Absorbent Materials

Some materials take longer to dry. This is because various fabrics hold moisture differently. The ability of a material to take on water and hold it is called absorbency. Something like a towel, for instance, is meant to absorb water very well, and is often more difficult to dry.

Many carpets can be rather absorbent, but hopefully you are not trying to dry one of those in your dryer. (That might affect rotation, which we will get to a little later.) Furs and wool can be more difficult to dry. Just take inventory of what you are trying to dry.

Dryer Vent Blockage

The dryer vent cycles out the moist air created when the heat of the dryer evaporates the moisture on the clothing. If the moisture stays in the dryer, the heat ultimately doesn’t matter because once the air cools, the process of condensation will cause the water vapor to re-wet the dryer load.

So what is going on with the dryer vent? It is likely blocked, so the damp air is not moving out of the dryer unit. Dryer vent cleaning will often solve this issue very easily and immediately. However, you need to make sure that you are removing all the lint and debris from the full length of the vent.

No Rotation

Your dryer should have a drive belt that spins the contents and allows much of the load to be heated from multiple angels. If the drive belt is broken or this system is jammed, you will experience longer drying times as the material on the top shields the rest of the load from heat.

You might not be able to tell if there is a rotation by the look or sound of your dryer. The belt could be loose, rotating, and slapping (giving the sense that there is motion). But opening the dryer, letting it run again, then opening it again should reveal if the load is being shuffled around.

No Heat

A dryer without heat is not going to dry anything. After a cycle, put your hand in and see if the clothes are warm. There are many ways that the heating element of a dryer can break down. The heating element itself could be broken, or the dryer blower wheel might not be cycling the heat through the dryer.

There could be an issue with your thermal fuse (which keeps your dryer from overheating). This safety feature might be getting improper readings and shutting off the heating element before it has a chance to warm to the point of being effective.

Easiest Solution

The best first step in troubleshooting a dryer that won’t dry your clothing is to clean the dryer vent. Cleaning is best left to a professional because they have tools that clear the entire vent. If you partially clean the length of the dryer vent, it is not going to solve the underlying issue.

You can call us today for dryer vent cleaning and get your appliance back into working order. Stop dealing with air drying or damp clothing. If you have invested in a dryer, you should use it, and it should work. So don’t delay.