Description
This Is A Gas Dryer
The DLG3401W burns gas to produce heat. That single fact governs everything about the installation and it should be settled before any feature is considered.
A gas dryer requires a gas supply line at the appliance position with a shutoff valve, a flexible connector rated for the job, and a proper vent to the outside, because combustion products leave through the same duct as the moist air. It also needs a 120 volt electrical outlet for the motor, controls and igniter. Gas appliances are not a do it yourself installation: the connection should be made by a qualified installer or a licensed gas fitter, and the vent should be checked at the same time.
The listing does not state which gas the dryer is configured for. Natural gas and liquid propane use different orifices, and converting between them requires the correct kit and a qualified installer. Confirm the gas type with the seller before ordering and confirm what supply is available at the property.
Buyers who do not have a gas supply should be looking at the electric equivalents instead, such as the GE GFD55ESSNWW. LG’s electric machines in the same family are functionally similar, and the wider set sits in the dryers category.
Closet Depth And Capacity
LG lists 7.4 cubic feet of drum in a cabinet 30 inches deep. That combination is the reason to choose this machine. Ultra large capacity usually means a deep cabinet, and a 30 inch depth fits laundry closets and upstairs alcoves that a deeper machine cannot serve.
The drum is aluminized alloy steel with a painted rear tub. That is a mid range specification: more durable than plain painted steel, less so than stainless. Four adjustable legs, a reversible door and a stated LoDecibel quiet operation complete the physical picture, though no decibel figure accompanies the last of those, so it should be read as marketing rather than a specification.
Sensor Dry And FlowSense
Sensor Dry measures moisture during the cycle and adjusts the time automatically. That prevents both outcomes people complain about: clothes still damp at the end, and clothes cooked dry so that cotton shrinks and elastic degrades. Five dryness levels run from Very Dry down to Damp Dry, with manual timed options of 60, 40 and 20 minutes for anyone who prefers to decide.
FlowSense monitors airflow and warns when the duct is clogging. This is the feature to value most on a gas dryer specifically. A restricted duct on any dryer wastes energy and creates a lint fire risk, and on a gas machine the same duct carries combustion products, so keeping it clear matters more than it does on an electric model. A warning indicator turns duct maintenance from something people forget into something the machine asks for.
Three way venting allows the duct to exit in different directions from the cabinet, which gives real flexibility in a closet installation where the duct cannot simply run straight back.
The Efficiency Figure
LG publishes a CEF of 3.49 alongside Energy Star certification. Combined energy factor rises with efficiency, so a published number allows direct comparison with any other dryer that states one. Very few listings do, which makes it almost impossible to compare running costs across the dryers category on published data alone.
Gas drying has a separate cost consideration that no efficiency figure captures. Gas and electricity are billed differently and their relative prices vary by region and by season, so a machine that is cheaper to run in one state may not be in another. The efficiency figure describes how well the appliance converts energy into dry clothes, not what that energy costs.
Programs And Controls
Eight programs are listed: Normal, Heavy Duty, Bedding, Towels, Permanent Press, Delicates, Speed Dry and Air Dry, with the last two running as manual timed cycles. Seven options include More Time, Less Time, a Damp Dry Signal, Wrinkle Care, Control Lock, Energy Saver and an end of cycle signal.
Wrinkle Care periodically tumbles the load after the cycle finishes, which keeps clothes from setting into creases when nobody is there to unload them. A three minute installation check runs the machine through a self test after installation, and SmartDiagnosis lets a technician read fault information over the phone, which can save a wasted service visit.
Highlights
- 7.4 cubic feet of drum in a 30 inch closet depth cabinet.
- Sensor Dry with five dryness levels plus manual timed options.
- FlowSense duct clogging indicator, valuable on a gas machine.
- Three way venting for flexible duct routing.
- Energy Star certified with a published CEF of 3.49.
- Reversible door, child lock, four adjustable legs and SmartDiagnosis.
- Matching washer named by LG as the WM3400CW.
Things To Consider
Gas installation is a professional job and it costs money that does not appear in the purchase price. If the property has no gas line to the laundry position, running one is a significant expense and may not be practical at all.
The listing does not state the gas type, the electrical requirement, the duct diameter or the maximum duct length. All four belong to LG’s installation manual and all four need answering before the machine is ordered.
The specification table also records the access location as top load on a front load dryer, and the color field says painted rather than white. Only one customer rating sits behind the listing, which is no sample at all.
The matching washer LG names, the WM3400CW, is a 4.5 cubic foot machine, and the pairing is worth considering because matched sets stack correctly and share a finish. Buyers who would rather have one cabinet doing both jobs should compare the all in one washers and dryers category, and those wanting a steam equipped electric machine should look at the LG DLEX8900B.
Who Should Buy It, And Who Should Not
It suits a household with an existing gas supply at the laundry position, a vent path, and a closet or alcove too shallow for a conventional large dryer. Gas drying is typically faster than electric, and the closet depth cabinet with a 7.4 cubic foot drum is a genuinely useful combination.
It is the wrong purchase without a gas line, without a vent path, or for anyone unwilling to have the installation done professionally.
