Dryer Repair and Dryer Vent Safety

Dryer problems we fix

We repair electric and gas dryers, including stacked units and laundry centers, from most major brands such as Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, GE and Bosch.

Dryer runs but doesn't heat

On an electric dryer, the usual causes are a burned-out heating element, a blown thermal fuse, a failed high-limit or cycling thermostat, or a tripped half of a double breaker (the drum turns but there's no heat). On a gas dryer, we check the igniter, flame sensor and gas valve coils. A thermal fuse that keeps blowing is a warning sign: it usually means the dryer is overheating because of a restricted vent, and replacing the fuse alone won't fix that.

Clothes take too long to dry

Most often, long dry times come from poor airflow: a clogged lint screen, a crushed transition duct behind the dryer, a vent line packed with lint, or a stuck outside vent flap. It can also be a weak heating element, a faulty moisture sensor, or simply overloading.

Won't start

A dryer that's completely dead may have a tripped breaker, a failed door switch, a blown thermal fuse (many dryers won't run at all when it blows), a bad start switch or a broken belt that trips a safety switch.

Squealing, thumping or grinding

Worn drum rollers, a failing idler pulley, worn drum glides or a flat spot on the belt make distinctive sounds. Catching them early usually saves the motor from extra strain.

Drum doesn't turn

If you hear the motor hum but the drum stays still, the drive belt has probably snapped or slipped off the pulley.

Dryer vent safety tips

According to the U.S. Fire Administration and the NFPA, failure to clean is the leading factor in home clothes dryer fires. Lint is highly flammable, and a restricted vent traps heat inside the dryer.

• Clean the lint screen before or after every load. Wash it with warm soapy water every few months; dryer sheets can leave a film that blocks airflow even when the screen looks clean.
• Use the right duct. The connector behind the dryer should be rigid or semi-rigid metal. Replace white plastic or thin foil accordion ducts, which crush easily and trap lint.
• Keep it short and straight. Push the dryer back only as far as it goes without crushing the duct. Every bend adds resistance.
• Check the outside vent. With the dryer running, you should feel strong airflow at the exterior hood, and the flap should open freely. Birds, wasps and lint can block it.
• Watch for warning signs: clothes hot to the touch but still damp, a laundry room that gets unusually hot, a burning smell, or lint collecting around the outside vent.
• Don't run the dryer when you're away or asleep, and keep the area around it clear of boxes, laundry and cleaning products.
• Gas dryers: if you ever smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.

Long vent runs in newer Houston-area homes

Many two-story homes built in master-planned communities around Katy, Fulshear and Cypress put the laundry room upstairs or in the middle of the house, with a dryer vent that runs a long way to the roof or an outside wall. Long runs with several turns collect lint faster and make any dryer work harder. If you live in one of these homes and drying times keep creeping up, have the whole vent line checked and cleaned regularly, not just the part behind the dryer. Roof vents are often best left to a professional with the right equipment rather than a ladder trip in the heat.

When to call

If your dryer has stopped heating, keeps blowing fuses, smells hot, or takes longer every month, call (346) 307-4075. We'll find the failed part and tell you whether airflow is part of the problem, so the repair actually lasts. For ongoing care, see preventive maintenance, and if your washer is acting up too, see washer repair.