Frigidaire Affinity FASE7073LW Review

Introduction

The FASE7073 series are some of the least expensive dryers to feature a steam dry option plus plenty of customizable cycles. All of the cycles we tested did a fine job getting clothes dry at a reasonable temperature, though they sometimes took awhile to complete. While it's easy to load, the large number of tiny buttons on the glittery control panel may be confusing for some folks.

Design & Usability

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A narcoleptic dryer?

There's nothing unique about the design of this dryer, except for the glitter-covered control panel. It can be ordered in colors other than white, but those come at a higher cost.

More notably though, the control panel can be a bit frustrating to use. It's comprised of a big cycle selector knob and a glitter-covered swath of plastic membrane keys, all identical in size and shape. A backlit LCD screen shows the remaining time on a cycle, though it's rarely correct. One particularly frustrating aspect of the controls is that the dryer doesn't have an on/off switch, and simply goes to "sleep" after it's not used. It only comes back to life a few seconds after pushing any button on the panel—a short delay, but a noticeable one.

Though we usually don't comment on installation, it's important to note that this dryer was extremely difficult to install due to tight tolerances inside of its electrical panel and vent. Fitting a screwdriver to tighten the plug terminals was a frustrating task. On the plus side, it's unlikely that you'll have to install this machine more than once, so this shouldn't necessarily affect your purchase decision.

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Performance & Features

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High-end goodies decorate this mid-range machine.

The {{product.name}} offers nine cycles, each of which is calibrated for a particular kind of fabric or purpose. All the usual suspects are here, including Normal, Quick, Delicates, and Heavy/Bulky.

Conveniently, cycles can be customized for temperature and dry level, and there's also a dry time option for the Timed cycle. Not all options are available on all cycles, but there is a fine array of extras to choose from. The most notable is a Steam Dry function, which uses a cold water input to moisten the load during tumbling to reduce wrinkles. Such a feature is usually only found on dryers costing hundreds more.

Effective cycles took a little long to complete, with the exception of the Quick cycle. Annoyingly, the estimated remaining times on the display frequently strayed drastically from the actual cycle times. Finally, it is worth mentioning that this dryer's Bulky cycle dried contents completely—a rare feat for low and high-end models alike.

Conclusion

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An Affinity with an affinity for fine work

If you're looking to buy a dryer with a steam cycle, plenty of features and good drying performance, the {{product.name}} should definitely be on your list. Found on sale for about $750, depending on color, it dried admirably and has some features that are surprising for a product with this price point.

We weren't fans of the Frigidaire Affinity's cluttered control panel, and we felt that it could benefit from an on/off button. The cycles took a little longer than some higher-end dryers we've tested, too. Still, you could do a lot worse for the money than this fine Frigidaire.

Science Introduction

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This {{product.name}} aced practically every test. Find out which tests revealed room for improvement, and which cycles struggled more than others.

Normal & Delicate Cycles

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See how these two staple cycles did on our performance tests.

This Affinity has you covered for two of your most basic needs: normal and delicate drying. The Normal Cycle was the {{product.name}}'s best offering, getting clothes totally dry at an admirable temperature of 128.4ºF. The best part? It finished the job in a little under an hour.

We've stopped expecting accuracy from any estimate as to how long a Delicates cycle will take. Cycles lasted between 49 and 53 minutes—more than twice as long as the 20 minutes that the LCD screen promised. Clothes still ended up 97 percent dry though, and temperatures remained at a safe 131ºF.

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Quick & Heavy/Bulky Cycles

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Quick and Bulky tests are where most dryers tend to really disappoint.

The Quick cycle might be adequate for damp clothes, as it only took 25 minutes to get our test load 77 percent dry—better than most dryers we've tested. However, don't expect a full load to come out warm and toasty after just one go on this brief setting. Its short duration and low temperature high of 105.2ºF just won't finish the work on a full batch of wet laundry.

The hottest cycle was the bulky program, which got up to 154.3ºF. This is hot; soft, delicate fabrics will want to stay clear. Impressively though, this cycle got bulky items entirely dry, only taking about an hour to do so. Most machines fail to accomplish this because objects like comforters tend to ball up and retain a damp center.

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