I’m an appliance expert – what to do if your dryer isn’t drying your laundry before paying a pro
THERE’S a laundry list of reasons (no pun intended) why your dryer may not be working.
The dryer not heating, not turning on or starting, not tumbling, or making a ton of noise, are all signs that you should take a good look at the appliance.
Luckily, some appliance experts keyed Reader’s Digest in on the steps to take when you suspect your dryer is not up to par.
MAKE SURE IT ISN’T OVERLOADED
You may be trying to jam too much clothes into your dryer all at once.
“It is important to make sure the dryer is not being overloaded,” said Gary Childers, a fabric care scientist and appliance expert with Procter & Gamble. “Overloading the dryer can cause issues with drying performance and noise when too much weight is inside the dryer.”
Childers advised to never fill the dryer drum more than three-quarters full.
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CHECK THE SETTINGS
To ensure you’re using the right amount of heat for your clothes, be sure to pay attention to the laundry symbols on your garments.
They will let you know what dryer setting is best.
CLEAN THE FILTER
Shawn Ashby, a laundry brand manager with Whirlpool, suggested checking the lint filter.
Lint blocking the dryer’s airflow is a common reason for dryers not drying to the best of their ability.
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“We recommend making sure the lint screen is clean and that you clean the screen before every use,” Ashby explained. “Wet lint is harder to remove, so don’t scrub or use water.”
You should do a deep cleaning of the lint screen every six months.
CHECK THE EXTERNAL DRYER VENT
“Your dryer’s exhaust vent may be clogged if dry times are lagging, clothes aren’t getting dry, or you can’t feel air moving through the outside vent,” said Ashby.
That said, cleaning your dryer vent is extremely important.
CLEAN DEEP INSIDE THE VENT
It’s possible that there’s lint buildup deep inside the vent.
“We recommend removing lint from the entire length of the vent system at least every two years,” said Ashby.
If you’re not able to hire someone to do it, you can do it on your own by purchasing a vent cleaning kit.
MAKE SURE THE VENT SYSTEM IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY
If you clean inside the vent and that doesn’t work, Ashby recommended checking its installation instructions to make sure you installed the dryer vent system correctly.
“For example, you’ll want to make sure the vent system falls within the recommended run length and number of elbows for the type of vent that you’re using,” he said.
CLEAN THE SENSOR
Machine manufacturers recommend cleaning the dryer’s sensors to get the correct moisture detection.
“If these are not cleaned, the dryer could take longer to dry the clothes,” said Childers.
MAKE SURE THE DRYER IS IN A VENTILATED SPACE
Ashby said one of the most common reasons for a dryer not working correctly is that it’s located in an area that’s too small for the appliance.
“If installed in a closet, the closet doors must have ventilation openings at the top and bottom of the door,” he explained. “The front of the washer/dryer requires a minimum of three inches of airspace, one inch on the sides. And for most installations, the rear of the washer/dryer requires four inches.”
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CHECK FOR HEAT
Ensure the heat is working by turning it on for five to 10 minutes.
“Hold your hand under the outside exhaust hood to check air movement,” said Ashby. “If the air movement is less than a hair dryer on high speed, clean the lint from the entire length of the system and the exhaust hood.”