Introduction
You may have noticed that your clothes still come out damp after being in the dryer. That’s one of the signs of a broken dryer, but there’s a lot more. While there’s some troubleshooting you can do on your own, others require the help of a professional. You can hire them by searching “dryer repair near me”. Let’s check out how you can identify a broken dryer:
The Ways
- Dryer won’t start – A dryer that doesn’t start may have numerous problems. The first thing you need to do is check the power source. If you haven’t plugged the dryer into the socket properly, it may not start. If there is something wrong with the circuitry, you need to call an electrical technician.
Dryers are also expensive, power-hungry appliances and have circuit breakers to protect themselves from high voltage and electrical spikes. While gas dryers have a single breaker, electric dryers often come with two breakers. Check for tripped breakers and flip them up.
Apart from power and circuit issues, the dryer door is another factor that can prevent the appliance from starting. Dryer doors have safety mechanisms in the form of a switch. Similar to your refrigerator that has an internal light switch attached to the door, the dryer has one as well. However, this switch prevents the dryer from starting if the door isn’t closed properly.
If you have an electric dryer, a blown fuse may be the problem. Apart from circuit breakers in your home, electric dryers also have a thermal fuse that burns and blows up if the dryer goes through a heat overload. In that case, you need to replace the fuse.
Old dryers with dial timers have a push to start the switch. If the switch breaks, it prevents the dryer motor from running. In that case, you need to replace the push switch. However, to detect this problem you need a multimeter and measure the continuity on the wires between the push to start switch and the motor.
Apart from the problems mentioned above, your dryer may also have a faulty circuit board. The dryer’s circuit board is responsible for operating the dryer and regulating the current flow to different components. A circuit board will have burnt marks if it short circuits and in that case, you need to call a repair technician.
- Low heat – You may set the dryer to a high heat setting and run a cycle to dry your clothes. Even after the cycle runs, you find your clothes to be cold and damp. This problem may occur due to a damaged heating element.
If you own a gas dryer, check the gas supply valve. If the valve is closed partially, it wouldn’t be able to supply adequate quantities of gas to the dryer. With a lack of fuel, the dryer won’t be able to generate sufficient heat to dry your clothes.
For electric dryers, there may be an issue with the fuses. While fuses may stop your dryer from starting, sometimes they allow the dryer to operate and the drum to spin even when they are broken. You need to replace damaged fuses to fix the problem.
- Squeaky grinding noise – Squeaking and grinding noises may have been the norm with appliances and cars in the old days. However, modern appliances that make those noises certainly have problems. When it’s coming from your dryer, it may be due to worn and damaged bearings in the motor.
While the squeaky noises may seem like a mere annoyance, they can escalate very quickly and damage the dryer motor permanently if left to its demise. A dryer motor is very expensive, and the bill may break the bank. You need to get a professional to look at the motor as soon as possible and change the damaged bearings to ensure the smooth operation of your dryer.
- Drum won’t turn – While it isn’t supposed to be loud, a dryer isn’t designed to run silently either. If it’s too quiet, check if the dryer drum is turning as usual. If the drum won’t spin, the clothes won’t dry efficiently. You may have a partially dry load with the rest of the clothes and fabric still damp.
The usual suspect for a stationary drum is the dryer belt. The belt is responsible for spinning the drum and all that friction wears it down and even stretches it over time. Replacing the belt is the clear solution. While you can do it yourself by ordering a replacement belt from the manufacturer, it’s best to leave this kind of work to the reliable hands of a professional.
- Dryer stops mid-cycle – A dryer may stop in the middle of a running cycle due to numerous reasons. However, the usual suspects are an electric issue or an overheating issue. The latter is easy to fix.
Check the dryer’s ventilation and clean out the dust and lint that may have accumulated on the vents and filters. Make sure that air can circulate properly. If the dryer doesn’t run properly after the heating issue is fixed, you need to get a professional to repair any issue with the electrical circuit.
- Burning smell – Sometimes even a fully functional dryer may have underlying problems that need to be fixed quickly. If your clothes are coming out too hot with a mild burning smell, you need to unplug the dryer and remove all items of clothing or fabric as quickly as you can.
After you avoid any slim chances of the dryer catching on fire, you need to call a repair technician to fix the issue. It may be due to lint buildup, a broken motor, a faulty thermostat, or other problems. When there’s a risk of fire it’s always best to allow a pro to handle the job.
Conclusion
Now that you know all the signs of a broken dryer, you can take the appropriate measures for a quick fix. If the problem is too big, it’s best to leave it to professionals who have the right training and years of expertise. To hire a reputable dryer repair service search for “dryer repair near me”.