Clothes Dryer help

[Mr. Longhorn]

We have had our GE electric dryer for almost 3 years now, bought it new at Home Depot. Its nothing fancy, just the basic model....get your clothes dried without all the bells and whistles.

For the past month now, it has been stopping in mid cycle. We would just turn the on button again and it would finish. After a few more times of this happening I cleaned out the vents, but the were actually pretty clean anyways.

Well now it wont even turn on, we just hear like it wants to turn on, but has a deep humming noise to it. If anyone can talk me out of taking a slegdehammer to it my wife would appreciate it.

 

[brntorng]

Sounds like the motor isn't starting. If you're electrically inclined, I'd suggest checking the voltage at the motor when it's trying to start. If the voltage looks good, then it's probably the motor. If there isn't voltage at the motor then it's probably the controller.

I've had pretty good success fixing things by just googling for the problem. Amazing how many message boards there are that discuss and solve similar problems.

 

[Mr. Longhorn]

Thats exactly what I am doing now. I've found some info, but nothing that sounds like my problem. i really think that it is overheating somehow. We can usually run 1 or 2 loads, but after that is when we get our problems...its just that now it seems to get worse.

 

[GhostOfTomJoad]

Must be something in the air because our 4 YO Kenmore stopped w/ about 10 minutes left in a cycle today & won't restart. If I press & hold the start button it will run until I take my finger off of it. My guess is it's probably a temp. sensor that's crapped out. I've got a guy from Austin Appliance coming out Tuesday to check it out. FYI, I called the "handy" # Sears has listed inside the unit to schedule repairs 24/7. Typical Sears customer service. Fifteen minutes on hold on a Sunday afternoon, followed by an agent I had to repeat all of my information to several times, & then was told the earliest they could get someone out to look at the dryer would be Jan 16th!

As it is I'm guessing I'll end up paying a hunny to have some guy put in a $7 sensor or switch, but I don't have time this week to try & mess w/ it myself. Of course it couldn't have gone out the previous 2 1/2 weeks I was on vacation

 

[brntorng]

OK, I was under the impression that it didn't run at all, just buzzed. I think you're on the right track about overheating.

Does it dry clothes normally when it is running? If so, it's probably not the exhaust duct. In that case, I'd check the overheat sensor. It might be malfunctioning. This is an unlikely cause, but possible.

If it dries clothes slowly it's probably a blocked duct. In that case, are you sure you've cleared the exhaust duct all the way to the outdoors? Can you feel plenty of hot air coming out of the exhaust outlet outdoors? If not, there's probably at least a partial blockage. Very likely a sparrow nest--I'd put money on it. They love dryer vents when it gets cold. Straighten a wire coat hanger and form a hook on one end--a little smaller than the normal hanger hook. Stick the hook into the outdoors outlet and twist it as you poke around in the duct. If you start pulling out some grass and anything other than lint it's a nest that's causing your problem. Use the hanger until you can't pull out any more of the nest. Turn on the dryer and see if it's blowing better. If you're not sure you've cleared the duct you can try using a shop vac. Hook it up to the indoor exhaust pipe and see if it blows anything else out of the outdoors outlet. Don't suck from the indoors since you could draw a nest farther into the duct. If it turns out to be a nest, go to Lowes or HD and get a sparrow cover for the exhaust outlet to keep them out.

 

[Mr. Longhorn]

I'm 100% sure that it is not the vents. I checked them twice today and even when I was up on the roof taking down the lights. We let it cool down for a while and then I put it on no heat and it ran fine. I opened the door to check the clothes, then tried to start it again and it was a no go. I am going to find someone just to take a look at it, if I have to put a decent amount of coin in this thing then we would rather upgrade anyways.

Can anyone recommend a reliable brand. I was looking at consumer reports and LG got the top nod, from what they were saying.

 

[brntorng]

We've had a gas Speed Queen (Maytag) dryer for almost 25 years that has required one minor repair in that time. Not sure anyone makes them like they used to, though. Most should be pretty reliable considering there's not that much to a dryer that can go bad.

 

[Summerof79]

my bet is going to be the timer... assuming it's the kind that your turn the knob and then pull out on the knob to get it going.

Let us know what the verdict was

 

[Mr. Longhorn]

The verdict was that everyone wants too much money to come out and fix it. The thing is only worth about 300 anyways, so we didnt want to put more than 50% of its value back into it. We found someone to take it and we bought a new LG.