Choosing New Appliances

When you start your dryer, you expect it to work so when you go back for your clothes later, they're nice and dry and the dryer has stopped. However, things can go wrong sometimes. If a part malfunctions, your dryer may keep running for a long time or not shut off at all. Here are four reasons this can happen and the dryer repairs you might need.

1. The Blower Wheel Is Obstructed

The blower wheel makes air to send to the dryer drum. It pulls air in and then pushes it on through the dryer vent. If something obstructs the wheel, it may barely turn or not turn at all. That can make the dryer run for a lot longer than normal.

The dryer repair technician has to take the cover off of the dryer to inspect the wheel. If there's a lint clog or a baby sock jammed in the wheel, the technician can clean out the wheel and see if it works properly. If the wheel was damaged, it can be replaced.

2. The Timer Isn't Working

The dryer timer is the knob you turn to set the time for the dryer. When the timer malfunctions, it doesn't count down the time as it's supposed to. Instead, the dryer keeps running until you turn it off.

A dryer repair technician can fix this problem by replacing the timer. This involves pulling the top part of the dryer open to expose the inside where the timer is located. To replace it, the repair technician has to unhook all the wires and then pull the bad timer out so it can be replaced.

3. A Thermostat Is Bad

The dryer has a couple of thermostats that regulate the temperature in the dryer drum. If one of the thermostats malfunctions, the burner may shut off, and that could cause the dryer to run much longer since the drum won't be nearly as hot.

The dryer repair technician may need to test the thermostats with a multimeter to find the one that's bad. Once the technician knows which part is bad, they can pull it out and replace it with a new thermostat.

4. The Lint Filter Is Clogged

If the lint filter in the dryer is clogged, airflow through the drum will be decreased, and this leads to a much longer drying time. To fix this problem, you can clean the lint off of the filter. However, the filter can also get clogged with residue from softener sheets, so it's a good idea to wash the filter to get it clean too.  

For more info, contact a local company like Collier County Appliance Service, Inc.