Gas Dryer

Whirlpool WGD6605 Gas Dryer

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Solid choice with some caveats

#6 of 10in Gas Dryer

104 sources · limited data · updated June 2026

This is the dryer equivalent of a cast-iron skillet: proven 1970s engineering that Whirlpool still builds because it works and people can fix it themselves when it doesn't. The control board can fail and leave the drum spinning until you physically open the door, and gas valve coils sometimes quit mid-cycle, letting raw gas smell seep out until you swap the part, both fixes are cheap and YouTube-able, but neither should happen on a machine this simple. Buy it if you value a 15-year lifespan and $20 repair bills over moisture sensors and app notifications; skip it if a dryer that occasionally needs a screwdriver sounds like more involvement than you signed up for.

The context that matters

What you're actually buying — and what the data leans toward.

Data includes both current WGD6605 model and older Whirlpool gas dryer generations. Owners consistently describe the design as unchanged since the 1970s, suggesting reputation applies across eras. No notable difference in sentiment between old and current models.

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Common complaints5 issues

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−Control boards can fail on newer models, sometimes causing the drum to run continuously until door is opened

−Gas ignition systems occasionally fail to relight after first cycle, requiring part replacement

−Some units develop gas odor issues related to valve coils needing replacement

−No advanced features like moisture sensing or steam cycles found on premium models

−Basic timer-based operation requires more attention than auto-sensing models

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What owners praise6 strengths

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✓

Simple mechanical design with minimal electronics that lasts decades

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Straightforward controls without unnecessary smart features or touchscreens

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Parts remain available even for very old models, making repairs economical

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Gas operation costs significantly less to run than electric in most markets

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Proven design shared across Whirlpool, Maytag, and Amana dating to the 1970s

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Units still working well after 8-14 years of regular use

📊 How this score was calculated — 6-dimension rubric

High confidence▼

104 sources analysed with long-term owner data present

104 sources analysed — strong data quality

Reliability & Durability(22%)6.7

8 positive vs 4 negative long-term reports

User Sentiment(22%)8.1

215 positive upvotes vs 52 negative upvotes

Complaint Severity(16%)6.4

Complaints: 2 cosmetic, 12 functional, 6 systematic, 1 safety

Consensus Strength(8%)3.6

12 strongly positive, 3 strongly negative, 18 mixed/neutral

Value for Money(15%)5.6

4 'worth it', 1 'overpriced', 3 mention better-value alternatives

Owner Advocacy(17%)8.0

2 repurchased/gifted, 8 unprompted recommendations, 2 regrets

Scores are percentile ranks: 5.0 is the median product in existence. 8.5+ is reserved for genuinely exceptional products (top ~10%). The score reflects consensus quality, what owners say about the product. Risk is tracked separately and shown above the summary when present. Both are calculated deterministically, so the same signals always produce the same score.

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Specifications

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Pricing

Price range

$1,110

Key specs

Type

Gas Dryer

Height

39 in

Width