You can do two other things with a clothes dryer apart from drying clothes: cleaning and repairing the machine if it breaks down. A clothes dryer is a home appliance, and like your typical home appliance, it needs regular cleaning and maintenance if you want it to do a good job. Clothes dryers are sturdy machines, but that’s not saying they don’t choke and break down sometimes, because they do. Put your helmet on because it’s time to do a little repairing.

Problem: My clothes dryer refuses to run.

Solution: Check if it is plugged correctly, or if the receptacle is working. Check the circuit breaker and if the clothes dryer door is closed correctly. If they all check out all right, one electronic component may be faulty, and will need professional repair.

Problem: My clothes dryer is very noisy.

Solution: Look for the interior of the drum for any loose objects. If there are none, it may be caused by a defective part such as the belt, support roller, glides or worn motor bearings.

Problem: My clothes dryer runs, but it doesn’t tumble the clothes.

Solution: The problem may be caused by a faulty motor, door switch or belt. You cannot fix any of these by yourself, and it would best if you call a qualified repairman.

Problem: My clothes dryer runs and tumbles, but doesn’t heat.

Solution: Make sure that your dryer isn’t on a non-heat setting while you tumble. If you have an electric dryer, the fuse may be broken. If you have a gas dryer, make sure that the gas valve is turned on. Older and newer dryers may need a qualified repairman to fix this problem.

Most problems with clothes dryers are related to the heat source or the motor that tumbles the clothes. One way or the other, it isn’t a very good idea to just open up the machine and start poking the parts every which way—you need a professional repair man to do this. These guys will troubleshoot and repair the problem for a small price, free if covered by the warranty. It is always better to be safe than sorry. (More tips on how to repair clothes dryers)

Clothes Dryer Cleaning and Maintenance

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), clothes dryers are responsible for around 15,500 fires annually. If you don’t clean and maintain your clothes dryer regularly, you may become a part of this statistic. Here are some ways to clean and maintain your clothes dryer.

• Don’t allow lint to build up in the machine and along the walls of the hose where the water drains out. Lint is the major cause of most fires in clothes dryers, as it catches fire when the machine gets overheated.
• Improper venting can cause damage to the clothes dryer. You’ll know if your clothes dryer is clogged if it has long drying times, noisy operation, clothes that are still damp and hot even after drying, and non-functioning automatic sensors.
• For more information on cleaning clothes dryer, learn how to clean a dryer