I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

On 2/5/2013 12:33 AM, Malcom "Mal" Reynolds wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form


Lint build-up in dryer vents is the number one cause of poor dryer
performance and dryer vent fires.

Sounds like your entire dryer vent system needs to be inspected and
possibly cleaned.

I think your diganostic choices include
1) Ask on the usenet group
2) web search for troubleshooting web sites
3) go to the library and borrow a book on
clothes dryer repair
4) ask your friends and neighbors, or ask the
guys at the hardware store

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"Malcom "Mal" Reynolds" wrote in message
...

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices?

On Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:33:16 -0800, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds"
wrote:

I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

Dryer vent is cheap. Rigid is far better than flex, but a bit more
difficult to install. [code might require rigid]

Just replace the vent and be done with it before you burn your house
down and have to kick yourself in the ass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdNTcChFkBY
"More than 15,000 home fires are started by dryer fires every year,
usually from lint build-up,"

Jim

On Feb 5, 12:33*am, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds"
wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

Can you verify that air is blowing freely from the vent
OUTSIDE? If you can't get to the vent because it's
up high, you don't have a ladder, etc, then I'd try running
the dryer with the hose temporarily disconnected and
see if dries clothes.

On Monday, February 4, 2013 9:33:16 PM UTC-8, Malcom Mal Reynolds wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet

that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as

usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it

from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent

(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,

reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent

tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a

load.



Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a

service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

Cleaning or replacing just the vent isn’t going to cut it. Depending on how and how much they are used they need to be taken apart and the insides need to be cleaned every few years. Something the manufacturers wont tell you. Some dryers like Speed Queen very easy or Maytag fairly easy to do.

On Feb 5, 10:54*am, wrote:
On Monday, February 4, 2013 9:33:16 PM UTC-8, Malcom Mal Reynolds wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet

that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as

usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it

from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent

(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,

reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent

tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a

load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a

service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

Cleaning or replacing just the vent isn’t going to cut it. Depending on how and how much they are used they need to be taken apart and the insides need to be cleaned every few years. Something the manufacturers wont tell you. Some dryers like Speed Queen very easy or Maytag fairly easy to do.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I've had about 30 years of dryer experience. With three
dryers. And I've yet to take one apart to clean it.

Malcom "Mal" Reynolds wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the
vent tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able
to dry a load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying
for a service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

1. Use a leaf blower connected to the inside of the house and blow out all
the mung.

2. If you have an air compressor and a air hose of sufficient length, get a
special nozzle such as:
http://www.ductcleanersupply.com/Pro...?ProductID=104

(There are probably cheaper alternatives, but this is the first one I
found.)

On Tuesday, February 5, 2013 8:01:04 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Feb 5, 10:54*am, wrote:

On Monday, February 4, 2013 9:33:16 PM UTC-8, Malcom Mal Reynolds wrote:

I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet



that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as



usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it



from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent



(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,



reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent



tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a



load.



Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a



service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form



Cleaning or replacing just the vent isn’t going to cut it. Depending on how and how much they are used they need to be taken apart and the insides need to be cleaned every few years. Something the manufacturers wont tell you. Some dryers like Speed Queen very easy or Maytag fairly easy to do.- Hide quoted text -



- Show quoted text -



I've had about 30 years of dryer experience. With three

dryers. And I've yet to take one apart to clean it.

You won’t need to service it as much if:

1. Your vent is very short and you clean if often.
2. You make sure the filter is very clean every time you use it.
3. You replace the whole thing when it stops drying the clothes like it used to.
4. You like to set your house on fire.

On Feb 5, 11:01*am, "
wrote:
On Feb 5, 10:54*am, wrote:





On Monday, February 4, 2013 9:33:16 PM UTC-8, Malcom Mal Reynolds wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet

that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as

usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it

from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent

(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,

reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent

tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a

load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a

service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

Cleaning or replacing just the vent isn’t going to cut it. Depending on how and how much they are used they need to be taken apart and the insides need to be cleaned every few years. Something the manufacturers wont tell you. Some dryers like Speed Queen very easy or Maytag fairly easy to do.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I've had about 30 years of dryer experience. *With three
dryers. *And I've yet to take one apart to clean it.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Lucky you.

I've had over 30 years of dryer experience and have taken different
models apart to clean them, greatly improving their performance
afterwards.

Just last August I posted about an Estate dryer that would shut down
intermittently and require a cooling off period before it would
restart. Cleaning the external ducting, including the exterior vent
did not help. It was only after I opened it up and cleaned every nook,
cranny and duct space that the problem went away.

On Feb 5, 12:33*am, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds"
wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

You may need to clean the internal ductwork and fan area, as well as
the external vent, around the flap. Any place where there is a turn or
obstruction is a place where lint can build up.

I have done this a few times with various dryers and it greatly
improved their performance.

Last August I had an Estate dryer that would actually shut down and
require a cooling off period before it would restart. Once I vacuumed
out all of the internal ductwork, it worked fine and has been working
for over 6 months.

We have 2 dogs and drying their blankets and pillows creates a lot of
hair, dust and dander in the dryer.

In article ,
Corporate Slave #5012844592593 wrote:

On 2/5/2013 12:33 AM, Malcom "Mal" Reynolds wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form


Lint build-up in dryer vents is the number one cause of poor dryer
performance and dryer vent fires.

Sounds like your entire dryer vent system needs to be inspected and
possibly cleaned.

it's a possibility, but I'm very good about cleaning the dryer filter.
when I disconnected and reconnected the vent, a lot of crap came out. A
casual inspection of the vent pipe looked good and I pushed a long
duster thru it

In article
,
" wrote:

On Feb 5, 12:33*am, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds"
wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

Can you verify that air is blowing freely from the vent
OUTSIDE?

absolutely


If you can't get to the vent because it's
up high, you don't have a ladder, etc, then I'd try running
the dryer with the hose temporarily disconnected and
see if dries clothes.

I ran the dryer empty and unattached and one time it would heat, the
next it wouldn't

Mal,

Fairly new and not drying? I agree with the others that it may just need
a good cleaning. YouTube has lots of diagnostic and repair vids, ic cleaning
doesn't help. Might be a failing gas solenoid.

Dave M.

On Feb 5, 12:43*pm, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" atlas-
wrote:
In article ,
*Corporate Slave #5012844592593 wrote:





On 2/5/2013 12:33 AM, Malcom "Mal" Reynolds wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

Lint build-up in dryer vents is the number one cause of poor dryer
performance and dryer vent fires.

Sounds like your entire dryer vent system needs to be inspected and
possibly cleaned.

it's a possibility, but I'm very good about cleaning the dryer filter.
when I disconnected and reconnected the vent, a lot of crap came out. A
casual inspection of the vent pipe looked good and I pushed a long
duster thru it- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

How "very good" are you? Have you washed your filter in warm soapy
water lately?

It is especially important to do that if you use dryer softener
sheets. They can cause a waxy buildup on the lint filter that will
reduce air flow. Try running water through it. if it holds water, you
have a build up of some kind.

Dryer sheets can also cause a build up on the moisture sensor and
sensor screen screwing up the drying cycle.

See here, or lots of other sites that all basically say the same
thing:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/dryer.asp

I too am "very good" about cleaning my lint filter. I even hung a
reminder sign on the dryer that had to be moved before you could open
the door to ensure that everyone else in my house was "very good"
about cleaning the filter. Regardless, there will still be lint that
finds it's way into the internal ductwork and restrict airflow.

Trust me...I've been there numerous times.

On Feb 5, 12:44*pm, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" atlas-
wrote:
In article
,





" wrote:
On Feb 5, 12:33 am, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds"
wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

Can you verify that air is blowing freely from the vent
OUTSIDE?

absolutely

* *If you can't get to the vent because it's

up high, you don't have a ladder, etc, then I'd try running
the dryer with the hose temporarily disconnected and
see if dries clothes.

I ran the dryer empty and unattached and one time it would heat, the
next it wouldn't- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I have seen various (and intermittant) symptoms ranging from long dry
times to complete shut downs due to lint buildup in the internal
ductwork.

Do yourself a favor and clean them. It can't hurt and very well may
solve your problem. If it doesn't, the cleaning will still have been a
good idea and one more thing to check off of the list.

Other than finding an actual blown component, you have no way of
knowing if lint buildup is the problem except by going through the
exercise of cleaning the internal ductwork.

"Malcom "Mal" Reynolds" wrote in message
...
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form


Check air trap outside the house and then the pipe between the dryer and the
outside
That needs to be cleaned out yearly
Lint is the #1 cause of fires related to dryers.
(I always save the lint and take it along for camping trips as a fire
starter)

On Tuesday, February 5, 2013 12:44:50 PM UTC-5, Malcom Mal Reynolds wrote:
In article , " wrote: On Feb 5, 12:33�am, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" wrote: I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent (although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air, reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a load. Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form Can you verify that air is blowing freely from the vent OUTSIDE? absolutely If you can't get to the vent because it's up high, you don't have a ladder, etc, then I'd try running the dryer with the hose temporarily disconnected and see if dries clothes. I ran the dryer empty and unattached and one time it would heat, the next it wouldn't

Many have a thermal switch in the air stream designed to prevent it from getting too hot. Also there is often a thermal fusable safety as well. Typically the fusable is a one shot deal, when it goes you have to replace it. If there is a thermal switch as well it will be set to turn off at a lower temp. The parts are usually pretty cheap if it seems to be turning the heat off prematurely. Make sure it's clean like the others have pointed out.

On 2/5/2013 12:44 PM, Malcom "Mal" Reynolds wrote:


If you can't get to the vent because it's
up high, you don't have a ladder, etc, then I'd try running
the dryer with the hose temporarily disconnected and
see if dries clothes.

I ran the dryer empty and unattached and one time it would heat, the
next it wouldn't


It's a gas dryer? Should you be running it unvented?

In article , Hench wrote:

On 2/5/2013 12:44 PM, Malcom "Mal" Reynolds wrote:


If you can't get to the vent because it's
up high, you don't have a ladder, etc, then I'd try running
the dryer with the hose temporarily disconnected and
see if dries clothes.

I ran the dryer empty and unattached and one time it would heat, the
next it wouldn't


It's a gas dryer? Should you be running it unvented?

only for a short while to test it

In article
,
DerbyDad03 wrote:

On Feb 5, 12:43*pm, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" atlas-
wrote:
In article ,
*Corporate Slave #5012844592593 wrote:





On 2/5/2013 12:33 AM, Malcom "Mal" Reynolds wrote:
I have a fairly new but very lightly used front loader Whirlpool Duet
that has always served me well, but has gradually not dried as well as
usual. Due to circumstances it uses a flex tube to vent. I removed it
from the dryer and tried it, assuming there was a clog in the vent
(although the vent does seem to push a lot of air). I got warm air,
reconnected the vent and tried to dry a load, no luck. Removed the vent
tube and cleaned it as best I could. This morning, it was able to dry a
load.

Any suggestions for easy to use diagnostic choices? I dread paying for a
service repair, but do want my dryer back in working form

Lint build-up in dryer vents is the number one cause of poor dryer
performance and dryer vent fires.

Sounds like your entire dryer vent system needs to be inspected and
possibly cleaned.

it's a possibility, but I'm very good about cleaning the dryer filter.
when I disconnected and reconnected the vent, a lot of crap came out. A
casual inspection of the vent pipe looked good and I pushed a long
duster thru it- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

How "very good" are you? Have you washed your filter in warm soapy
water lately?

It is especially important to do that if you use dryer softener
sheets. They can cause a waxy buildup on the lint filter that will
reduce air flow. Try running water through it. if it holds water, you
have a build up of some kind.

Dryer sheets can also cause a build up on the moisture sensor and
sensor screen screwing up the drying cycle.

See here, or lots of other sites that all basically say the same
thing:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/dryer.asp

I too am "very good" about cleaning my lint filter. I even hung a
reminder sign on the dryer that had to be moved before you could open
the door to ensure that everyone else in my house was "very good"
about cleaning the filter. Regardless, there will still be lint that
finds it's way into the internal ductwork and restrict airflow.

Trust me...I've been there numerous times.

Admit I've never washed it, will do that now. Thanks

My one dryer had a problem it dried intermittently

When I took the dryer vent line apart I found a low spot, which was
accumulating moisture.......

At first the dryer would work fine, then stuff wouldnt dry...

The problem occured after I replaced a leaky water hose......

In article
,
bob haller wrote:

My one dryer had a problem it dried intermittently

When I took the dryer vent line apart I found a low spot, which was
accumulating moisture.......

At first the dryer would work fine, then stuff wouldnt dry...

The problem occured after I replaced a leaky water hose......

I have temporarily re-routed the flex line so that it is more direct
with fewer sharp turns and washed the lint filter as was also suggested
(although it wasn't in any way clogged) and now have a fresh set of warm
sheets nicely folded and put away in my linen closet. It remains to be
seen if this experience has become constant or remains intermittent

"Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" wrote:
In article
,
bob haller wrote:

My one dryer had a problem it dried intermittently

When I took the dryer vent line apart I found a low spot, which was
accumulating moisture.......

At first the dryer would work fine, then stuff wouldnt dry...

The problem occured after I replaced a leaky water hose......

I have temporarily re-routed the flex line so that it is more direct
with fewer sharp turns and washed the lint filter as was also suggested
(although it wasn't in any way clogged) and now have a fresh set of warm
sheets nicely folded and put away in my linen closet. It remains to be
seen if this experience has become constant or remains intermittent

So you still haven't checked the internal ductwork?

In article
,
DerbyDad03 wrote:

"Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" wrote:
In article
,
bob haller wrote:

My one dryer had a problem it dried intermittently

When I took the dryer vent line apart I found a low spot, which was
accumulating moisture.......

At first the dryer would work fine, then stuff wouldnt dry...

The problem occured after I replaced a leaky water hose......

I have temporarily re-routed the flex line so that it is more direct
with fewer sharp turns and washed the lint filter as was also suggested
(although it wasn't in any way clogged) and now have a fresh set of warm
sheets nicely folded and put away in my linen closet. It remains to be
seen if this experience has become constant or remains intermittent

So you still haven't checked the internal ductwork?

will try to do that today, but there seems to be ample air flow

"Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" wrote:
In article
,
DerbyDad03 wrote:

"Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" wrote:
In article
,
bob haller wrote:

My one dryer had a problem it dried intermittently

When I took the dryer vent line apart I found a low spot, which was
accumulating moisture.......

At first the dryer would work fine, then stuff wouldnt dry...

The problem occured after I replaced a leaky water hose......

I have temporarily re-routed the flex line so that it is more direct
with fewer sharp turns and washed the lint filter as was also suggested
(although it wasn't in any way clogged) and now have a fresh set of warm
sheets nicely folded and put away in my linen closet. It remains to be
seen if this experience has become constant or remains intermittent

So you still haven't checked the internal ductwork?

will try to do that today, but there seems to be ample air flow

How do you know what ample air flow is? Did you measure it before you
straightened out the hose or washed the filter to know if it has improved?

Here's how it looks from where I'm sitting...

The dryer worked fine for some period of time before it stopped drying your
clothes. You've straightened out the vent hose and washed the filter. Let's
say you were right and the lint filter was not "in any way clogged".
Therefore straightening out the vent hose seems to be the thing that
helped. However, the dryer worked fine with the hose in it's bent
configuration prior to the problem appearing.

That tells me that there was restricted airflow which you improved -
somewhat - by straightening out the vent hose. That tells me that you still
have a restriction and the only place left is the internal ductwork.