I read a few questions on here about heat coils in the dryer burning out because of dryer sheets leaving a "film" on the lint trap. So I checked mine out & cleaned the trap out. As I was trying to put my trap back in, I noticed lint behind it, in the wall of the door (my lint trap is on the door of my dryer). I cleaned it out by sticking my hand in as far as I could reach inside (I now have scratches all over my hands!). I got more lint out of the door itself, then I got out of the trap in 6 months.
My questions are ..... how many people check behind the trap, is it normal for lint to go behind the trap & can this cause the heat coil to burn out as fast as if I didn't run warm soapy water over the trap to make sure that the "film" from the sheets wasn't gathering on the trap?
2007-11-05 16:04:35 · 4 answers · asked by Bright 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
How do I check if lint is near the heating element? I don't think it is in the door where the lint trap is?
2007-11-05 16:34:56 · update #1
Most people don't clean the lint that has blown by the lint trap and that is why appliance repair men like me make a living replacing burnt-out heater elements and dryer motors. My mother bought a used, reconditioned dryer and asked me to check it out last time I was there. I pulled almost 5 lbs of lint from the motor compartment on a dryer that she got a week earlier from a used/reconditioned appliance shop. If you can get the lint away from the heater elements and motor housing, your dryer should last for thirty years.
2007-11-05 16:22:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not many people go beyond the lint trap and, this does cause some house fires. I go over mine with a vacuum every once in a while. It's amazing what you find in these.
Another mention is, weather you have the law about a solid exhaust pipe from the dryer or not, remember it's your family and, your house that's going to burn.
I always suggest a solid pipe leading to the outside, unhampered and, a swing door to protect the pipe from intruders and, then make sure it stays away from debris that can catch fire, like leaves.
2007-11-06 05:39:29 · answer #2 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not sure if people check that.But the reason that you need to clean out the lint trap is to allow air flow past the heating coil. otherwise it's like boiling the kettle with no water, it won,t last long.
2007-11-06 00:20:34 · answer #3 · answered by exige 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a maintenance man, so I have a running preventative maint list for my home, and I clean my every 60 days,
2007-11-06 00:46:56 · answer #4 · answered by happywjc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋