Many of us take dryers for granted, and can't imagine waiting days or even a few hours for wet clothes to air-dry. On the other hand, even people who are handy around the house aren't familiar with dryers in the same way they might be with their car or other electrical systems. So if you are having issues with your dryer, but you aren't sure what exactly is at the root of problem, keep reading for some great troubleshooting tips that will diagnose the problem and have your dryer working in no time.
Excess Noise
In many dryers (both gas and electric) the drums rotate with the help of plastic glides, which you can see simply by opening the dryer cabinet. While glides usually have quite a long lifespan, they do eventually wear thin. When this happens, you'll start to hear it right away with lots of squeaking and squealing whenever you run the dryer. If your dryer model doesn't have glides, it may have something similar such as support rollers or a bearing, in which the same principle applies.
Little or No Heat
Another problem that dryer owners commonly report happening is little or no heat, which is usually caused by a defective thermostat. If you have a high limit thermostat, it may have been tripped repeatedly by a clogged exhaust vent and ceased to function entirely. On the other hand, if you have a cycling thermostat, it may have simply run its course and can no longer properly regulate the heat. If this is the case, disconnect the dryer power, locate the thermostat on the heating chamber or blower housing, and check it with a multi-meter. If you have a high limit thermostat, don't forget to also remove any restrictions from the vent, or your new thermostat will soon malfunction as well.
Failure to Shut Off
Sometimes, a dryer will keep tumbling even after you open the door and want to remove your clothes. If this is the case, then it's likely that the problem is one of two things: either the timer motor is malfunctioning, or it's the door switch located on the door opening that is faulty. In either case, you'll need to call an electrician to test both devices and have them replaced if necessary. If you want to test the devices yourself using a multi-meter, then make sure the dryer is unplugged from the power source first.
For more information, contact companies like Automatic Appliance.
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