St. Paul Appliance Rescue
IS YOUR CLOTHING STILL DAMP AT THE END OF THE CYCLE?
We often take our modern appliances for granted and the dryer is no exception. It is awfully convenient to just transfer the clothes from the washer to the dryer and forget about until the dryer buzzes when the clothes are dry. But as anyone who's ever had a dryer malfunction will tell you, it can quickly wreak havoc on one's life.
If your dryer produces no heat at all, then it is time to call your local appliance repair service company. However, if the dryer does heat but takes several loads to completely dry a load of laundry, then you may have an airflow problem and this something you may be able to resolve yourself.
The most common cause of long dry times is due to restricted air flow somewhere in the dryer or venting leading from the dryer. The restriction may be inside of the dryer in places such as the lint screen assembly or it can be caused by blockage in the venting that leads from the back of the dryer to outside. As a homeowner, before scheduling a service call it may helpful to first determine if the dryer does heat and if so, how is the air flow.
If the dryer is heating, with the dryer running, check the airflow outside to see if it is strong. Next, disconnect the dryer venting from the back where it is attached closest to the dryer, to see how strong the air flow is exiting. If the air flow is weak, then you may be able to resolve this issue easily.
The first place to check is the dryer lint screen. It's important to clean the lint screen after each load of laundry. If dryer sheets are used, then the screen must also be cleaned on a regular basis to remove the chemical build-up that is deposited from the dryer sheets. Use hot soap water and a soft bristle brush to thoroughly clean the screen until water flows through easily.
Next, using a dryer lint brush purchased from an appliance repair parts store or local hardware store, thoroughly clean the assembly that the lint screen slides into. You may have to use a flashlight to see inside the lint screen assembly. Don't worry, what lint you can not pull up will exit through the venting.
Finally, your dryer venting may be partially restricted and in need of a thorough cleaning with a rotary brush. It's recommended to have your dryer venting cleaned at least every few years depending on the length and number of turns. If the distance from your dryer is longer that usual and/or several turns, you should have the venting cleaned yearly. Also, if the venting is plastic, get rid of it and replace it with rigid aluminum or flexible aluminum. Plastic venting has a propensity to attract lint and is a fire hazard.
With the lint cleaned from the dryer and venting, you‘ll likely notice that your dryer is now operating as good as new and you saved yourself from paying what you can do yourself.
