You bought a dryer that worked effectively but after some years or months of use, the dryer is not working properly.
So here are the 11 potential explanations for dryer inefficiency and why is your dryer not drying properly:
1. Incorrect Setting
If your dryer isn’t working properly you may have used the wrong settings for the clothes you have been drying in the dryer. For example, if you are drying a full load of cotton clothes in your dryer using the setting air dry or air fluff the clothes will not dry properly but they will come out damp. Or if you are using the dryer in the timer setting the clothes may not dry properly before that dryer may run out of the dryer cycle. You can also set your dryer to the auto-dry setting rather than the timed setting.
So for you to ensure the clothes dry properly use settings like:
- High heat setting for clothes like heavy cotton clothes.
- Medium heat setting for clothes like most of the T-shirts.
- Low heat setting for clothes like yoga pants or thin, stretchy clothes.
- Flat or delicate settings for clothes like knit or woven clothes.
2. Power Supply Problems
The power supply can also be a problem as to why your dryer is not drying clothes properly. If your dryer has no problem in the dryer setting check its power supply whether they are connected properly or not. You can also check the circuit breakers if they have or haven’t tripped and if they have been tried reset the breaker and test the dryer. If the circuit breaker trips again then you need to fix it using a professional repairer or an electrician as they might have been short.
Even sometimes the power may not be efficient enough to run the dryer properly. If you have a gas dryer just make sure your dryer is connected properly to the gas supply and the shut-off valve is open.
3. Overloading
Overloading can also be one of the important reasons that your dryer is not drying properly. If you overload the dryer with clothes the clothes will be wet or damped when the dryer drying cycle ends. If you want your clothes to dry properly you will have to leave enough space in your dryer for the air to flow so it can dry your clothes properly.
If you overload the laundry it may have worn drum bearings or a burned-out dryer motor which can also lead to more serious problems so use the limited amount of clothes to dry in your dryer.
4. Clogged Lint Filter
A clogged Lint Filter is a simple mesh screen that helps your dryer keep the vent hose clear of debris by trapping lint before it can pass into the vent and which needs to be cleaned after the use of the dryer. It also helps the dryer to flow air through the vent and helps the dryer to dry clothes properly.
5. Air Vent Blockage
As we talked a Lint Filter is a simple mesh screen that helps your dryer keep the vent hose clear of debris by trapping lint before it can pass into the vent. However, after some use of the dryer and lint filter, the vents can be blocked by lint, dust, and other debris.
So we recommend you clean the dryer air vent once a year to clean the debris that has been trapped in the vent because of the long run. You can clean it yourself by shutting down the gas valve, unplugging the dryer from electricity, and then disconnecting the dryer from the air vent. After that, you can take a shop vac which can be used to remove dust, debris, and lint from inside the vent.
6. Cracked or Damaged Vent Hose
Even if your dryer vent hose is cracked or damaged it won’t properly dry your clothes. The issue may be caused if the air vent hose has cracked, bent, or otherwise damaged. If such things happen it will reduce the flow of air through the vent and can cause blockage in the air vent.
You can also repair it by just replacing the damaged air vent hoes or by patching it. As they are not very expensive you can also completely change it rather than patching it up.
7. Faulty Door Switch
A faulty door or door switch can also be a problem if the door is not closed the dryer won’t run properly. If your dryer isn’t working like it used to you can try and make sure the door is closed. Even when the door of the dryer is closed properly and it’s not working, you can press the door switch manually.
If your dryer works normally after manually pressing the door switch then all you have to do is adjust the door so the door can press the switch when it’s closed. But if it’s not working even when you manually press the door switch and you have a malfunctioning door switch that needs to be replaced.
8. Worn Drive Belt
A drive belt that helps the dryer drum to rotate to keep clothes moving can also wear out and the drums may not rotate if it’s worn out. When the drivel belts rotate the drums then hot air helps to dry your clothes properly but if it’s not rotating then your clothes will be wet or damped. So if the drive belt is damaged, cracked, stretched, and worn then you will have to change it.
You can repair it yourself at home but it’s a lot more advanced we recommend you leave the change of the worn drive belt to professionals and trained appliance repair.
9. Heating Element
As you may know, your dryer makes a hot air flow inside the dryer to dry your clothes. An electric heater is used to heat the air when it is pulled through the blower wheel. But if your heating element has faults then the cold air won’t dry your clothes properly.
All you have to do is make sure that the heating element is clean and it’s not touching other parts of the dyer. But if it’s not producing heat then you can change it with the help of professionals and trained appliance repair.
10. Blower Wheel Failure
The blower wheel pulls air from the outside into the dryer and blows inside with hot air so the clothes dry properly when the dryer is rotating and throws out the air through the vent. If the dryer you are using or you have at your house is making rattling sounds or violently vibrating during use it may be because your dryer blower wheel has failed or has an issue in it.
You can repair it yourself at home or you can pay for a professional appliance repair technician. To repair it yourself all you have to do is to open the back panel which is separated from the front panel and top panel then you just have to poll the drum off the drum bearing and unscrew the blower wheel from the motor to replace it.
11. Blown Thermal Fuse
So what is a thermal fuse? A thermal fuse is one of the necessary components in the dryer as it provides safety to the dryer. It helps or prevents the dryer from overheating during operation so if the thermal fuse is not working properly the dryer can’t dry clothes properly.
FAQs
Q. How can I improve my dryer efficiency?
You can increase your dyer efficiency by not overstuffing clothes and items to dry in the dryer. Avoid overstuffing then your dryer can dry efficiently.
Q. What are the factors affecting the dryer?
Factors like temperature, humidity, evaporation, and air movement affect the dryer drying capacity.
Q. Can a dryer be highly efficient?
Yes, the dryer can be highly efficient if you have a dryer with a high Combined Energy Factor (CEF) mode which can be more efficient than other dryer.
Also Read: Here Are 10 Ways You Can Use Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Your House!