5 Reasons Why Your Dryer Won’t Dry Clothes
We love our home laundry appliances, but if your dryer won’t dry, it basically becomes a large, useless paperweight. After all, it only has one simple job! If your dryer takes multiple cycles to fully dry or has stopped heating altogether, you need to figure out what the problem is ASAP.
Luckily, our service technicians are experienced in fixing all residential dryer breakdowns. Let us guide you through what might be the source of your dryer not drying problem.
Why Your Dryer Won’t Dry
Compared to other major home appliances, dryers are relatively simple, straightforward machines. Even with today’s incredible appliance technology, there are only a few potential causes if your dryer won’t dry. You’ll need to inspect the following parts to find out which is defective:
- Lint screen
- Vent hose
- Heating element
- Gas igniter/solenoid
- Thermostat
No. 1 – Dirty Lint Trap
First thing’s first, when’s the last time you cleaned your dryer’s lint screen? This part is what traps all of the excess fuzz that comes off of your garments during a cycle, but it needs to be cleaned regularly for the dryer to perform efficiently.
Free airflow is required for your dryer to heat. If you have a dryer taking longer to dry than normal, make sure to thoroughly clean your screen. You should also develop a routine of cleaning it after every use because excess buildup can lead to more serious, potentially dangerous issues.
No. 2 – Clogged Dryer Vent Hose or Dryer Duct
Much like a filthy lint trap, the buildup of debris inside your dryer’s venting system can prevent your unit from drying properly, and can even pose a fire risk. Unrestricted airflow is necessary, and a clogged, pinched, or bent vent hose can stop your dryer in its tracks.
Inspect the inside of your vent hose regularly and clean out any lint or other material stuck inside to ensure optimum performance and safety.
It is the industrial standard recommendation to clean out the structure’s dryer duct system once a year. If the duct has not been cleaned in over a year and the dryer is taking an abnormal time to dry, a dryer duct system cleaning is recommended. Silverado Services offers this service for all home types.
No. 3 – Broken Heating Element
If you own an electric dryer, it uses a heating element to heat the air inside your unit much like a bake element inside an oven. Without proper cleaning and maintenance though, these heaters tend to burn out over time. Sometimes you will smell a burnt smell when the coil breaks. It is very important that the element does not touch the casing. The element coils are held away from the casing with isolators. If the isolator is not holding the coil away from the casing, the element will burn out.
No. 4 – Defective Gas Igniter or Solenoid
Instead of using an element like electric models, gas dryers heat with an igniter and burner. Gas is introduced into the burner from valves with solenoids. Then the igniter sparks the gas which generates the heat required to dry your clothes.
The solenoids sometimes will get particles from the gas line that cause the valve to malfunction. Also, without regular cleaning and maintenance of the igniter and burner, your dryer’s igniter can burn out due to overheating.
No. 5 – Thermostat, Fuse, Overload Malfunctions
Although they’re less likely to fail than an element or igniter, your dryer uses thermostats, fuses, and overload protections to control the temperature of your dryer while it’s running. Overstuffing your dryer can lead to overheating though which can cause them to “pop.”
Not all dryer problems are easy or safe for the owner to watch a video and do themselves. If your dryer won’t dry, your best bet is to call the experts at Silverado Services and let us take care of the repair quickly, affordable, and to the highest possible standards.