6 Dryer Maintenance Tips

The common clothes dryer is a household appliance that many of us take for granted. However, up until about 1960, most people dried all of their clothes on a clothesline. It goes without saying that midwestern weather made this difficult for a large portion of the year, so it’s no surprise that nearly every modern family has an automatic clothing dryer in their home.

While your dryer may occasionally need professional repairs and maintenance, you can extend the life of this important machine by regularly performing a few simple tasks.

Another great reason to do regular maintenance on your dryer is fire prevention. Unfortunately, dryer fires impact nearly 3,000 homes each year, with failure to properly clean the dryer being the main cause. While taking the gunk out of the lint trap is an important step to preventing dryer fires, the lint trap doesn’t catch every piece of debris. That’s why performing all of the tips below are so crucial – by paying attention to every area of your dryer, you can keep it safe and running well for years to come.

6 Tips for Maintaining your Dryer

• Deep clean the lint trap. In addition to emptying the lint trap before each use, you should also clean the lint trap holding area of any additional debris. Every three months, deep clean the lint trap with warm water and laundry soap and allow to air dry before putting back in the machine. You can also wash a lint trap in your dishwasher.
  
• Clean the exhaust vent annually. One of the most common causes of dryer fires is a buildup of debris in the exhaust vent. Simply detach the vent from the back of the dryer and clean out any built-up debris.
• Check the exterior vent cap. Winter weather can cause ice, snow, and dirt to build up around the exterior dryer vent. Check it every so often and, when needed, remove debris with a cleaning brush or cloth and warm water.
• Replace plastic vent screens. Plastic vent screens are more likely to catch fire than ones made of metal. If yours are plastic, consider replacing them with metal screens ASAP.
• Wipe down the drum. Lint, debris, and dryer sheets can cause buildup on the drum over time. In order to keep your dryer functioning in tip-top shape, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth dipped in a bit of white vinegar or rubbing alcohol every few months.
• Don’t overload. While it may be tempting to stuff your dryer full of clothes to avoid doing several loads, overloading can cause serious problems for this machine. In addition to using up a lot more energy, an overloaded dryer is less effective at drying clothes completely. When clothes are left wet in a dryer, mold and mildew will start to appear. So be patient and let your dryer do its job on smaller loads of laundry – you won’t regret it!

When to call in a professional for repair

If you’re experiencing an issue with your dryer, you may wonder whether it is a simply DIY fix or if you should call in a professional. At Diamond Appliance, we’ve seen it all when it comes to dryers. If you notice any of the following, give Diamond a call to schedule an appliance repair:

• Broken nobs.
• Error codes appearing on the dryer display.
• Thumping noises or excessive movement when the dryer is running.
• Clothes not drying all the way or taking a long time to dry.

For expert dryer repairs in the St. Louis area, call Diamond Appliance.

For more than 100 years, Diamond Appliance has served customers in St. Louis, Kansas City, and communities across the region with expert appliance repair services. If you are looking for Amana dryer repair, Maytag dryer repair, Whirlpool dryer repair, Roper dryer repair, or services for any other major brand, give us a call to get started today.

Proudly providing a one-year warranty on parts and a 90-day labor guarantee on all repairs. If your dryer is under warranty, contact the manufacturer first to be referred to a certified repair service. Diamond Appliance is the region’s preferred appliance repair service for nearly all major brands. For out-of-warranty repairs, call Diamond directly.