We get asked some version of this question constantly, usually right after a repair: “is this normal for a machine this age, or did we get unlucky?” The honest answer depends more on how the machine is installed than on the brand.
Stacked and closet units work harder
A washer and dryer stacked in a condo laundry closet has less ventilation clearance than a pair sitting side by side in a basement, and that matters more for the dryer than the washer. A dryer venting through a long, narrow duct run – common in high-rise construction – has to push exhaust air further, and lint builds up faster in the tighter bends. That extra load is the single biggest factor we see shortening dryer life in Chicago high-rises, well ahead of brand or model.
What actually extends the life of a stacked pair
Cleaning the lint trap after every load is the obvious one, but the duct behind the wall matters more and gets forgotten. We recommend a full vent-line cleaning roughly every one to two years in a stacked closet installation – more often if the run is long or has several bends. A restricted vent does not just slow drying; it raises the internal temperature of the dryer on every cycle, which is what actually wears out heating elements and thermal fuses early.
On the washer side
Front-load washers in condo installations benefit from leaving the door cracked open between loads to let the drum and gasket dry out, and from an occasional empty hot cycle with a washer-cleaner tablet. Standing water left in a closed, unventilated closet is what leads to the gasket mold and odor complaints we see most in stacked installations.
A realistic number
With reasonable venting and basic care, ten to twelve years is a realistic expectation for a mid-range washer or dryer in a Chicago condo. Well under that, and it is usually worth asking whether the vent run or installation – not the machine – is the actual problem.
