Dryer Repair Troubleshooting

Your Electric Dryer has no heat? Oh, no! That laundry room makeover did not include a new dryer!

If you are like most homeowners, you panic when your dryer doesn't work. Is it going to cost more than it's worth to repair? Is it fixable at all? What if I get ripped off because I don't know anything about dryers?

Relax! Check these things out first and become reasonably informed before you call a repairman.

(1) The first and easiest thing to check is your house circuit breaker. A dryer will run ( tumble, lights and buzzer work) but not heat,if the house breaker is partially tripped. Turn your breaker all the way off and on again. Check your heat cycle.

(2) If your dryer runs a long time and you get a little heat — especially on the auto dry or sensor cycle — the problem could be your venting. A dryer can only dry as fast as it can move air.

Check roof vents for birds nests, make sure any ducting under your house is solid pipe — not flexible vinyl (Any ducting that is not solid — especially the accordian type — will sag and fill with lint over the years,making your dryer less efficient).

Make sure your ducting is 4". This is standard in the industry for dryers. Some builders try to put smaller pipe in between the studs, resulting in decresed air flow.

Check the outside flapper in the vent hood to make sure it is moving freely. While you're there, feel how much air is coming out. It should have a healthy flow.

If your dryer has been moved recently, make sure that the ducting between the dryer and wall hasn't been kinked. Also try to make the ducting as short as possible.

Vacuum the lint out of the inside of your dryer.(Unplug it first!) Usually the front panel can be removed easily and you can vacuum around the motor.

Finally, Remember to CLEAN your dryer lint filter after EVERY load!

(3) The heating element. A heating element is like a light bulb — when the filament breaks it doesn't work!

If you have a volt-ohm meter you can check for continuity. If you have continuity, then your element is not burned out.

If you don't have a meter, look closely at the element to see if there are any breaks or if your dryer is a brand that allows you to easily remove the element — take it to your local appliance parts store and they will gladly check it for you. (Remember, if you buy a part, it is usually not returnable! Appliance stores can't afford to order or sell parts for experimentation!) AND ALWAYS,ALWAYS, bring your dryer brand, model and serial number.(Look around the opening of the door).

(4) Thermal fuse. Newer dryers have one thermal fuse that will shut off power to the element and a second one that will shut off the whole dryer. This fuse is a safety precaution built in by manufacturers of dryers. It usually means the dryer has overheated. In this case your best bet is to call a reputable repairman to find out why it has failed.

Well, I hope this was helpful-because we both know we want to use that money for a new rug -not a new dryer.