Start with the room, not the box. Before the delivery truck arrives, confirm that the space can take the unit, that the floor is level, and that the wall has a route to the outdoors for the vent that stays short and has few bends. Confirm which supply the unit needs. An electric dryer needs the right outlet or a dedicated circuit that a licensed electrician has checked, and a gas dryer needs its gas connection made by a qualified installer.
At the door
Look at the cabinet, the door glass, and the drum for shipping damage before the crew carries the unit inside. Check that the model and color on the carton match your order. Note any marks on the delivery paperwork while the crew is still there, because a damage claim is easier to make when the note was written at delivery.
Placement and the connection
Set the dryer where the vent hose or duct can reach it without strain. Leave room behind the unit so the vent is not kinked when the dryer is pushed back. Level it front to back and side to side so the drum turns freely and the door seals.
For an electric unit, confirm that the plug type matches the outlet before anyone touches the wall. For a gas unit, the installer should connect the supply line and then test each joint with soapy water. Bubbles mean a leak. Ask the installer to show you where the shutoff valve sits.
The vent
Use rigid or semi-rigid metal duct for the run. Flexible foil or plastic duct traps lint and can catch fire, so ask the installer to show you the material before the wall is closed. Keep the run short, avoid sharp bends, and make sure the exterior hood has a flap that opens when the dryer runs and closes when it stops. A hood that stays shut or a run that sags will slow the airflow and lengthen the drying time.
The first run
Run an empty cycle on the air setting, then a short timed cycle with a small test load. Hold a hand at the exterior hood and feel for steady airflow. Open the door and check that the lint screen is clean and that the drum turns without rubbing. Listen for a squeal, a thump, or a rattle that repeats. Any sound that comes back through the cycle belongs on the close-out list before the crew leaves.
What to collect before the installer leaves
Ask for the model and serial number written on the install sheet, the vent material and route noted, the gas or electric connection described in writing, and a copy of the warranty card or registration. Keep those papers with the unit. The clothes dryer page on this site gives the typical service life and when to start planning for a replacement.