Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?

"Znott" wrote in message
news
Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?

You don't specify if it's gas or electric, but first I'd determine if it's
heating sufficiently. If so, I'd disconnect the vent hose from the machine
and look for lint. I'd also trace the vent hose to it's outside location and
make sure the outlet port is clean. They make tools to clean out vent hoses
but it may be easier to just replace it, if necessary

On May 21, 2:03�pm, Znott wrote:
Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. �For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?

disconnect vent, run load vented to room leave window open......

if it drys ok its the vent

you might try usinmg a shopvac as a blower to clear the vent. have
someone outside watch for dust cloud.

just recently i had the slow dry problem....

turned out the flexible duch had a low spot filled with condestated
water that must of blocked the line.

i picked up the line and got a arm full of water, so look for low
spots.

vacuumn out the dryer vent while you have it apart

On May 21, 2:33�pm, "RBM" wrote:
"Znott" wrote in message

news
Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. �For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?

You don't specify if it's gas or electric, but first I'd determine if it's
heating sufficiently. If so, I'd disconnect the vent hose from the machine
and look for lint. I'd also trace the vent hose to it's outside location and
make sure the outlet port is clean. They make tools to clean out vent hoses
but it may be easier to just replace it, if necessary

make sure the washer is spoinning out the clothes enough.......

too wet slow dry

the simplest test for the clogged vent theory is to run it with the hose
off, and see if it works better. If it's a gas dryer, you may not want to
do this.

s


"Znott" wrote in message
news
Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?

Znott wrote:

Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?


I would start by checking the filter. Then check outside end of the
exhaust - if there is a screen
on the outlet, clean it. If not screen, reach in and try to find
blockage. You can even get bird nests
in them. How long is the exhaust? Straight out the wall?

On May 21, 2:36Â*pm, " wrote:
On May 21, 2:03�pm, Znott wrote:

Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. �For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?

disconnect vent, run load vented to room leave window open......

if it drys ok its the vent

you might try usinmg a shopvac as a blower to clear the vent. have
someone outside watch for dust cloud.

just recently i had the slow dry problem....

turned out the flexible duch had a low spot filled with condestated
water that must of blocked the line.

i picked up the line and got a arm full of water, so look for low
spots.

vacuumn out the dryer vent while you have it apart

Exactly right.

I had the same problem a few years ago. I disconnected the vent hose
and the towels dried fine (although the room was very humid). I
tracked the problem to a bird's nest just inside the outlet port.
After relocating the nest to a nearby tree, I installed a bird-proof
outlet cage.

BRW

On May 21, 11:53*am, Norminn wrote:

blockage. You can even get bird nests
*in them. *

Or birds.

True story. About 12 years ago, started noticing an odor coming from
the laundry room. Kept getting worse over the next 3 or 4 days. Nose
testing localized the source of the odor to the dryer. Nothing
immediately obvious. Laid dryer on its side and started taking stuff
apart. Discovered a dead bird wedged into a corner of the squirrel-
cage blower. Apparently he couldn't get out the way he came in, so he
went the other direction and died in the dryer. Removed bird with a
pair of kitchen tongs. Threw away bird and tongs. Covered the outside
vent opening with 1/4 inch mesh screen. Had to clean the lint off the
screen every 3 or 4 months, but it was better than looking for dead
birds in the dryer.

Jerry

On May 21, 2:03 pm, Znott wrote:
Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?

Define: "load". A lot of people, SWMBO included, think a load
consists of "as much as I can cram in the washer" (so I do the
laundry).

Define: "dryer". Is this one of those little stackables apartment
sized units?

If the exterior dryer vent door is blowing open (or upon disconnecting
the dryer vent hose a sizeable amount of air is being discharged), and
the load is getting "hot", there's likely a short between the laundry
basket and the washer.
-----

- gpsman

Jerry wrote:

On May 21, 11:53 am, Norminn wrote:



blockage. You can even get bird nests
in them.



Or birds.

True story. About 12 years ago, started noticing an odor coming from
the laundry room. Kept getting worse over the next 3 or 4 days. Nose
testing localized the source of the odor to the dryer. Nothing
immediately obvious. Laid dryer on its side and started taking stuff
apart. Discovered a dead bird wedged into a corner of the squirrel-
cage blower. Apparently he couldn't get out the way he came in, so he
went the other direction and died in the dryer. Removed bird with a
pair of kitchen tongs. Threw away bird and tongs. Covered the outside
vent opening with 1/4 inch mesh screen. Had to clean the lint off the
screen every 3 or 4 months, but it was better than looking for dead
birds in the dryer.

Jerry


Condo next to us has dryer vents on 2nd floor; interesting to watch
birds flying in and out )

We had the fire dept out late one night after the dryer started pouring
black smoke. I shut it
off right away, the clothes were not burnt. Fire dept very patient -
took back off dryer and found
a pile of dog chow stacked in the burner ) I thought for a very brief
moment that my son had
done another experiment, but quickly decided it was a much smaller
creature )

My grandson went missing one day when he was about 2 1/2; he had a story
book, reading in a
very cozy place - the clothes dryer. Great picture.

Norminn wrote:
Znott wrote:

Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?


I would start by checking the filter. Then check outside end of the
exhaust - if there is a screen
on the outlet, clean it. If not screen, reach in and try to find
blockage. You can even get bird nests
in them. How long is the exhaust? Straight out the wall?

Rueful chuckle. The silly twit previous owner of this house put the
exhaust through a basement window, UNDER the 18" tall deck. So unless I
cut a hole in the deck, or crawl under there and fight the spiders and
such, I can't get to the outside cover.

--
aem sends...

On 21 May 2008 13:03:01 -0500, Znott wrote:

Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?


Turn it on and feel over the exhaust. All vents should be
periodically cleaned out to increase efficiency and prevent fire. The
tool I use is a garden hose (no water!) with a wad of rags
rubber-banded to the end. It helps to have another person near the
dryer to turn it on/off--be careful or you might get a faceful of
lint!

I got a like new dryer a couple of months ago from a man who said it
wouldn't dry, wasn't 2 years old. Went over to pick it up and he had it
shoved clear back to the wall, the vent hose was collapsed flatter than
a pancake, works fine for me, with a new vent hose. BTW, last week i
picked up the matching washer, he said hot water wouldnt come in, the
inlet screen was clogged with sand and debris, a simple cleaning and it
works great. love it and so does Sears

Harbor Freight sells a very nice dryer vent cleaning brush designed to fit
into a 3 to 4 inch duct and has a 10 foot long flexible but sturdy wire
shaft and handle. It did a great job for me cleaning out a very hard to
access duct. For under 4 bucks I very highly would recommend it. See link
below:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92396

Good luck and hope this helps,

Smarty


"aemeijers" wrote in message
...
Norminn wrote:
Znott wrote:

Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?

I would start by checking the filter. Then check outside end of the
exhaust - if there is a screen
on the outlet, clean it. If not screen, reach in and try to find
blockage. You can even get bird nests
in them. How long is the exhaust? Straight out the wall?

Rueful chuckle. The silly twit previous owner of this house put the
exhaust through a basement window, UNDER the 18" tall deck. So unless I
cut a hole in the deck, or crawl under there and fight the spiders and
such, I can't get to the outside cover.

--
aem sends...

On May 21, 1:03*pm, Znott wrote:
Just moved into townhome and the dryer doesn't dry a load of towels on
high heat within the maximum time, 50 minutes. *For troubleshooting
purposes, what should I look for and/or tests that I should do to tell
if it's the dryer or if the vent is clogged?




You have reveived some interesting testimonials as the the value of a
clear dryer vent.
To test the vent, run the dryer with the accordian hose disconnected
from the wall, but place a pantyhose on the end of the hose to catch
the lint. If the load dries in 30 minutes using high heat, there is
an air flow issue, which is usually the vent pipe in the wall.

Clean it out using whatever method you choose, which might mean
calling a chimney sweep out to clean it for you.

Alisa LeSueur
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
http://CleanYourOwnDryerVent.com

"CDET 14" wrote in message

You have reveived some interesting testimonials as the the value of a
clear dryer vent.
To test the vent, run the dryer with the accordian hose disconnected
from the wall, but place a pantyhose on the end of the hose to catch
the lint. If the load dries in 30 minutes using high heat, there is
an air flow issue, which is usually the vent pipe in the wall.


*****************************************

That will work, but you can also feel the air coming out the vent, then
disconnect and feel how much is coming out the dryer alone. If it is not
more, you have a dryer clog. Most likely though, it is the vent.

wrote:

you might try usinmg a shopvac as a blower to clear the vent. have
someone outside watch for dust cloud.


Or a gas-powered leaf blower!