7 Simple Dryer Repairs You Can Do Yourself
Your
dryer, like most appliances, is one of those things you take for granted. Until it stops working, of course! To prevent that from happening, we’ve put together a list of seven simple things you can do yourself to keep your dryer working at its best.
- Keep the Lint Filter Clean
This is truly the simplest thing you can do to help your dryer. And make sure you clean the lint filter before or after every single load. If you have some stubborn lint that won’t budge, there’s a special brush you can get to help. The brush is also great to clean out the filter’s chute, or you can use the skinny tool attachment on your vacuum as well. If your filter is torn or cracked, you can find a new one here.
- Clear the Venting System
Once a year, you need to clean out the inside of your dryer’s venting system (that big tube going from your dryer to the outside). And yes, this is something you can do yourself. All you need is a special cleaning brush to easily remove any lint buildup in the tube.
- Go with Aluminum Tubing
While you’re inspecting the venting system, look at the tube itself. If it’s white vinyl tubing, you’ll want to replace it with aluminum tubing. Vinyl tubing is highly restrictive and doesn’t meet U.S. federal fire safety standards.
- Vacuum Your Dryer
Yes, you can vacuum your dryer! On a yearly basis, disassemble your dryer and use a long hose attachment to vacuum the built up lint. Just don’t forget to reassemble your dryer before the next laundry day!
- Check Your Outside Vent
Go outside and check the area around your dryer’s vent cap. Do this seasonally and remove any snow, leaves or bushes blocking air flow. And if your vent cover has seen better days, you may want to get a new one.
- Trouble Drying?
What good is a dryer that’s not drying your clothes as quickly as it should? If it’s taking too long to dry, your venting system may be clogged. (Read tip #2 to fix this. Clogged venting from a gas dryer could cause a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide in your home. As a precaution, you may want to consider getting a Lint Alert system to monitor blockage. It alerts you if there’s air flow restriction in your dryer vent.|
- Not Working at All?
If your dryer has decided to stop working altogether, it may be due to a clogged vent. If this is the case, then it may have overheated and the thermal fuse may be blown. The thermal fuse is a safety device designed to protect the dryer from overheating. To test it, you can use a multimeter. If it’s blown, replace the thermal fuse and clean out your vent before using the dryer again.
If you need a little help with any of the above tips, check out our Dryer Maintenance Tips video.
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