Is your dryer broken, or is it limping along weakly? Fortunately, problems with laundry machines are often easy to fix. In many cases, dryer problems are minor and you or a qualified
technician can repair them easily. Read on for a list possible causes for the most common dryer problems.
The Machine Won’t Turn On
If your clothes dryer isn’t working at all, it may not be getting power. A tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse are common culprits — a problem you can easily fix yourself.
In other cases, the issue may be the door switch or door actuator lever. Door switches wear out over time and are particularly susceptible to becoming damaged if the door is slammed shut.
Another possible problem may be the thermal fuse. If this internal fuse blows, the main power supply is interrupted. The thermal fuse will only fail if the internal temperature gets too high and the dryer overheats. For this problem to be corrected, the technician must determine and address whatever is causing the overheating.
The Dryer Won’t Heat Up
If a blown thermal fuse is not the problem, you may have a bad heating element. With gas dryers, defective valve coils can cause the igniter to glow and then shut off without igniting the gas, or the igniter itself can burn out or break. With electric models, the heating element may become defective. Issues with any of these parts can make you think your dryer has reached the end of its life, but in most cases, a trained technician can easily install replacement parts.
Laundry Takes Too Long to Dry
If your clothes are taking too long to dry, start by checking for user error. Are you overloading the machine? Have you cleaned the lint filter? Is your washing machine not properly spinning the laundry to remove most of the water? Have you checked the vent tube for an obstruction?
If none of these issues is to blame, the problem may involve the blower wheel. The blower wheel can become loose, which can lead to restricted airflow. If the air is cut off completely, the blower wheel will turn off the heat circuit.
Intermittent valve coils can cause long drying times for gas dryers as well, as the flame may not be properly ignited. Faulty drum and door seals also can result in clothes dryer inefficiency.
In most of these cases, the problem will eventually escalate and the machine will stop working, so don’t delay in contacting us for repair. Complete Appliance Repair, serving Woods Cross, Utah, and the surrounding communities, can quickly determine the source of the problem and have it fixed in no time. Call us today for a free repair estimate if your dryer is broken.