How do I Fix a Hotpoint Clothes Dryer?

A broken dryer can cause your laundry to pile up.

Hotpoint is a home appliance brand owned by General Electric, a multinational American conglomerate based in Fairfield, Connecticut. If your Hotpoint clothes dryer stops working, you may want to try to fix it yourself before calling in a professional. If you have adequate knowledge of clothes dryers, this approach has potential to save to save you money. The best way to fix your Hotpoint clothes dryer is to run through some manufacturer-approved troubleshooting steps.

Instructions

1. Check the dryer's power supply. Make sure the power cable is firmly connected to an outlet and that your home fuses or circuit breakers have not been tripped. The dryer will be completely unresponsive if it isn't plugged in but may still spin if the fuse or circuit breakers are blown.

2. Check the shutoff valves at the back of the machine if you own a Hotpoint gas dryer. The drying cycle may start as normal but the drum will not heat if the dryer is unable to draw gas from the pipes.

3. Check the balance of the dryer if it shakes excessively during drying. Some vibration and motion is normal, but excessive noise and movement suggests that the dryer may be on uneven ground. Use a spirit level to make sure the dryer is sitting level before adjusting the dryer's legs.

4. Reduce the amount of clothes in the dryer if items come out wet or damp. Always separate large items from small. Increase the drying time for items such as beach towels, curtains or heavy blankets. Damp clothes are also caused by a full lint trap, blocked or kinked ducting, blown fuses or underloading of the dryer.

5. Only use clean clothes in the dryer. Grease spots may appear on your clothes if you mix dirty and clean laundry or if you do not follow your fabric softener directions properly. Make sure clothes have been completely cleaned by the washing machine before drying. Some stains may not appear until the clothes are dry.

6. Take measures to minimize lint. Excessive lint in the dryer can be caused by a full lint trap, certain fabrics, overloading or paper in the dryer. Make sure to empty the dryer's lint trap after every wash and to separate lint-producing fabrics such as chenille from lint catchers like corduroy. Make sure all pockets are empty before washing your clothes; wet paper or tissue can turn to lint in the dryer.

7. Reduce static in the dryer by using a fabric softener or laundry sheet. Static electricity can also be caused by over-drying. Reduce the drying time of your cycle if clothes come out static or hot to the touch.

8. Reduce wrinkling by making sure to set an appropriate drying time and promptly removing items from the dryer when the cycle is finished.

9. Avoid shrinkage by carefully reading clothes washing instructions. Always let an item air dry if you unsure about putting it in the dryer.

References

• GE Appliances: 453, 473 Dryer Manual (PDF)
• GE: History