Some households still successfully and happily hang their clothes outside to dry. However, when you live in a climate that is often cool and wet, that’s not always feasible. Electric and gas clothes dryers are a must-have for nearly every household, so when your dryer is having issues, it can cause a panic.
The experienced technicians at Top Shelf Appliance have some troubleshooting tips to help you diagnose the problems your dryer is having. When you need reliable dryer repair service, give us a call at (253) 486-9072. We can diagnose the problem and get you back up and running quickly.
The Dryer Won’t Heat Up
If you have an electric dryer, make sure the fuse or circuit breaker is operating correctly. If all the fuses are operational and you have reset the circuit breakers, but the dryer still won’t heat, the unit’s thermal fuse may have blown.
For households with a gas dryer, be sure the gas supply is working.
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The Dryer Will Not Start
If your clothes dryer won’t start, the trouble may simply be with the latch on the door. Make sure the door is closed and latched properly, lint may be blocking it and prevent it from closing correctly.
If your dryer has a knob on the control panel you must push to get the dryer to start, take the knob off, and clean it. The button may not push in fully. A clean and unobstructed button may solve the problem.
We always recommend people check their fuses and circuit breakers when there is a complication with the dryer. If it’s not your household circuit breaker or fuse, it could be an internal fuse in the dryer.
Other common issues include:
- Defective start switch
- Broken door switch
- Faulty drive motor
- Failed belt switch
- Broken drive belt
- Damage to the main control board
Items in the Dryer Take Several Cycles to Get Dry
This is a common problem: Clean the lint filter to allow for proper airflow. If that doesn’t help, it’s likely you need to have your dryer vent professionally cleaned. Nearly 3,000 clothes dryer fires are reported each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Those fires can be deadly and cause untold damage.
Experts recommend having your dryer vent professionally and thoroughly cleaned every one to two years. Not only does it help prevent fires, but it also keeps your dryer operating optimally and efficiently.
If your lint trap is clean and your dryer vent was recently professionally serviced, try making the loads in your dryer smaller. Overcrowding prevents proper air and heat flow, meaning items take much longer to get dry. Fabric softener dryer sheets may also block the dryer grill or lint trap. If this happens repeatedly, try using wool dryer balls instead to help reduce static.
The issue may also be:
- Blocked or worn blower wheel
- Burned out heating element or assembly
- Malfunctioning moisture sensor
- Defective thermostat
The Dryer Stops Suddenly
If your dryer seems to be working fine, but stops suddenly in the middle of a cycle, it could be an issue with the thermostat or thermal parts within the dryer to keep it from overheating.
Other common issues include:
- Broken drive belt
- Worn drum roller, drum support roller, or axle
- Deteriorated drum slide (also called drum glides) or drum pads
- Spent drum bearing
- Overheating drive motor
- A defective dryness control board
The Dryer Is Making Strange Noises
An over vibrating dryer or excessive knocking or thumping noises can mean your dryer is no longer level. Be sure to adjust the legs of your dryer so they are all even.
Items inside the dryer may also be the issue. Small objects can get caught between the drum and the shell of the dryer and large objects, such as clothing or sheets, can become tangled or bunched.
The Dryer Reaches the End of an Automatic Cycle, Items Are Not Dry
Instead of using an automatic cycle, try switching to a timed dry cycle. The moisture sensor strips may also be covered with residue left over from fabric softener dryer sheets.
Cleaning the moisture sensor strips may be an easy solution. Refer to your owner’s manual to locate the moisture sensor strips and how to clean them properly.
Issues We See Commonly
Some of the most common dryer repair issues we experience are:
- Dryers that don’t start at all
- A dryer that does not heat up or leaves items wet
- A dryer that overheats and shrinks or scorches items
- Dryers that don’t spin
The technicians at Top Shelf Appliance can diagnose and repair all of this and more, for any brand of dryer. Often, we can have your dryer back up and running, just like new, in only one to two hours.
If, for whatever reason, your dryer is older and the cost of repairing is more than you want to spend on an outdated appliance, or if the dryer is not repairable, your Top Shelf Appliances technician can recommend new, reasonably priced, reliable, and energy-efficient dryers.
Schedule Your Dryer Repair Appointment Today
When you’ve attempted the troubleshooting steps mentioned above and your dryer still does not operate properly, call Top Shelf Appliance at (253) 486-9072. We can provide service the same day you call, and our technicians arrive during our scheduled two-hour window.
All technicians are licensed and insured, and all repairs include a 90-day warranty. Best of all, your service call is free with any repair.
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