How to Fix a Clothes Dryer

If you're like most people, you rarely give your dryer a second thought-until it breaks down. Suddenly, thoughts of stringing clothesline inside the house or outside in icy weather make you droop. Don't despair. Many problems with clothes dryers are easy fixes.

Instructions

1. Check the plug and receptacle (outlet) if you have no power. Most electric dryers plug into a 240-volt receptacle, not the standard 120-volt. Try testing something else in the same receptacle to make certain the receptacle works. If it does, verify that the circuit breaker or fuse is functional.

2. Make certain that the dryer door is firmly closed and that no clothing is caught on the door switch. Check the door switch by pressing it in. If you don't hear a click, your dryer isn't getting the message that it's ok to turn on. The door switch needs replacing.

3. Inspect the lint trap when a clothes dryer takes too long to dry clothes. Remove any lint, and try again. Even if your lint trap is clean, lint may clog the vent. Disconnect electric dryers or turn off the gas for gas dryers before removing the air duct hose from the back of the dryer. Remove built-up lint or other clogs in the hose. The easiest method is to aim a leaf blower into the hose.

4. Verify that the air duct hose contains no holes or kinks. Pushing a dryer close to the wall forms kinks that restrict the airflow through air duct hoses.

5. Check that your controls are on correct settings when you aren't getting as much heat as you would like. It could be that your clothes dryer is set on "air" or "fluff."

6. Add a few more items of clothing when drying just one or two things, particularly if you own a dryer with an Auto-Dry cycle. This improves the drying cycle.

7. Listen for noises that don't sound right, particularly if the dryer drum isn't tumbling. You may have a problem with the motor, belt or switch. This is best serviced by a qualified repair person.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the lint filter before operating the dryer each time.

• If you own a gas dryer and detect a smell of natural gas, don't light anything or operate any electrical appliance. Turn off the gas valve to the dryer or the gas meter, if possible. Open windows. Move everyone out of the house, and contact the gas company from your cell or a neighbor's phone.

• Venting a dryer into an indoor space like a basement, crawlspace or garage leads to mold and damage to walls.