I’m an appliance expert – what to do when your dryer won’t dry your laundry before you pay a pro

THERE IS a laundry list of reasons (no pun intended) why your dryer might not be working.

The dryer won’t heat, won’t turn on or start, won’t wobble, or makes a lot of noise, all signs that you should take a close look at the unit.

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Luckily, some appliance experts have shared with Reader’s Digest the steps to take if you suspect your dryer isn’t up to par.

MAKE SURE IT IS NOT OVERLOADED

You may be trying to stuff too many clothes into your dryer at once.

“It’s important to make sure the dryer isn’t overloaded,” said Gary Childers, fabric care scientist and appliance expert at Procter & Gamble. “Overloading the dryer can cause problems with drying performance and noise if there is too much weight in the dryer.”

Childers advises never filling the dryer drum more than three quarters full.

CHECK THE SETTINGS

To ensure you are using the correct amount of heat for your clothes, be sure to check the laundry symbols on your garments.

They will let you know which dryer setting is best.

CLEAN THE FILTER

Shawn Ashby, a laundry brand manager at Whirlpool, suggested checking the lint filter.

Lint blocking the dryer airflow is a common reason for dryers not drying optimally.

“We recommend making sure the lint filter is clean and that you clean the filter before each use,” Ashby explained. “Wet lint is harder to remove, so don’t scrub or use water.”

You should thoroughly clean the lint filter every six months.

CHECK EXTERNAL DRYER VENTILATION

“Your dryer vent may be clogged if the drying time is delayed, clothes aren’t getting dry, or you can’t see air flowing through the outside vent,” Ashby said.

However, cleaning your dryer vent is extremely important.

CLEAN DEEPLY INSIDE VENTILATION

It’s possible that lint has accumulated deep in the vent.

“We recommend removing lint from the entire length of the vent system at least every two years,” Ashby said.

If you are unable to hire someone to do it, you can do it yourself by purchasing a vent cleaning kit.

ENSURE THAT THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY

If you clean the inside of the vent and that doesn’t work, Ashby recommends checking the installation instructions to make sure you installed the dryer vent system correctly.

“For example, you should make sure the vent system is within the recommended run length and number of bends for the type of vent being used,” he said.

CLEAN THE SENSOR

Machine manufacturers recommend cleaning the dryer’s sensors to get correct moisture detection.

“If these aren’t cleaned, the dryer could take longer to dry the clothes,” Childers said.

MAKE SURE THE DRYER IS IN A VENTILATED ROOM

According to Ashby, one of the most common reasons a dryer doesn’t work properly is that it’s in an area that’s too small for the unit.

“If they are installed in a closet, the closet doors must have vents at the top and bottom of the door,” he explained. “The front of the washer/dryer requires at least three inches of air space, one inch on the sides. And for most installations, the back of the washer/dryer needs four inches.”

CHECK FOR HEAT

Make sure the heater is working by turning it on for five to 10 minutes.

“Hold your hand under the outer hood to check air movement,” Ashby said. “If the air movement is less than a hair dryer at high speed, remove the lint from the entire length of the system and hood.”