights for CFL and then LEDs because they use a lot less power. We ignored the fact that incandescent bulbs also provided heat during the winter.
I am not against the change to LEDs and embrace it and it is reducing my need for electric. However there is a ceratin point where that doesn’t matter anymore. I say that because I generate my own electric and do not rely solely on the utility. The past few days I have drastically reduced the need for the utility. I still have my dryer and stove connected to the grid, but only use them perhaps a couple hours a week. The rest of the house is using sunlight-provided electric.
So if I were to be completely off the grid, why would I want an expensive, electronic washer or dryer that is efficient? I would keep my old reliable units, ones I can easily and cheaply fix.
Many of these devices are not made to be component repaired, they just swap out a board, an expensive board. Compare that to me needing a washing machine filter a couple decades ago. I went to the Sears parts store with all my part numbers and models and a photo of the filter I needed. The cleark asked me what I needed. I started “I need to replace the washing machine filter on…” and as I said ‘on’ and was ready to describe the model and so on, the clerk disappeared to the back. I was thinking, what the hell? He came back with the part and I asked if this fit my model and he said ‘every machine uses the same filter’ and at the time I think that included all Whirlpool and Kenmore washers.