Dryer question

[flash]

Originally Posted by jodi_m

I saw an ad in a magazine for a little spiky ball (can't remember the name) that you throw in with the clothes. It is supposed to somehow shorten the drying time by not letting the clothes bunch up. Anyone ever heard of this or know if it works? I must admit I was intrigued by the idea of shaving 10-20 minutes off the drying time...might even be worth the price (I think it was $15-20?) IF it works.

Just ran across it -- Nellie's Dryerballs. Drying time is reduced up to 25%, but supposedly because it "lifts and separates the laundry". $20 for two.

Any luck fixing the dryer?

[Razzy]

I would wait a few years before you buy them and see what other people are saying bout them.

I think you could reduce your drying time by putting a clean dry towel in the dryer to help with drying time.

Razzy

[contrary1]

Before you buy something to put in the dryer to toss & separate the clothes, just toss in a couple new tennis balls. Works great. I use them when I'm fluffing up feather beds & down comforters & pillows. Just a few minutes on air...........and my tennis balls.......... Perfect fluff!
I keep them in my laundry room, so I'm not sharing these with the dog!

[acezz4e_tish]

i know you said you cleaned out your trap, but did you wash it too? if you use sheets, they put a build up you cant see on it.

[PrincessPerky]

I can't figure out how to get the umm vent tube off to clean it...

[cercis]

it should have a clamp holding it on. If it's like mine, you squeeze the loops and it opens the clamp. Others have a screw that needs to be loosened to loosen the clamp.

[flash]

Cercis is correct, there should be a clamp of some time. Does the vent it have a big snaky hose, or is it a direct vent?

(does it connect like the last picture in this home depot project url:
http://www.homedepotmoving.com/proj_...age&PageNo= 2
)

[PrincessPerky]

I will go look again today, thanks again!

[acezz4e_tish]

mines on top and it just comes out. i would wait on the balls too. i was taken in a pyramid scheme that was laundry balls. i had the one you could see on that movie where eddie murphy was a holy man. earth globe with blue liquid. it was a scam tho. the other one was shown on the news as it works well, it has magnents in it, but im not sure if that hurts machines. oxy has thier own now too, but 20 dollars for 25 washes, come on! you can cut drying time, but just adding one good clean dry towel to your load. or add two, put one in the bottom, throw your load on top, then top with another towel. i found on mine, the perm press settings work best on washer and dryer. you might try using those and see if it helps. i have laundry for five daily and six when my grandson is here, i would not post anything to mislead anyone. i found out alot of stuff the hard way, i was so glad to find this site, its been helpful and im sure that anyone that posts here posts from experience and only to help.

[Ima saver]

I tried the towel thing and it does make clothes dry faster.

[cercis]

Princess, another thing to check - check your breaker/fuse box to be sure that both switches/fuses are on/good. Dryers (typically) are 220 and require 2 switches/fuses. If one is blown/switched then it will spin but not heat.

I did have a 110 dryer, though, so yours may not be 220. Check the plug to be sure.

[areareare]

Originally Posted by Razzy

I would wait a few years before you buy them and see what other people are saying bout them.

I think you could reduce your drying time by putting a clean dry towel in the dryer to help with drying time.

Razzy

[Scanner]

My dryer just broke.

Still tumbling but the repairman said the flame sensor (gas dryer) was bad and that's why it went cold.

Final bill was/is $178.00.

A bottom line new gas dryer is about $325.00

But maybe more importantly, the repairman, who was very diplomatic said, "You go out and buy a new dryer, the wife is going to want a new washer to match it."

Very sage advice from the Maytag repairman (actually, it's a Whirlpool).

[nanamom]

Princess, Get the make and model number and then find a repair manual or trouble shooting manual online and see if your DH can use that to find and fix the problem. I assume you haven't increased the size of the loads you are putting in it. The newer the dryer, the shorter time it lasts. As with everything they aren't making things to last anymore. This is a throwaway society. Let us know status.

[Diamond35]

New to this forum, but wanted to reply to this.

For many years now I have washed my lint trap screen. Some say this does no good, but I know it does. Take that screen out, and try to run water through it. does it puddle or just run straight through? If it puddles before going through your screen needs washed. If water cannot get through easily air is not as well.
Take it to your kitchen sink (or bathtub), use a sponge and either dish soap or shampoo (both work) coat the entire screen with a lttle soap, then rinse well.
try running water through again, and presto it will run right through. this will help cut your drying time, because of better air flow.
I have never had to replace a dryer heating element at all, and our clothing drys quickly.

[boefixepa]

Perky,
Any Luck?

I know I like to sping my towels twice, and you really do need to vaccuum the vent lines and washing your lint screen.

Heating elements are also a good and easy do-it-yourself repair. Just some research on line and trusting yourself to follow directions. Also if your barrel isn't roating is another common problem. Generally, that may just be a belt that needs replacing.

I'm hoping you can figure this one out...

[PetMom]

Our dryer (Sears and just out of warranty by a few days) was giving us problems.

We had the repairman come out and had to pay a service call to be told
it was the vent, and the guy wanted to charge extra to clean it out, but
my husband did it instead. Even though I change the filter on the top
of the dryer after every use it is amazing how clogged the outgoing
vent can get.

Then, not long after, the dryer just did not dry the clothes yet it was
running and working. My husband got the make and description and
got on one of those repair forums and sent in some questions. (He
does not remember which one it was).

Turns out it was the heating element. Husband actually bought one
at Sears for $40.00 and replaced it.

Make sure you unplug the dryer before touching this stuff.

My husband put in the new heating element in just a few minutes and
we now know the workings of a dryer - they are supposedly simple in
their contents - e.g. a drum and heating element.

But what made this so worthwhile to learn this is that we are not
sitting here waiting for a warranty to not cover a repair bill and not
dependent on a repairman.

[Scanner]

I know we all kinda get emotional when hit with a repair bill but remember , in the long run, it is better to "self-insure" these things rather than getting those "extended service contracts" like offered by the local gas co. that will cover all the appliances.

Not taht sometimes those things aren't good - we used to have one on our old house that had issues and it covered the hot water heater, heater, and air conditioner (not washer and dryer or stove).

We definitely got our money out of that.

So, I had a bill for $178 (I would have never been able to diagnose a flame sensor problem) - couple that with screwing around with gas - it was money well spent to have a pro fix it.

[MonkeyMama]

I just wanted to say that we had a really nice washer/dryer part shop where the guy would pretty much tell us how to fix the problem. You may want to call around. I would in no way, shape or form assume it needs to be replaced. You could just need a $20 part, simple repair, who knows. Try to find out more.

But I did want to say too our dryer (oh yeah older than us) just died on us about a year back. It was so old and we had the money figured it was time to replace - we bought one of the only Big things we have ever bought new. I am astonished how much it (with the new washer anyway) has lowered our electric bill. Just FYI. It could be a good investment to go new.

Before this last purchase we bought 2 used dryers for around $50/each. The only reason I left the first one was I shared it with roommates and moved out. The 2nd one we used 5 years - it was over 30 years old. Go look in Craigslist or the paper and find a deal... You can probably find an energy efficient one to boot - someone just desparate to sell...

We gave away our washer on freecycle too - since we just decided to replace both due to age. Was perfectly good, just didn't want the hassle of trying to sell it or dispose of it. I would ask on freecycle too...