Crank up the heat... Fixing A Broken Dryer

So, you ran a load of wet clothes through your dryer for an hour and they came out wetter than when they went in. Besides the obvious disregard for thermodynamics, you've got a problem. Thankfully, I had the same problem and I can help you fix it or at least rule out some things before you call a pro or buy a new one. I should point out now that I understand not everyone has the same brand and model of dryer as me, so make sure you get the manual or parts diagram from your manufacturer's website and check YouTube for videos about working on it.

That's... a lot of warnings.

Our dryer had been showing sings of something being wrong shortly after we moved in. Loads of clothes started to take two trips through the dryer to get dry and it just wasn't putting out enough heat. The first thing I did was to check that the lint trap was cleaned out and that there was no blockage in the exhaust hose preventing air circulation. After ruling that out, I decided it was time to take it apart and check out the heating element.

Now taking apart a dryer probably sounds sketchy to most people. You probably think it's full of important gears and sophisticated doodads like a fancy pocket watch. That may be the case for the high end front load models (I can't afford them so I'm guessing here), but for basic dryers like mine, they have next to nothing inside. Just a few essential parts. They're pretty easy to get into as well. Just remove about a dozen screws from the back panel and you're in.

Seriously, there's gonna be a lot of these...

Once you've eliminated air flow as an issue, the next thing I'd look at are the parts that produce the heat. Well, I guess I should say "control" the heat because there are a few fuses/thermostats that could go bad as well. The worst part about those is that they have no visual way of telling you that the fuse has blown. You have to test them with voltmeter. However, you can make an educated guess about one of the two fuses. One sets just above the hole where you attach the exhaust hose. If your dyer did have a lint issue, especially in the hose or bottom of the lint trap, excess heat could have tripped that fuse. If it is clear like mine was, then it is probably still in tact. This fuse's purpose is to prevent lint trap fires, so if you have to replace it, consider it a small price to pay for a non-crispy house.

Also, don't forget to check for cats.

The second fuse is actually part of the heating element, so I went ahead and removed the element to check it over. Sure enough, when I got it out and checked all the coils, it had busted. Looking at the break it was hard to tell if it had snapped from regular use or if it was broken from bouncing around when we moved. Either way, it was broke and needed replaced, so I didn't dwell on it too much.

Second fuse attached to element.

So, basically, all I needed to do was order a new element, slap it back in, and I would be back in business. If the coils hadn't been broken I would have taken the attached fuse to a friend who has a voltmeter and tested it. And if that tested out ok, I would then consider calling in a pro or just buying a new dryer. Buying new sounds drastic, but you have to consider what a service call, plus parts, plus labor is going to cost if you call one in. It might be cheaper, but if it's within 75% of buying new I'd rather have a new, likely more energy efficient, dryer than pay that much to get my same old dryer back to working order.

A couple more quick tips. I ended up just buying a new element on Amazon, but I should have payed a bit more and got the fuse and element combo instead. It's a good idea to just go ahead replace both at the same time. Be sure to look for this option for your model. Also, don't freak out if the new element doesn't look like the old one. As long as you've covered your bases by checking the part numbers, and everything lines up and attaches right, it is fine. This was my second time putting an element in this dryer and none of the elements have matched the one they replaced in appearance.

Check those model numbers!

More like cousins than brothers, but as long as it works I'll take it.

Hopefully this helps save you some money or at least encourages you to take a look inside your dryer the next time it quits on you instead of making a service call or pitching it to the curb.

Thanks for reading!