"J" wrote in message
...
Update: I've taken apart the dryer and have found four or five overloads.
I've check the resistance and none are opened. I've also check the
resistance of the heater element and I suspect it is also ok (read 20ohms
I think. Besides, I am getting heat and it doesn't appear that there are
any separate circuits going to multiple elements). The dryer is an
"Estate by Whirlpool" model and I haven't found a manual online anywhere.

At this point, I suspect it's one of the following:

1. There is not proper air flow which the heating element to overheat,
causing an overload to shut it off (until it cools down). If this is the
case, I would prefer an easy way to clean out the vent duct without
damaging it. How can I do this?

2. One of the overloads is defective and is cutting off power before
necessary. Running the dryer with the panel off and checking the voltage
drop across the overloads would probably be the only way to check for
this.

Any further help is much appreciated.

"J" wrote in message
...
Our electric dryer isn't drying as quick as it had in the past, but
eventually it does dry. Once in the past a repairman came out and
cleaned out the exhaust line and it began drying much better. Therefore
I went outside while it was running and from the amount of air, it
appears that the air is unimpeded. What could be the problem? Should I
try to look inside the dryer for more clues? Are dryers simple to get
into?



This is the dryer vent cleaner that I bought:
http://www.rewci.com/dryerventclean.html

I run the dryer with no heat and shove the rotating wand into the duct from
outside. I push it in a little and then pull it out then push it in further
(Hmm, reminds me of another activity). As I do this the air from the dryer
blows the lint out. After I do that I remove the flex duct from the back of
the dryer and push the wand through that a few times. I use the lint brush
to grab the lint inside the dryer through the vent hole. I also use the
lint brush to clean out the lint trap cavity.

After I do all this the drying time is considerably shorter.