Dryer Repair and Maintenance Tips
Your dryer is definitely one of the most important appliances around your home, especially if you have a big family and accumulate laundry faster than anyone else, or would have no time or space to hang your clothes to dry. For this reason, proper maintenance and timely repair should always be a priority. Because we understand how important having a properly working and well-maintained dryer is to you, we take it as our responsibility as your top pick for appliance repair to help you learn more about your dryer and other important appliances. Let’s start off with a few troubleshooting and maintenance tips to help you stretch your dryer’s lifespan.
Dryer Repair Tips
Knowing exactly what’s wrong with your dryer could help you find the fix that it needs the fastest time possible. This could also help you see if anything needs to be replaced, or if a quick repair should do it. Here are a few dryer repair tips based on the common problems we encounter:
- If your dryer seems a bit noisier than usual, then the drum glides are probably the culprit. Try removing the dryer’s cabinet and inspecting the glides. If you see visible signs of wear and tear, then it’s probably time to replace them with new ones.
- If your dryer will not start, there are a few things that you would have to check to find out what’s causing the problem. If you are sure that the door is properly closed and the dryer still won’t start, then the door switch could be the problem. A thermal fuse can also be the cause. This part ensures that your dryer does not overheat, and would cut power the moment it senses high temperature. The start switch is another possible culprit that you may want to check out.
- If your dryer does not start but emits a low humming noise instead, then the drive motor could be the problem. Because this would require you to do a live voltage test, this task is better left to somebody who is qualified to do it.
- Another thing to check is your dryer’s main control board. Any sign of burn marks around the board would mean that it has been shorted out. Although this part usually cannot be repaired, it can definitely be replaced with a new one.
- Your dryer’s timer is also a potential problem in case your dryer refuses to work. Any defect on your timer will block the power from reaching the drive motor. After making sure that the dryer is unplugged, you can try checking the timer with a multi-meter.
- If your dryer seems to be causing your fuses to blow or your circuit breakers to trip, then your terminal block may be at fault. This could be a potential fire hazard. Have an expert replace your terminal block right away, as well as any wires that could be damaged along with it.
- If your dryer refuses to tumble, then check the belt that turns the drum inside. These often wear down over time, so there’s a possibility that it needs to be replaced. The idler pulley that turns this belt could also be causing the problem. The pulley should still continue to turn even if the belt is not in place. Otherwise, this is definitely one of the main causes of the issue.
- If you feel that it is taking forever for your clothes to dry, then your lint filter may need to be cleaned out, as it may be clogged by a huge amount of lint and dried up fabric softener. The filter may also be damaged, in which case a replacement is needed.
If you start to encounter any of these problems, you can always do basic inspection to figure out what’s wrong with your dryer. Of course, at the end of the day, it is still better to have an expert dryer repair service do the job for you so that you can avoid the problem from getting worse.
Dryer Maintenance Tips
Although it is inevitable that you will need an appliance repair service sooner or later, there are a lot of ways for you to make sure that you would not need this too often, or too soon. Here are a few maintenance tips for you to remember:
- If your dryer uses that white flexible vinyl tubing, then this is something that you would have to replace right away. It does not meet US federal fire safety standards and could become a potential fire hazard.
- Make sure you clean out your lint filter each time you use your dryer. Although some may say that a couple of times each month are enough, even the smallest accumulation of lint on these filters could cause your dryer to not perform at its best. The lint could also toughen up through time and could be harder to remove, eventually causing damage to the filter itself.
- Your dryer’s venting tube should be cleaned at least once or twice a year to avoid them from clogging. Lint buildup is very common inside these tubes, and could cause more serious problems if not addressed regularly.
- Always make it a point to check how long it’s taking for your clothes to dry. The moment your dryer seems to be taking longer than usual to work its magic, then your dryer may need to be cleaned out.
- Clean your dryer’s interior at least one or twice a year. Dirt will definitely accumulate inside your dryer, and these could cause some of the parts to get stuck and stop from working.
These repair and maintenance tips are great in keeping your dryer working for as long as possible. Of course, knowing all these should also come with the precaution of not trying to fix anything that seems to be serious on your own. If you run into any issues with your dryer or any other appliances around your home, you can trust D&V Appliance Repair services to get them running in no time.
