In this section of Hometips for Home Improvement, we learn some of the basic problems related with a washing machine / clothes washer / clothes dryer and DIY repair and how to fix these problems.

Normally, in any clothes dryer or washing machine, there is a problem with the source of heat or the motor that tumbles the clothes. Most often clothes don’t dry because the dryer doesn’t get hot enough or the drum doesn’t rotate.

If you have a gas dryer and it doesn’t dry clothes properly, check the pilot light or igniter which may not be lighting the burner. Next check the dryer’s vent to make sure it is not clogged with lint.
* All repair work on clothes drier should be done after the unit is unplugged from the power source. If you are working on a gas dryer, turn off the gas supply to the gas drier at the appliance shutoff valve before working on it. Regular maintenance of the clothes dryer will keep the appliance in good shape for many years. You should always clean the lint trap after every load, and clean the vent system once or twice a year.

A clothes dryer basically has a motor that turns a big drum containing the clothes. A heat source blows warm air into the drum to dry the clothes. Some dryers have an electric element to do the heating while few others use a gas to do the work.

Let us now learn and under some the problems related with a clothes dryer and learn how to repair and fix these problems.

If your dryer’s automatic timer is failing to advance or signal your dryer to shut off, most likely there is a problem with your vents or internal ductwork. If your complaint is that your dryer takes too long to dry, it is most likely that the dryer’s vent is blocked with lint. Dryers should properly vented to carry away moisture in the air. Vents that go out the roof are particularly problematic and dryer may take far too long to dry clothes and the vent pipe may even drip water. The minimum size for a dryer’s roof vent should be atleast 4 inches.

Do following do solve the above problems with your dryer:

1) Check and clean the lint trap.

2) Make sure the dryer is not pushed very close to the wall that it pinches off the airflow through the vent’s air duct hose.

3) Next, check the point where the air duct vents away from the house. Make sure it is not blocked by any plant, bird or any other object. If the duct vents out the roof, it can easily be blocked with lint.

4) Disconnect the air duct hose from the back of the gas dryer and clean out any built-up lint. As mentioned above, turn off the gas supply to the dryer prior to any repair work.

5) If required, clean out the ductwork from the dryer to the exterior wall where it vents. You can also blow lint and debris through the duct and out the exterior wall vent using an electric leaf blower.

6) If the problem is still not fixed and solved and the dryer still takes too long to dry clothes, remove the lint filter and check for any internal clogs using a flashlight. You can use your vacuum to suction out any blockages.

7) If the problem is still now fixed, you may call the customer care or an expert repairperson.

If your clothes dryer doesn’t run, do following diagnostics to determine the problem and to fix it:

1) Make sure the dryer is plugged in and turned on. Check the receptacle for power supply using a working lamp, another appliance, or voltage tester. Most electric dryers operate on 240 volts and not the standard 110-volt.

2) Unplug the dryer and check the power cord and the terminal block. Replace the cord if required.

3) Open the door and check the door switch. Press and release it. It should click every time. If it doesn’t click, maybe it is broken. If you have the experience at home repair, you can remove the switch, test it, and replace yourself or you can call an appliance repair service or expert.

4) If the dryer is still not working the most probably a thermal fuse or other electrical or electronic part may be faulty. The thermal fuse can be found in the back cover panel. Most often it stops working if the dryer overheats. If you suspect an electrical part may be malfunctioning, call an expert appliance service person.

If a dryer tumbles or goes around but doesn’t produce warm air, there could be some interruption at the heat source. Run the dryer for 2 to 3 minutes and make sure the dial or controls are not set to non-heat setting such as “Fluff” or “Wrinkle Release.”

If it is an electric dryer and there is no heat, it could mean that the circuit power breaker or power fuse has blown. Reset or replace it. Sometimes a dryer may have two breakers or fuses. The motor runs even when only one is working , but the heating element requires both.

If it is a gas dryer, you may need to check the gas valve behind the dryer to make sure the gas supply is turned on. Also make sure the house’s main gas valve is turned on.

Most of the modern dryers have electronic ignition instead of a pilot light. If your dryer has electronic ignition and is not heating, you may call an expert repairperson.

If you have an older dryer, check if the pilot light is burning. If it is not burning, relight it. Look at the owner’s manual for directions. Pilot light instructions are often mounted next to the pilot light on the burner. Read these instructions and follow them.

If your dryer runs but doesn’t tumble, this situation indicates that something is wrong with the door switch, motor, or belt. Call a qualified clothes dryer repair service.

If you smell natural gas near your dryer, do not light matches or a lighter, and also don’t operate electrical switches or anything that might spark and may ignite an explosion. Do following:

1) Shut off the gas valve immediately that serves the dryer.

2) If the smell is mild, ventilate the area, and wait until the air is clear. When there is no more smell, relight the pilot light.

3) If the smell is strong, move everyone out and leave the doors open to ventilate the house.

4) Turn off the gas supply valve.

5) Call your gas supplier or the fire department from a neighbor’s phone or somebody else’s mobile cellphone outside.

If your dryer is noisy, scour the interior of the drum for loose any objects. Some noises are caused by objects bouncing around inside the dryer. If there is no loose object inside the drum, the noise may be caused by a defective part, such as a worn or defective drum belt, idler pulley, support rollers, glides, or worn motor bearings. Call an appliance repair service to replace these parts.