ATOT handymen help needed - dryer

[dfuze]

The duct line exhausting outside had a decent amount. I always cleaned out the pullout lint trap and put my shop vac tube as far down the lint trap area as far as it would go but it appears to be no where near far enough, as when I took the curving metal trap off the dryer itself it had a decent amount of built up lint as well. I'm confident to say that it is now very clean inside the unit.

 

[DaTT]

You know, now that i read this thread, my dryer will probably crap out within the week.

But good job on the fix.

 

[sdifox]

First time in 13 years I've had an issue at all w/ the dryer, is it something that would be more common place to happen now that it occurred once?

Buy 2, tape the spare on the back panel securely for the next time.

 

[dfuze]

That is a very good place to keep it, ensures that you will always find it

 

[highland145]

You know, now that i read this thread, my dryer will probably crap out within the week.

But good job on the fix.

Say thanks to OT because you can fix it for cheap.


PSA:Clean your vents. Dryer fires are bad for your house.

Old info but applicable.

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that in 1998, clothes dryers were associated with 15,600 fires, which resulted in 20 deaths and 370 injuries. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers[/FONT][/FONT]

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5022.html

 

[dfuze]

^^ very true, I thought it was enough to stick the shop vac hose into the lint trap but after taking the shroud off of the blower I was amazed how much more was still there. Well worth the hour or less to take the unit apart once or twice a year for safety.

 

[iRONic]

http://youtu.be/2U1caNuhgnI

 

[dfuze]

Woot, replaced the thermal fuse, put everything back together in less than 20 minutes, and it works like new again!

 

[Modelworks]

My brother runs an appliance store and the top things that cause a dryer to quit working are the fuses, the door switch , the clutch switch (small switch that tells the dryer the motor needs a boost to get started).
Top reasons they fail in the first place are not cleaning out the vent and traps and overloading. He had one lady that couldn't understand why her new dryer failed. Just because the thing can hold all your clothes and your neighbors too inside the dryer doesn't mean it is meant too

 

[DrPizza]

Great to hear! It's amazing how much lint builds up in there - it seems that cleaning the lint out is as important as getting your oil changed for a car. But few people ever do it (and nationwide, this results in a lot of fires each year.)

 

[dfuze]

I think people get too complacent (myself included until now) thinking that the lint trap catches all and that cleaning that does a good job.

 

[edro]

Solid ductwork is much better at limiting lint build up and increase performance dramatically.
I think those accordion style exhaust tubes are illegal or at least against some sort of code.

 

[dfuze]

I heard the plastic accordion type are not to code, but thought the alum ones were ok. I can see why they aren't liked though, while flexible for bends, they do tend to catch lint in the creases.