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Dryer Maintenance

To maintain the efficiency, safety, and useful life of your clothes dryer, it is important that your home maintenance program include the proper maintenance for your clothes dryer.

The heating element and tumbling action of a clothes dryer creates lint, which can build-up around your dryer and cause problems.  Vent piping from the back of the clothes dryer allows the hot air from the dryer to exit from the house.  See also:  Clothes Washer.

Shown below are the recommended routine maintenance tasks for your clothes dryer.  

Learn to enjoy managing your home with our free Newsletter or our free Automatic Maintenance Reminders.  We can also show you the Recommended Maintenance Schedules for your entire home.

     

 
 

 

  

 Maintenance Task:  Annual dryer cleaning and maintenance

  
       
    How do you clean and do maintenance on a clothes dryer?  

 

  

Annual dryer maintenance involves the following 5 tasks:

  1. Clean lint build-up from vent system.  Out of the back of your dryer you'll find a pipe, usually 4-5 inches in diameter, which goes through the wall of your house to the outside.  Outside there is a "flap vent" that swings open automatically from air pressure when the dryer is running, then closes when the dryer shuts off.  The entire piping and flap vent should be inspected and cleaned of lint or any obstructions.  Seal any hose joints with duct tape.

  2. Clean behind and underneath dryer.  Moisture, dirt, and lint tend to accumulate behind and underneath your dryer.  Pull the dryer out from the wall and wipe these areas with a damp rag.

  3. Scrub the lint trap.  Chemical fabric softeners often clog the small holes in lint traps.  Remove the lint trap and scrub it with a soft bristle brush and mild soap or detergent.

  4. Check the balance of your dryer.  A dryer that is not level on the ground will cause its' rotating components to wear out sooner.  If the dryer moves, shakes, or is not level, adjust the feet at the bottom of the unit.

  5. Clean and inspect burner (gas models).  For dryers that heat with natural gas or propane, the burner should be cleaned and inspected according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

  
       
    Why is it important to clean and do maintenance on a clothes dryer?  

 

  

Build-up of lint can cause several problems:

  • Safety:  lint is flammable, and can be touched off by the heating element in the dryer, or a spark from the motor, switch, etc.

  • Loss of Efficiency:  A clogged vent pipe or stuck flap vent reduces the dryer's capacity to dry clothes, requiring the unit to run longer, which uses more energy and shortens its service life.

  • Heat Loss:  A flap vent that doesn't close properly allows heat or cooling to escape from the house.  

  • Pests:  A flap vent that doesn't close properly also leaves an opening for insects and other pests to potentially come through.

  • Extending useful life: an unbalanced dryer will cause its rotating components to wear out sooner.

  
       
    How often should you clean and do maintenance on a clothes dryer?  
    Perform annually (August).  

 

  

 

    
    How does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task?  
    The cost of this task is relatively low.  It is estimated that this task should only take about 30-60 minutes to complete, and the task is relatively easy to do.  However, if you have a model that uses natural gas or propane, then you will need to hire a professional to clean and inspect your burner.  
         
    The benefits of this task are very, very high.  Doing this task can help you improve safety, save money on energy, prevent damage by pests, and extend the useful life of your dryer.  
       
    Overall Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and four 'hats' = high):   

 

  

 

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS from "Ask-the-Wizard":

QUESTION from "JD": 

Is it normal to see the coils of the dryer glow red, behind the screen on the inside, upon opening the dryer in middle of a cycle?

ANSWER:

Dear JD:

It sounds like you have a GAS fired dryer, and what you are seeing is the "glow coil", or on some models, its called the "glow bar".

Yes, usually this will glow an intense bright yellow orange color when a gas dryer is operating. It is part of the igniter that fires the gas which heats the dryer.

To be sure that this is what you are seeing on your particular model, you should contact your specific manufacturer.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
____________________

QUESTION from angelique on 4/4/2008:


my dryer has developed a banging noise when it is running. it sounds like it's unbalanced, but it is sitting straight on the floor and nothing inside seems loose. is there something i can do to fix this?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM 4/4/2008:

Dear angelique:

It sounds like you your dryer may have a bad Blower Wheel, which is causing the banging noise that you are hearing (especially if the banging noise continues for a few sections after you turn your dryer off). 

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
____________________ 

QUESTION from randy on 2/22/2008:

does gas clothes dryer vent have to be vented to the outside.it is only vented to a water lent trap behind dryer is this safe and ok.

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM 2/22/2008:

Dear Randy:

Yes, a gas dryer should ABSOLUTELY be vented to the outside of your home.

Gas clothes dryers do not have separate flues for the byproducts of the burnt gas. These dangerous by-products of gas burning (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc.) come out through the dryer vent. 

And as such, you need to be sure that your dryer vent exits your home, and that there are no leaks in your vent ducting.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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Maintenance Library index
Air Conditioning (central) Foundation Program Thermostats
Air Conditioning (room unit) Freezer Radiators
Attic Furnace Refrigerator
Automatic Lawn Sprinklers Furniture (Fine Wood) Roof
Barbeque Grill Furniture (Leather) Roof Gutters
Baseboard Heating System Furniture (Upholstered) Safety Tips
Basement Garage Security System
Brick Siding Garbage Disposal Septic System
Carpets Garbage Rates Showers & Tubs
Ceiling Fan Gas Fireplace Smoke Detectors
Charity Goods Donation Heat Pump Storm Windows
Clothes Dryer Holiday Lighting Stove
CO Detectors Hot Tub Spa Sump Pump
Daylight Savings Time Humidifier Swimming Pool
Decking Insurance Rates Tax Assessment
Dehumidifier Large Trees Nearby Telephone Service Rates
Dishwasher Lawn Trash Compactor
Drapes and Blinds Locks & Hinges Utility Meter Verification
Driveway Marble Floors Vinyl Siding
Electric Air Cleaner Mattresses Washing Machine
Electric Shaver Medicines (expired) Water Beds
Electrical Ground Faults Microwave Oven Water Heater
Emergency Supplies Mortgage Rates Weatherstripping
Energy Audits Outside Lighting Well Water
Energy Rates Outside Water Faucets Windows
Energy Savings Tips Oven Window Screens
Exhaust Fans Patio Furniture Wood Siding
Fire Extinguishers Personal Computer Wood Stove
Fireplace Pest Control Wooden Floors
Forced Air Heating System Plumbing  

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