How to Troubleshoot Slow Drying in a Dryer

DryerModerate⏱ 30 minutes - 1 hour

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Use this guide to find airflow restrictions that make a dryer dry slowly or stop drying altogether. Poor airflow traps hot, damp air inside the dryer, which can trip a safety thermostat, blow a thermal fuse, overheat internal parts, wear out belts, and create a fire hazard. This guide applies to most dryers, though the cabinet-opening steps best match many Kenmore and Whirlpool-style machines.

🧰 Tools

Work Gloves
Putty Knife
Safety Glasses
6-in-1 Screwdriver
Vacuum Cleaner
Soft Cloth

ШагиSteps

Prepare the dryer safely

Turn off the dryer and let it cool before touching the vent or opening the cabinet.
Unplug the power cord before moving the dryer, disconnecting the vent, or removing any panels.
Close the gas shutoff valve before moving or opening a gas dryer.
Wear work gloves when reaching around sheet-metal edges inside the cabinet.
Run the dryer only when it is fully assembled and vent-connected, except when you are actively disassembling it.

Identify an airflow issue

Treat slow drying or no drying as an airflow problem before assuming the heater is bad.
Poor airflow can trip the safety thermostat or blow the thermal fuse.
Check the lint filter, vent hose, exterior outlet, and internal lint buildup before replacing parts.
Accumulated lint near the heater, motor, or thermostats can smoke or ignite.

Clean the lint filter

Pull the lint filter out of the dryer.
Remove the lint until air can pass through the mesh freely.
Clean the lint filter before every drying cycle.
All exhaust air passes through this filter before it leaves the dryer.
A blocked lint filter restricts airflow and can make clothes take much longer to dry.

Plan vent hose cleaning

Clean the vent hose or exhaust duct at least once a year.
Clean the vent about every six months if the run is longer than 10 feet.
Long vent runs slow the air near the outlet, so lint gets trapped more easily.
Keep the vent hose as short, straight, and kink-free as the installation allows.

Check the outside vent outlet

Run the dryer with the vent connected and go to the outside exhaust outlet.
Make sure the flap, damper, louver, or screen opens fully while the dryer runs.
Clear animal nests, dryer sheets, loose lint, and other debris from the outlet.
Check the outside vent outlet about once a month.
A restriction at the outlet can choke the entire vent run and cause poor drying.

Inspect the vent hose

Unplug the dryer and move it away from the wall.
Loosen the vent clamp and disconnect the vent hose from both the wall outlet and the back of the dryer.
Remove the rear panel on a Kenmore or Whirlpool-style dryer if a short outlet or hidden clamp prevents access from outside.
Look through the vent hose for lint buildup, clogs, kinks, crushed spots, or sharp bends.
Use a shop vacuum to remove loose lint and debris from the hose.
Reconnect the hose so it stays open and does not kink when the dryer is pushed back.

Clean behind the dryer

Use a shop vacuum to clean the floor and wall area behind the dryer.
Remove lint, socks, hairpins, coins, hair, and other debris from the area.
Loose debris can block the vent, get pulled into the dryer, or simply make the repair messier.

Clean the lint filter housing

Remove the lint filter from the top or front of the dryer.
Remove the two screws that secure the lint-filter housing.
Remove the screws at the bottom of the housing, then lift and pull the housing out.
Use a shop vacuum and a soft cloth to remove lint, seeds, hairpins, and other debris from the housing.
Clean the blower-wheel area and make sure the full air path is clear.
On some Kenmore and Whirlpool-style dryers, the lint-filter screws also help secure the top panel.

Open a Kenmore or Whirlpool-style cabinet

Keep the dryer unplugged and leave the two lint-filter screws out if you removed them.
Use a putty knife to press the two front clips under the top panel, or pull the front of the top panel forward to release them.
Lift the top panel.
Disconnect the door-switch plug at the front panel.
Remove the two front-facing screws that secure the front panel with a screwdriver.
Lift the front panel off the two lower hooks and pull it away from the dryer.

Clean inside the dryer

Use a shop vacuum to remove lint from the bottom of the cabinet, motor, heater housing, thermostats, rollers, idler pulley, and belt path.
Remove lint before testing the dryer so loose debris cannot fall onto the heater.
Clear any lint blanket from the motor so it can cool properly.
Spin the rollers by hand and clean lint from the shafts if they feel stiff or hard to turn.
Spin the idler pulley by hand and clean it if it does not turn freely.
A stiff idler pulley can cause repeated belt failures.
Wear safety glasses if you use an air gun to blow lint from rollers or pulleys.
Apply light machine oil sparingly only if your dryer model allows lubrication.

Reassemble and test the dryer

Set the front panel back onto the two lower hooks and secure it with its screws.
Reconnect the door-switch plug, lower the top panel, and reinstall the lint-filter housing screws.
Reconnect the vent hose and tighten the clamp.
Push the dryer back without crushing or kinking the vent hose.
Reopen the gas shutoff valve if this is a gas dryer, then plug the dryer back in.
Run the dryer and confirm that the outside vent flap opens fully with strong airflow.

Keep the lint filter clean before every load, check the outside outlet monthly, clean the vent at least once a year, clean vents longer than 10 feet about every 6 months, and clean inside the dryer about once a year to improve efficiency and reduce fire risk. Repair didn't go as planned? Ask our Answers community for help.

«How to Troubleshoot Slow Drying in a Dryer» — автор eCuration, iFixit, лицензия CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Показано без изменений. Открыть оригинал и комментарии →