My Dryer Takes Forever, Do I Need a New One?
If your dryer suddenly starts taking two or three cycles to dry clothes, there is a good chance the problem is not the dryer itself — and knowing the difference could save you from making a very expensive mistake.
There is a very specific kind of annoyance that comes from putting on a pair of blue jeans at six-thirty in the morning when they are still cold and slightly damp.
Especially when you pulled them out of the dryer after running two full cycles the night before and they still felt that way.
That will put the Monday blues in your Friday morning real quick.
When it starts happening more often, you catch yourself having those crazy-person conversations with yourself in traffic.
“Did I actually press start on that second cycle?”
“Yeah… I remember hearing them tumbling when I went to bed.”
“Well maybe the jeans were dry and I was still wet from the shower.”
“Nope. Took the shower last night.”
“You know this is probably why my electric bill has been so high.”
That is usually the point when people throw in the towel, damp as it may be, and set their mind that this dryer is done-for and needs to be replaced.
Next thing you know you are in a big box store signing over one arm and one leg for a gorgeous and shiny new drying machine with all the little bells and whistles. Eco friendly, with moisture sensitivities, and steam and of course wifi. Got to connect to the internet. And all sorts of little doo hickeys that make your life so easy, yes indeed, a certified drying machine.
The next week consists of you day dreaming of how wonderful this new machine is going to be. What are you going to do with all the time you save? "Maybe I will use the savings from the electric bill for a vacation fund."
You can't wait to call on friends and family and just brag about how this new machine has changed your life. Mmmmm-hmm.
Then the delivery day finally arrives.
They haul that fancy new machine inside and set it in place and it just glows like a Florida sunrise.
You run the first load. Pull you up a chair with your coffee and just watch the clothes spin.
Then that adorable chime beeps and you give a little chuckle as you pick up your laundry basket, visualizing yourself falling into a pile of warm, clean towels like on the laundry soap commercials.
You open up the door, reach in, and grab a handful of damp towels.
Now THAT is a special kind of heartbreak.
Talk about a pain right down to the soul.
Because now the reality sets in that you just spent a pile of money fixing the wrong problem.
Truthfully?
That happens more often than folks realize.
Because a dryer’s real job is not just making heat.
Its job is moving hot moist air out of the machine and out of your house.
And if that airflow gets restricted somewhere along the line, even a brand new dryer will struggle to dry clothes properly.
I am writing this because I had a customer named Dave over in Seminole yesterday who was absolutely convinced his dryer was “on its last leg.”
Said it took two or three cycles just to dry a few towels and he wanted us to bring him a new one.
I said "Now Dave, I would be happy to sell you a new dryer, but I recommend we come take a look first. If a dryer turns on, gets hot, and tumbles, its probably doing its job and it may not be the problem."
We came out and inspected the situation. The vent on the back was connected fine, the dryer was operating fine, so we walked around the house to the side where the air leaves the home. Sure enough, the flap that closes to keep animals out had built up wet lint that had dried and sealed the door shut.
That poor dryer had about as much airflow as a man trying to breathe underwater through a coffee straw.
We fixed the flap issue, cleaned the vent, and suddenly the dryer was back to drying like normal again.
Dave just stood there for a second staring at the machine.
Then he looked over and said:
“Well… I guess you just saved me a whole lotta money.”
Now to be fair, sometimes the dryer really is the problem.
Heating elements wear out.
Thermostats fail.
Moisture sensors get confused.
And older dryers absolutely can reach the point where repair no longer makes sense.
But you would be surprised how many people get rid of perfectly good dryers when the real issue was airflow all along.
That is why before spending big money on a replacement, it is worth checking a few things first:
- Is the dryer getting hot?
- Is air blowing strongly outside?
- Does the laundry room feel unusually humid?
- Has the vent system ever been cleaned?
- Does the dryer otherwise seem to run normally?
I like to think that whatever money I missed out on by not selling Dave a dryer at his request was an investment in a lifetime customer. I hope when it comes time for Dave to buy a new dryer, or washer, or fridge, he is going to remember Southern Appliance.
I think you folks might agree when I say "I'd rather my dryer be full of hot air than the fella selling me one."
Need Dryer Repair In Pinellas Park or Pinellas County?
When something goes wrong with an appliance, it is not always obvious how serious it is.
That is where we can help.
Southern Appliance will listen, ask the right questions, and help you figure out the next best move.
Call, text, or schedule your appliance repair online.
www.southernappliance.com