The Ultimate Whirlpool WED8127LW / WGD8127LW 7.4-Cu. Ft. Dryer w/ Steam Review

Modern dryers do a lot more than create heat and tumble, and Whirlpool’s WED8127LW electric and WGD8127LW gas dryers are great examples of how far appliance technology has come. They have sensors that monitor temperature and moisture to prevent over-drying and steam technology to keep wrinkles at bay, but do these features actually work? That is the question this review will answer. It will contain an in-depth analysis of the WED8127LW and WGD8127LW’s many features along with a frank look at their pros and cons. It will also compare these dryers to some other popular models and tell you what people who have purchased them are saying.

Want to skip the details? See a summary of the Whirlpool WED8127LW / WGD8127LW dryers here.

Whirlpool WED8127LW / WGD8127LW 7.4-Cu. Ft. Dryer w/ Steam Review

Whirlpool WED8127LW Electric 7.4-Cu. Ft. Dryer w/ Steam

Whirlpool WGD8127LW Gas 7.4-Cu. Ft. Dryer w/ Steam

Description and Specifications

The Whirlpool WED8127LW and WGD8127LW are modern non-stackable clothes dryers that have been engineered to get clothes dry while using as little energy as possible. The WGD8127LW is a gas dryer, and the WED8127LW runs on electricity. Both of these dryers have Whirlpool’s Advanced Moisture Sensing system to make sure that your clothes are not dried any more than necessary and a steam feature to stop wrinkles from setting in. They are also smart appliances that can be operated using connected mobile devices. The Whirlpool WED8127LW and WGD8127LW are both ENERGY STAR appliances with capacities of 7.4 cubic feet, which is large enough to handle an entire king-size bedding set, including the comforter.

Capacity, Dimensions, and Weight

You won’t have to worry about space if you choose either the WED8127LW or WGD8127LW to replace an old dryer as these Whirlpool appliances have standard dimensions. They are both 27 inches wide, 42.75 inches tall and 29.88 inches deep, which is pretty much exactly the size you would expect a home dryer to be. The electric model weighs 121 pounds, and the gas version tips the scales at 122.3 pounds, which are normal weights for appliances of this type. Both of these dryers have a 7.4-cubic-foot drum that can accommodate even the largest loads of laundry.

While the capacities and dimensions of these dryers may not be unusual, their design elements are. These Whirlpool dryers feature a glass door so you will be able to see your clothes as they tumble and intuitive controls that make using all of their advanced features very easy. You also have two finishes to choose from. Model numbers that end with LW are finished in classic white while model numbers ending in LC have a dark and contemporary Chrome Shadow finish.

Controls and Panel Features

Some advanced appliances have complex controls that take a lot of getting used to, but not the Whirlpool WED8127LW and WGD8127LW. Whirlpool has made using advanced technology easy with a simple control panel that has a power button on the left side, a start button on the right side and a 2.4-inch LCD display in the center. The 12 available drying cycles are selected by pressing clearly marked buttons on each side of the LCD display, and 11 buttons underneath the main controls are used to make adjustments or access features like EcoBoost and Wrinkle Shield.

The 12 drying cycles are:

The 11 additional buttons are:

The easy-to-use control panel is not the only way to program or use these dryers as they are both smart appliances that are compatible with Android, iOS, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The Whirlpool app even allows consumers with voice-enabled devices to control these dryers by simply speaking to them. Other useful features the Whirlpool app offers include:

• Assign a task: Ask family members to fold clothes or transfer a load from the washer to the dryer with customized text messages.
• Cycle match: This feature suggests the ideal drying cycle based on the wash cycle selected.
• Quick connect: Connecting these dryers to a mobile device is very simple. Once you have downloaded the app, all you have to do is follow a brief series of prompts.
• Personalized tips: The app sends regular tips to make laundry day less of a chore and ensure clothes emerge from washers and dryers clean and undamaged.
• Favorite cycles: The app allows favorite cycles to be edited at any time and sent to the WGD8127LW or WED8127LW remotely.

Installation and Maintenance

Whirlpool recommends using a qualified installer to connect these dryers as mistakes can be dangerous, but you may be able to handle the job yourself if you know how to use hand tools and are replacing a dryer with similar connections. Just bear in mind that you will need a water connection to use the steam and static reduce features these dryers have.

You will need a 240-volt appliance outlet for the WED8127LW and a 120-volt outlet for the WGD8127LW, and you should avoid flexible plastic or foil ducts as they collapse easily and can trap lint. You should also avoid using metal screws to connect the duct as they can also create a fire risk by trapping lint.

The only real maintenance chore you will have with these dryers is removing lint from the lint screen every time you use them. You should also clean the lint screen with a nylon brush every six months or so to remove fabric softener and laundry detergent residue. When this residue builds up over time, it can lengthen drying times and cause dryers to shut off before clothes are completely dry. Accumulated lint should be removed from the dryer cabinet and exhaust vent every two years, but this job should be left to a professional.

Annual Energy Consumption and Voltage

Both the WED8127LW and WGD8127LW are rated as ENERGY STAR appliances by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which means they use far less energy to get clothes dry. The WED8127LW is a 240-volt appliance, and the WGD8127LW is rated at 120 volts. The WED8127LW has a Combined Energy Factor of 3.93 and uses approximately 608 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.

Whirlpool improves the energy efficiencies of their WED8127LW and WGD8127LW dryers with innovative features like EcoBoost and quick drying. The EcoBoost option improves efficiency by lowering temperatures and extending drying cycles, and the Quick Dry Cycle dries small loads in a flash. Both of these features can be accessed by pressing buttons on the control panel.

Certifications and Warranty 

The Whirlpool WED8127LW and WGD8127LW are both ENERGY STAR appliances and UL-Listed. UL, which used to be called Underwriters Laboratories, is a certification company that thoroughly tests consumer products to make sure they meet rigorous quality and safety standards.

Whirlpool backs these dryers with a 1-year limited warranty that provides protection against defects in materials or manufacturing, but it does not cover repairs if problems are caused by accidents or improper use. You do not have to register Whirlpool products to receive warranty coverage, but you will probably want to. Registration will speed up any warranty claims you make, and you must register online if you want to receive the dryer rack specially made for the WED8127LW and WGD8127LW. This rack fits inside the drum and remains in place throughout the drying cycle to protect delicate items like hats, tennis shoes and sweaters.

If you need to make a claim on a Whirlpool warranty, the company will ask for your name, address and telephone number, the model and serial number of your appliance, a description of the problem you are having and a receipt or other proof of purchase that includes the name and address of the retailer where you purchased your appliance. If you register your appliance, a lot of this information will already be on file.

Additional Features

Whirlpool includes several features on its WED8127LW and WGD8127LW models that other many other manufacturers do not offer. These features include:

• Advanced Moisture Sensing: Over-drying can damage clothes and drive up energy bills. Whirlpool prevents over-drying with sensors that keep track of moisture levels and temperatures and adjust drying times accordingly.
• Wrinkle ShieldPlus: Whirlpool’s Wrinkle ShieldPlus option with Steam feature uses steam and tumbling for up to 150 minutes after the drying cycle ends to prevent wrinkles from setting in.
• Static Reduce: Nobody likes to get a static shock when they take clothes out of a dryer. Whirlpool prevents this with a combination of mist and tumbling.
• Steam Refresh: If you have clothes in your closet that do not need to be washed but could do with a little refreshing, Whirlpool’s Steam Refresh cycle will bring them back to life without detergent.
• Sanitize Cycle: This cycle protects clothes by eliminating 99.9% of the bacteria commonly found in homes.
• Dryer Rack: Dryers can damage delicate items like hats, pillows and sweaters, so Whirlpool has made a rack that attaches inside the drum of the WED8127LW and WGD8127LW to offer tumble-free drying.

Price

The Whirlpool WED8127LW has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1,299, and the WGD8127LW has an MSRP of $1,399. Online retailers like the Home Depot often offer discounts on these appliances, and they sometimes soften the financial blow even further with purchase enhancements like free shipping and installation.

There are energy-efficient and quite capable dryers available for several hundred dollars less than Whirlpool charges for the WED8127LW and WGD8127LW, but they do not offer the convenience of Wi-Fi connectivity and advanced features like Advanced Moisture Sensing and Wrinkle ShieldPlus. Dryers with similar features from manufacturers like Maytag, LG and GE have MSRPs ranging from about $1,100 to more than $1,300, so Whirlpool’s prices are not out of line.

What Are Consumers Saying About the Whirlpool WED8127LW / WGD8127LW?

Consumers who have posted reviews of the Whirlpool WED8127LW and WGD8127LW seem to be very happy with their purchases. Many reviewers were happy that the 7.4-cubic-foot capacity of these dryers could dry all of their laundry in a single load, and most of them were impressed by the wide range of advanced features Whirlpool has included. Quite a few reviewers mentioned using the steam function far more often than they thought they would, and several of them said features like the drum light and glass door were surprisingly useful.

Some reviewers said that they wished these dryers had a flat top so they could place laundry baskets and other items on top of them, and a few consumers complained that clothes took a long time to dry when the EcoBoost feature is used. Overall, the benefits and downsides of these dryers can be summed up with the following pros and cons:

Is the Whirlpool WED8127LW / WGD8127LW for You?

If you like the latest technology, want to lower your energy bills and do a lot of laundry, choosing a Whirlpool WED8127LW or WGD8127LW could be a great decision. These dryers have been engineered to get clothes dry in the shortest possible amount of time, and they are packed with features that prevent wrinkles and reduce the amount of energy they consume. They can also be connected to Android and iOS devices as well as Amazon Alexa and Google Home Assistant. However, these dryers may not be worth the money if you don’t do much laundry and just want a simple machine that gets the job done without all of the bells and whistles found on top-of-the-line appliances.

Matching Companion Model

To get the most out of Whirlpool’s WED8127LW and WGD8127LW dryers, you should wash your clothes in machines that have the same kind of advanced features. If you want to use the same app to control both your washer and dryer, you should consider the Whirlpool WTW8127LW to complement the WGD8127LW or WED8127LW.

Whirlpool WTW8127LW 5.2-5.3-Cu. Ft. Top Load Washer

Whirlpool WTW8127LW Description and Specifications

The Whirlpool WTW8127LW is a top-loading washer that features both a removable agitator and an impeller. A quick wash cycle gets small loads clean in only 30 minutes, and a deep water option can tackle the toughest stains. The Whirlpool WTW8127LW has a 5.2-cubic-foot capacity with the agitator in place and a 5.3-cubic-foot capacity with the agitator removed, so it is more than capable of handling even large loads of laundry. This washer is an ENERGY STAR appliance and is backed by a 1-year warranty.

Why the Whirlpool WTW812LW Is Great

The Whirlpool WTW8127LW is great because its removable agitator gives consumers the benefits of both traditional and high-efficiency machines. Other features that make this washer a hit include a Load & Go dispenser that can hold enough detergent to clean 20 loads of laundry and a built-in stain station that features a dual temperature faucet and scrubbing brush. You can also operate this machine and Whirlpool’s WED8127LW and WGD8127LW dryers using Google Home Assistant, Amazon Alexa or an iOS or Android device.

Dryer Tips

Whirlpool’s WED8127LW and WGD8127LW dryers are easy to use and deliver consistently great results, but there are things you can do to make them work even better and save time on laundry day. If you think spending less time in the laundry room and more time doing the things you enjoy sounds good, you should check out our Dryer Tips page.

Why Choose Whirlpool?

Whirlpool is an American company that has been building appliances for more than 100 years. The company introduced the first electric washing machine to feature a wringer and the first microwave oven small enough to fit on a countertop, and Whirlpool showed that it values its customers as highly as its products by opening the world’s first toll-free support line in the early 1970s.

Whirlpool has worked with NASA to develop appliances for space travel, and virtually every appliance on the market features at least one of its innovations. The company’s latest line of advanced clothes dryers is the culmination of more than a century of dedicated research and development. If you would like to learn more about Whirlpool and its line of modern home appliances, click below to visit the brand’s store pages on Home Depot and Best Buy.

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