Whirlpool WET3300XQ Dryer Review Archive

Introduction

Front

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As part of a washer/dryer combo, the WET3300XQ dryer sits on top of a washer. The controls are all at the top of the entire unit, and the whole setup runs off a 240v outlet.

Controls

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Interior

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A lint trap sits behind the door and must be cleaned after each use.

Sides

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Back

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Speed & Performance Overview

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The WET3300XQ took quite a while to finish drying clothes, and on many cycles, clothes emerged still wet. At least the quick cycle did a good job in our tests.

Normal Cycle Performance

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After nearly an hour and a half, the WET3300XQ managed to wring all the dampness out of a standard test load of laundry. That's quite a bit longer than most dryers.

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Delicates Cycle Performance

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The WET3300XQ's owners manual claims that the "Fluff Air" cycle can be used for drying delicates, but 20 minutes of cool air does very little to dry clothes. Our test load was more than three quarters still wet. You're better off hanging your delicate items on a clothesline in the shower.

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Bulky Cycle Performance

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It took 82 minutes, but on high heat the WET3300XQ got bulky clothes entirely dry.

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Quick Dry Cycle Performance

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In 32 minutes, the WET3300XQ got up to 135 degrees and brought our test load of laundry almost 90 percent of the way to dry. Other dryers take less time, but don't dry clothes as thoroughly.

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Dry Cycles

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The WET3300XQ has an awkward complement of dry cycles, including timed dry, automatic high heat and automatic low heat. Though the owner's manual claims the "Fluff Air" cycle is acceptable for delicate laundry, we found it to be wholly inadequate.

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Customization

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There's absolutely no way to customize cycles. Temperature is selected when a cycle is chosen, and that's that.

Additional Drying Options

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The WET3300XQ has no additional drying options.

Controls

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There are exactly two knobs for controlling the dryer: a cycle selector, and a knob that both starts/stops the dryer and turns the end of cycle buzzer on or off. The buzzer itself is loud enough for use in the NBA.

Door

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The door is easy to open and close, but it's located pretty high up. Wet clothes can get heavy, so putting clothes in the dryer can be a bit of a chore.

Lint Trap

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A lint trap sits behind the door and must be cleaned after each use.

Conclusion

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If you've got a small space where only a combination washer/dryer can fit, the {{product.name}} still might not be your best choice. It takes a long time to get clothes dry and lacks a usable delicates cycle -- but what did you expect from a dryer whose model number includes the word "WET"? For what it's worth, Maytag sells a nearly identical unit that does a much better job drying clothes.