The 5 Common Electric Dryer Repair Problems

The electric dryer is one of the most helpful home appliances. However, like other appliances in a home, it is bound to develop mechanical problems. Some issues are common, while others only affect specific dryer brands. Regardless of the issue, it would help if you seek assistance from a licensed and experienced repair company like Pittsburgh Appliance Repair. Check out the most common dryer repair problems below.

A Clogged Dryer Duct

For vented dryers, the ducting may be obstructed, resulting in overheating. The clogged duct may also trap warm air inside, making it harder to dry the clothes in time. Also, you may notice a burning smell coming from the dryer, meaning it can start a fire if not checked. If you notice any of these signs, it is an indication that you should clean the buildup, dirt, and debris from the duct.

Besides cleaning, you should check whether your dryer’s unit has a flexible ducting material and if yes, you should straighten it once you notice it is twisted. Alternatively, you should contact a professional to check and unclog the ducting, especially if you do not have prior experience cleaning dryers.  

A Faulty Dryer’s Thermostats

One of the key features that makes your clothes dry in time is the dryer’s thermostat. In most dryers, there are two types of thermostats — cycling and high-limit thermostat. When one becomes faulty, the dryer may not control temperatures, making it hard to dry clothes in the expected time. In some cases, your dryer may shut off or overheat due to its inability to gauge the temperatures correctly. 

So, if the dryer shuts off (more than once) or overheats, there is a possibility that either the dryer’s cycling or high-limit thermostat needs a relook. While it may be easy to diagnose a faulty thermostat using a multimeter, there are no DIY alternatives to fixing it. The only remedy is replacing it with a new piece, preferably a thermostat approved by the dryer’s manufacturer. 

A Broken Drive Belt

Every dryer, regardless of the manufacturer, heats the clothes and tumble them to dry. Unfortunately, you may notice that it has stopped tumbling, making it impossible to dry the clothes. Besides making it hard to dry your clothes, the problem may lead to bigger problems such as damaging the motor and other parts.

Since the drive belt is at the heart of the dryer, replacing it by yourself is not a good idea, regardless of your experience in troubleshooting basic issues on your dryer. You may damage the motor when opening the dryer or after replacing the drive belt. Fortunately, with the help of a professional, replacing it takes less time, and the changes of other parts getting damaged are minimal. Also, you get the needed diagnosis of any potential threat your dryer might have besides the drive belt.

A faulty thermal fuse

Is your dryer tumbling but not drying the clothes? If you have attempted to resolve the problem by checking and changing the settings with no success, a faulty fuse may be the cause of this problem. Like other electronics, the fuse helps prevent the dryer from overheating and, more importantly, keeping you safe in case the machine develops mechanical problems.

Even though it is technical to replace the thermal fuse, the dryer regains its functionalities without other repairs once it is replaced. However, due to the design complexities of some dryers, contacting a professional is the best shot to replacing a faulty thermal fuse. Besides replacing the thermal fuse, the professional checks other issues your dryer may have, like the cause for the fuse issue.

A Damaged Drum Seal

If your dryer is working but makes strange noises with vibrations, the dryer’s drum seal might be broken. While there are many probable reasons why the drum seal may be faulty, the most likely reason is that you might be overloading it. The drum seal may also break if you put foreign objects in your dryer. Unfortunately, once damaged, it needs to be replaced to avoid vibrations and sounds.

For better results, do not attempt to replace the seal by yourself. In addition to the professional replacing the drum seal without damaging the dryer’s interior, they fix it with only approved replacements by the dryer’s manufacturer.

While most common electric dryer repair problems are easy to detect, repairing them needs more than the standard troubleshooting skills. Also, some models have sophisticated systems, making it hard to replace some parts without damaging others. So, calling a professional when the electric dryer is faulty is advisable, regardless of how small the problem seems to be on the surface.