You need many small and large appliances to help with your daily chores in the house. Some give up too soon because of abuse, while others surpass your expectations with their performance. Then, a few can sometimes be defective pieces you must get rid of quickly to save money. Of all the things you use, washing machines, dryers, and sinks can be of particular importance. Sinks constantly serve different cleaning and washing needs. Think of one in the laundry room, for instance. You get them in many shapes and sizes.
A laundry utility sink in stainless steel allows you to spot clean dirty clothes, saving you the trouble of doing this in the main kitchen sink, with which you tend to be more hygiene conscious. Generally, the humble stainless-steel varieties live typically for over 25 years with proper care. Like this, your cloth washer and dryer also have a typical life duration of a decade. Dryers are less complicated beings with a handful of parts. They tumble clothes and spew heat. Still, they also face problems. As per 2022 Consumer Reports data, 13% of 57,534 survey participants complained about drying issues with their machines. 2018 Environmental Protection Agency reported that 2.1 million tons of waste were essentially large machinery items.
The experts believe restoring your appliance's health is better than throwing it in the landfill. Of course, the possibility of resuscitation depends on the cost and extent of the damage. Nevertheless, analyzing your machine's aspects is crucial before deciding anything. So, if your clothes don't dry in the tumbler, here is what you can do.
Investigate your dryer thoroughly!
Overloading can be one of the common causes of drying issues. A heavy load will make the dryer work hard and create noises. Due to too much squeezing, airflow in the dryer gets disturbed, and the machine fails to dry clothes. Make sure you only push a few items at a time, and these should fill only about three-quarters of the space. Not this issue? Check the dryer setting. If you put sheets, towels, and jeans in the drum and set the machine up for a gentle cycle, clothes will be damp. Hence, always pay attention to the setting. You can decide this based on the garment labels. Even a clogged lint filter can be a common culprit.
You can deep clean the lint screen half-yearly in four steps – take out the lint screen, pour hot water on either side of the screen, and rub it with a nylon brush using liquid detergent and hot water to eliminate buildup. After rinsing, dry it well. You can also look at the vent from where the air escapes. A blocked exhaust vent prolongs the drying time and prevents proper drying of your garments. Other essential steps include deep vent cleaning, keeping the dryer in a well-ventilated area, and checking for heat. It's a DIY project. If out of reach for you, call technicians for help.
Is your dryer refusing to turn on or tumble?
Sometimes, dryers won't start, which goes beyond the drying issue. You can check circuits and fuse once. Due to electrical shock risk, you want to be careful with this part. When your dryer doesn't start, your first step should be checking the controls for cycles. Next, focus on the dryer cord to detect plugging issues or damage. If the circuit breaker is good, you can reset it depending on the situation. Replace faulty fuses and secure them well in their place. Front-loading dryer machines usually feature a door switch to indicate whether or not you closed it properly. Check the sensor. Any glitches in these areas can increase the chances of your dryer not starting.
However, suppose the drying machine starts but doesn't tumble. There can be two factors – either the motor has conked, or the belt that causes the drum to rotate smoothly has an issue. If you are unsure of handling these areas, seeking professional help is always better.
Taking the right action on time!
Plumbers and electricians suggest taking quicker steps when facing any dryer issue. If you notice something is amiss, delve into it immediately rather than postponing it. Also, assign the work to a professional if it's complex or extensive. Some homeowners ask when they should call the experts for assistance. They say you must contact a pro if you cannot handle a specific part. Of course, DIY is a money-saving endeavor. But you have to choose sometimes. Professionals can check your appliance thoroughly and troubleshoot the issues. However, if it is a costly repair, you should buy a new one. As mentioned, dryers can last for 10-13 years. You can opt for a new model if your machine has aged with visible performance issues.
Suppose you bought an electric drying machine for USD $600 nine years back. You run seven loads a week. In that case, an easy decision will be to replace it. However, if it's a USD $1400 worth of machine bought about three years ago, you should explore repairing opportunities. Likewise, you will restore the appliance if it still has a warranty. One of the 2022 surveys revealed that 69% of participants fixed their drying machine when it stopped working. Some took professional help. Of them, 60% bore the expense, while 27% got partial coverage from their manufacturer’s warranty. 13% with an extended warranty also got their repair costs partially covered.
Typically, cheaper gas dryer costs about USD $149, and medium to higher-range models cost around USD $192 to repair. If you use an electric one, the low-cost machine can quickly fix at USD $133, and a medium-range one can cost USD $173. For an expensive machine, you may have to spend around USD $215 on repair on average. Some credible reports indicate that 92% of dryers bought in 2012 are still working. Many dryer owners still need to purchase an extended warranty. 16% subscribed to this; interestingly, 78% of those buyers didn't use it even once. That shows the potential of your appliance’s longevity.
