Dryers are one of the most essential household appliances. Over time, through constant use, dryers can experience technical problems that bring them to a shuddering halt. Many of these problems can be avoided though through constant maintenance or minor DIY repairs that can save you money on calling out a repairman. In order to carry out these minor repairs, you need to understand the various components of your dryer, many of which do not require you to have previous experience. Let’s take a look at the various problems a dryer can experience and why these problems might occur.
The clothes are not drying
There are a number of reasons why your clothes might not be fully dry. Don’t always assume that you need to call out a repairman to solve the problem. Check that you are following these guidelines first before taking any further action.
Clothing Placement
One particular problem that arises is caused by overfilling your dryer. Never fill your dryer to the brim. Always leave at least half the space within the drum before you start the drying cycle because otherwise, the most likely result is that the clothes within will only be partly dried, and some more than others. There needs to be plenty of room for the hot air to circulate within the drum and reach the fibers of your clothes, in order to be most effective. Check that you are not overfilling your dryer.
Bunched up Clothing
It is often tempting, when your schedule is busy and you have other things to attend to, to just throw the clothes in and shut the door. However, this will only result in partly dried clothes. Again, the hot air within the dryer needs room to circulate and penetrate the fibers and if the clothes are bunched up and entwined with one another, the chances are some or all of the clothes will only be partly dried. Place the clothes within dryer separately for best results.
Odds and Ends
Try to be consistent with the clothes you put in your dryer at the same time. For example, garments like towels and jeans hold much more water than say t-shirts or vests and therefore should be dried separately. Dry jeans and towels separately and do not simply increase the drying time as you might find that some of your clothes come out scorched or even shrunken which is a nightmare scenario, especially when they are your favorite clothes!
Dirty Vent
In order to ensure that your dryer is working at maximum efficiency, you should clean the lint trap after each load and the lint vent once every few loads. If despite your taking these actions, your clothes are still coming out of the dryer wet or damp, there may be a clog further down the vent causing the problem. It is difficult to remove debris build up if it is further down the within the ductwork but not impossible. If you own a leaf blower for example, you could use that to blow the clogged debris through the duct and out of the vent at the rear of your dryer.
Heating Problems
If you find that there is no heat within your dryer, first, check on the following:
• Is the dryer set properly?
• Plugged in properly?
• If you own an electric dryer the problem may be due to a blown fuse or you might need to reset the breaker.
• With gas dryers, ensure that the pilot is lit and the supply valve open.
Once you have checked the above areas, if your dryer still isn’t producing heat, give Lerman Appliance Repair a call and we will first diagnose the problem over the phone, before giving you a quote. We can then have a repairman sent out to you the very same day if you require it.
The Dryer is Making More Noise than Normal
This can be due to a number of reasons. Quite often, over time, the parts within your dryer – of which there are many – become worn and this causes your dryer to produce more noise than normal.
Check the following when you find your dryer is noisier than usual.
1. Check the center spindle – In most dryers, the drum is supported by a center spindle which is usually a ball-and-socket support. When these parts become worn out, a squealing sound may come from within your dryer during the drying cycle. You can replace this bearing once it has worn out. Some dryers also contain plastic glides in the front end of the drum and when these are worn, the annoying squealing sound occurs. You can also replace these as a set.
2. Some dryers use rollers to support the drum – Again, when worn out, these rollers or wheels create a racket during the drying cycle. These can be replaced but you should replace the entire set for best results.
3. A damaged belt – If there is a thumping or slapping sound coming from within your dryer, it may be because the belt has been frayed or damaged.
Wrinkled Clothes
Sometimes, you might find that your clothes come out of the dryer wrinkled and one cause of this is leaving them in the dryer too long once the cycle has completed. Take your clothes out from the dryer as soon as possible and consult with an expert from dryer repair company. Other reasons for wrinkled clothes might be:
• You crammed the laundry into the machine too tightly.
• No fabric softener was used.
• The wrong wash and dry cycles.
• The wrong water level.
• Water was too hot for the clothes.
Dryer is plugged in but it won’t run
There is usually only one explanation for this and that is that a fuse has blown somewhere and the circuit breaker tripped. Replace the fuse and turn the breaker back on. However, if this happens frequently, you have a problem and need to call out a repairman to find the solution. In this instance, call Lerman Appliance Repair and we will have the problem solved for you within the day.
There are numerous problems that can occur with dryers, many of which cannot be fixed unless you call out a repair service. If you have checked your dryer thoroughly and still cannot find the source of the problem or are unable to repair it yourself, don’t panic. Call Lerman’s appliance repair in Los Angeles and we can have someone out to look at your dryer the very same day. Call us today at (877) 228-8092 and we will put your mind at ease.
