“Maytag's MED6630 is a capable dryer with many features, but some don't work as well as we'd hope.”
- Attractive design
- Steam option and wrinkle control
- Respectable capacity
- Handles bulky items well
- 'Time remaining' is inaccurate
- Steam feature is so-so
Maytag has a solid reputation for producing heavy-duty appliances that get the job done and this dryer is no exception. Designed to meet the needs of a bustling household, the Maytag 7.3 cubic feet MED6630 electric dryer is not messing around. The machine handles a variety of loads with ease and looks good doing it.
Not Your Average Maytag
The metallic slate (also available in white) electric dryer is among the more stylish models we’ve seen from Maytag. Initially, we thought the machine might have been a Samsung or LG dryer. The 7.3 cubic feet machine is spacious and large, measuring 38.75 x 27 x 30.75 inches (H x W x D), so it’s ideal for homes with tons of laundry.
The companion washer, Maytag’s MHW6630HC0, is similar in size and built to handle heavy loads. You’ll never hurt your back getting clothes in an out of the machines when they are sitting atop the laundry pedestal. An additional option, the pedestals will run you about $300 each depending on the one you pick.
This Maytag dryer can handle heavy blankets with ease.
The dark gray tint on the plastic front door adds to the machine’s modern looks. That said, we did find it so dark that it’s difficult to see what’s happening inside the machine, and it doesn’t have an interior light.
If you have young kids or pets that get into things, you’ll appreciate the Control Lock, which you can set when drying a load. To unlock the setting, you’ll need hold down the button and watch the display countdown to three. When sitting on the pedestal, the machine’s buttons are too tall for most little ones to reach.
Intuitive Display Panel
As expected on a model in this price range, there is a fair number of drying features. We did appreciate that it was fairly easy to master the controls.
On the left of the panel is a control knob for a variety of dry settings: Regular, Heavy Duty, Whites, Sanitize, Towels, Bulky Items, Quick Dry, Delicates, Wrinkle Control, Steam Refresh, Normal, and Time Dry.
The digital panel to the right has the settings to adjust the Temperature, Dryness, Wrinkle Prevent, More Time, Less Time, and Control Lock. The first three options use bars to signal low to high settings for each. The last option is ideal for people who forget to switch their load to the dryer in a timely fashion.
There are a few other noteworthy features that set this dryer apart from others. The Extra Power button does exactly what it says. It gives a drying boost to any cycle by extending the time, heat, and tumbling. The Advanced Moisture Sensing automatically monitors the moisture and air temp inside the machine, so it can dry the items inside more evenly. Finally, the Quick Dry Cycle is ideal for drying a small amount of laundry fairly quickly.
There’s also a steam setting (you don’t need any extra plumbing). In our tests, it did just fine and helped a bit with wrinkles. That said, as is the case with many of these steam options, it’s no substitute for an iron.
The metallic slate dryer is one of the more stylish models we’ve seen from Maytag.
Once you load the clothes, you’ll need to press the power button (it’s has a play button icon) first to select your settings. If you want extra washing power, just press the button on the main nob that says Extra Power. Each push adds more time to the cycle and the idea is that the Extra Power gives a boost to fighting stains.
The digital display shows the current cycle details, illuminating relevant icons, and estimated time the load will take to complete. We should note that many of the cycles on this machine are well over an hour and if you keep adding settings and Extra Power, it could take quite a while to finish a load.
Drying Powerhouse
We used both Maytag machines to wash a variety of loads over a few months and were fairly satisfied. However, we should note that a cycle didn’t always end when expected — sometimes lasting longer and other times running short.
To put it to the test, we did two loads of a variety of items, including delicates, blankets, and wrinkle-prone materials. For the blankets we used the Heavy Duty setting, set the temperature to medium, and added the Wrinkle Prevent option. We pressed play (aka the start button) and watched the digital display perform at 3, 2, 1 countdown.
Overall, the blankets came out dry and in a fair amount of time. Our Maytag fast wash cycle dried quickly in Quick dry cycle on the Maytag dryer. While we appreciate the wrinkle prevent and steaming options, as noted they are no replacement for an iron or a hand steamer.
Warranty information
This Maytag dryer comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. There’s an additional limited warranty for the second through the tenth years that covers the drum motor and stainless steel or powder coated paint drum only. Labor isn’t included.
Our take
The Maytag MED6630HC is a solid dryer and a good choice for people who live in households with non-stop laundry. We did wish that the cycle times were a bit more reliable, but we often find the cycle time to be a bit off when testing appliances.
Is there a better alternative?
We were more impressed with the Electrolux EFME627UIW 8.0 cubic feet White Electric Dryer with Steam and Predictive Dry, which costs about the same and is a smidge bigger. If you need something roomier and prefer the look of this Maytag model, check out the 9.2 cubic feet Maytag MEDB955FC. Our washer and drying buying guide can help you decide what features are most important to you.
How long will it last?
According to the experts, this front loader dryer should last between 10 to 13 years.
Should you buy it?
No. Maytag appliances are built to last and this model is no exception. However, not all its features work as well as we’d hope, and its price tag is a bit high.
