Dryer Dilemma

[LadyFish]

I have a GE dryer (fairly new) and it seems to take forever and a day to dry. The heat is there so can it still be the element?<br /><br />A load of clothes can take up to 2 hours to dry.

<br /><br />Before I call a repairman, I'd like to know if this is something we can fix ourselves.<br /><br />Your help is appreciated.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

First look at the dust screen. I am sure you have already done that but you have hit the simple things first.. My bet is that you have a clogged dryer vent. sometimes lint builds up in the pipe that goes out the back of the house and that will cause your clothes to take forever. I would look initially at where it comes out of the dryer. It ususally takes a hard turn at that point and is easy to get clogged.<br /><br />If the vent coming out of your dryer is the flexilble plastic kind, you can squeeze it a little to feel if you have a constriction. Other wise you will have to pull it off the back of your dryer and visually inspect it..

 

[DJ]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

LadyFish,<br /><br />Agree with rogerwa.<br /><br />Vents are the most troublesome area of clothes dryers. Also look for sharp bends in the hose.<br /><br />Make sure the flap in the outside vent is opening.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

Thanks Roger. <br /><br />I did check the lint trap and screen and clean them each load. Since our house is built on Pylons, the flexible hose (which unfortunately was put in aftr the house was built) goes down into the garage under the house. I've checked the hose where it comes out and its clean and I can feel a substantial amount of heat and air coming out.<br /><br />I guess there is still a possibility that it could be partially blocked somewhere in between. How would you suggest cleaning that.

 

[DJ]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

LadyFish,<br /><br />Remove both ends of the hose and check the outlet at the dryer.<br /><br />The hose should have as straight a run as possible.<br /><br />Also, does it make a difference in drying time if your garage door(s) are open or closed?<br /><br />I am not a fan of venting dryers into an enclosed space.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

If the hose is made of durable material, run a plumbing snake up the vent while the dry is on. Just be sure that you don't run the snake all the way up into the dryer.

 

[JB]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

Ahoy, LadyFish.<br /><br />Check the entire length of the hose for bird or rodent nests. They wont be inhabited because of the heat, but a mouse (or relative) can build such a nest in a few hours.<br /><br />Danged mouse built a nest in the HVAC duct in my truck in the two days it sat in a bodyshop. First time I cranked up the fan it whacked the mouse. Had to have the truck disinfected and fumigated after I found the over-ripe cadaver.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

When the dryer is running, go outside to where the vent is and see if you are getting any output. If there is no output or very little, then you have a clog.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

Thanks for all the advice guys. I will try them all and let you know how I make out. There does seem to be plenty of output, but that dosen't mean its not partially clogged I guess.<br /><br />Yikes! I didn't think of rodents or vermits.

 

[Topmason]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

I had this prob one time when renting.<br />Dryer was running all the time but clothes weren't getting dry.<br />I unhooked the dryer vent and got about a gallon of water out of it.<br />The dip that built the duplexes had the metal dryer vent running up the wall to the attic, then down to the gable end.<br />Dryer in garage, that cold metal pipe would condense the moisture and allow it to accumulate in the vent clogging the passage.

 

[chads15]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

Im with everyone else on this one. Vent is partial cloged. it doesnt take much. But you think you have good air movement now.. wait till you get the vent clear! I used a tennis ball with some fishing line tied to it.. threw it as far in as I could till it fell down the bend. (short run) then pulled a vent cleaner brush looking thing back through a bigger rope that I attached to the fishing line... Its getting slow drying again after 2 years.. so i guess its time to do it again. Sometimes I amaze myself..

 

[roscoe]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

My sister bought a new elctric dryer last month, same problem. THe retailer said it was working properly.<br /><br />Maybe its a new energy star deal to save electricity. Thanks Al Gore.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

hello<br /> if the vents check out have someone use the old multimeter on the outlets. I have had seveal houses in this salt air area that part of the 220 would get dirty connections, the fan and the motor would run fine just no heat from the elements. good luck and keep posting

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

Sounds to me like you have a wire burnt off on an element. Your element is only getting 120 instead of 220/240 volts. It will still get hot, but not hot enough.<br /><br /> Check your plug going into the wall. If it has got hot and the spades on the plug are burnt, this could be another cause.<br /><br />If that is okay, with it unpluged, open the panel where the pigtail/cord goes into the dryer. There should be a junction block/terminals. Sometimes this is where the wires can burn into.<br /><br />If it is not there, it could be on your heater element where the supply wire hooks to it, or even one side of the heater element is open circuit. Need to change element. I wouldn't pay anymore than $50 for the element. Not that hard of a job to do.<br /><br /> Pick up one of those DIY books on appliances. They give some good instructions.<br /><br />Good Luck Ladyfish<br /><br />SS

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

too hot shrinks clothes!<br /><br />let em fluff in reduced heat<br /><br />but do make sure the vent isnt blocked, the nuisance of slow drying clothes is NOTHING compared to a rapidly drying, oxidizing HOUSE, HELLO FIREMEN!!!!<br /><br />many new codes prohibit dryer installs with those flexible hoses, they want nice fireproof STEEL lines run

 

[DC698]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

I would always use a rigid metal pipe to run the dryer vent. The cheap plastic flexible hose doesnt vent correctly and can tear and kink very easily. Also very hard to clean when it does start to get blocked up. Rigid pipe will vent a lot better and will be easier to clean later on.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

I'm sure y'all have quite the visual of a blonde attempting to do the above suggested fixes ROTFL. Truth is, I will print this out and give to hubby for the 'honey do' list this week. Your suggestions will save time and money. (More money for Xmas presents for LF) <br /><br />Thanks again all.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

Yes LF, spinner has mental picture as I type this. <br /><br />Now LF's dryer has electric cord going thru vent hose to outside receptacle. <br /><br />J/K Ladyfish, but it does sound like a vent issue or not enough juice to the heating element.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

Don't want to step on toes here, but fixing appliances is my profession. If it was the dryer vent, the heat wouldn't be able to escape and would cause the dryer to either shut off or quit heating. This is because of the hight limit switch would open. This is a saftey device to prevent the dryer from overheating.<br /><br />Ladyfish did say she feels air coming out of the vent. With it taking forever to dry clothes tells me it is not getting the proper voltage to the heating element. <br /><br />In our resturants, if a plug for a grill/fryer is not plugged in all the way, it still gets hot, but it won't cook the meat as it should. It makes them mad when all I do is push the plug in all the way and then it works fine. Heating elements must have available ampreage/voltage to make them work 100%.<br /><br />I don't want to sound like a know it all, but I have repaired several hundred of these in my life.<br /><br />SS

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Dryer Dilemma

hello<br /> yep ss mine did that a few years ago. worked fine until the ex knocked the plug half out. the other time some roach bugs got into the recepacle in Cleburne Tx. caused a minor problem. nothing like the fire ants in the AC contactor though. good luck and keep posting