Despite being expensive, a dryer at home is a necessity for many homeowners. After all, it’s convenient to spin your laundry in a dryer rather than hanging lines and lines of clothing.

However, it’s inevitable that something unpredictable could happen. You toss a heap of clothes to tumble in the dryer. Everything works well, and you're surprised that 20 minutes later, you get the same wet clothes.

Of course, you can still fix your dryer with a little help. Remember, though, that not all issues with your dryer malfunctioning can be "DIY-ed." A Samsung dryer repair, for instance, needs expert eyes from professionals as dryers of this brand are complex to manipulate.

Spend some time reading the following common dryer problems and be guided on how to address these issues head-on.

1. Dryer Wouldn't Start

When pressing the power button and your dryer does nothing, ensure that plug is tightly inserted into a power outlet. The power line may have slipped and fallen. If the power plugs are tight and the connection lines are intact, this can solve the problem.

If the problem persists, a dryer power failure is often fixed by rebooting the breaker. However, when both the connection and the breakers are excellent and intact, the start button, thermal fuse, or door switch could be the problem. These are components available at your local hardware and could be easily fixed using your pliers and screwdrivers.

2. Dryer Drum Stops Spinning

In most cases, the drum belt is what causes a dryer drum not to spin. As the belt gets older, it becomes prone to stretching and tearing. You can fix the belt right away; however, this repair needs the dryer panels to be opened and the drum to be lifted.

Another drum belt issue can be related to a ruptured idler pulley. This same pulley brings friction to the drum belt so that the motor can make the drums rotate. Replacing this not so costly component also needs access to the dryer's cabinet.

 3. Dryer Drum Spins, But There's No Heat 

Whenever the dryer doesn't get warm at all, it's a whole different issue. The clothes stay moist and muggy even when propped to max heat. A thermal fuse that has blown can be blamed. Such a fuse is installed to dryers to avoid fires. Thermal fuses can wear out through their own, but they are crafted to short whenever temperatures reach beyond the normal levels. Thus, when your dryer doesn't heat up because of a blown thermal fuse, look for blocked up vents, an overfilled lint screen, or an overload.

You must replace a blunted fuse to fix it. Though in doing so, you must be careful as thermal fuses are located next to the exhaust ducts. Make sure that the dryer is disconnected from the power source and the back panel removed. Replace the damaged fuse out and make sure that it's secure and properly installed.

4. Clothes Feel Warm But Don't Dry Completely

You've loaded your clothes into the dryer, got it started and went on with your chores. When the cycle ends, you return to discover that your clothes aren't totally dry. Thinking that you've just overwhelmed it a little, you run a new, quicker cycle to handle the job. Yet again, the clothes came out damp.

That might be the scariest part: All seems like it functions just as it ought to be. However, the situation slowly worsens over time.

A defective heating element may be the suspect here. If the heat source doesn't function effectively, the dryer rotates, and the process ends. But it usually can't get toasty enough even to dry the clothes.

Naturally, heating elements will wear down, but overburdening the dryer, not cleaning lint filters, and unsanitary conditions can all accelerate that process.

Luckily, fixing a heating element isn't a dreadfully complex task. You can typically find a spare heating element in your nearby hardware store or if you scour the internet for a model that fits your dryer.

When you have the new heating element, disconnect the dryer from the source, remove the side cover, and fit in the new one. With some heaters, you may need to remove the thermostat that comes with the original heating element and replace it with a new one. When everything is fine, screw the rear panel back on, power on, and check for heat.

5. Dryer Makes Abnormal Noises

By nature, many dryers make noise while they're drying out your clothes. If you start noticing some uncommon ramped-up sounds from the dryer, that is a visible sign that there is something faulty. If you start hearing pummeling, squealing, clanking, or whistling, these aren't usual sounds a dryer makes. These mean you have to check on the machine.

A dryer's damaged glides frequently produce noise. Having new drum glides resolves this issue. When replaced correctly, the noise can be stopped. A blower wheel trouble may trigger other unusual sounds from your dryer. The blower wheel must be changed if that's the case, although there are occasions when cleaning it out will do.

Eventually, if your dryer 's central belt is out of position, a thumping sound is generated whenever you dry your clothes. If the issue is detected early on, a repair specialist needs to mount the belt correctly and effectively. But if it's out of place for quite a while and got stretched out, you'll need a new belt installed by a technician.

6. Clothes Always Come Out Wrinkled

There are many explanations about why clothes get wrinkled coming out of the dryer. The contributors may have a shortage of fabric conditioner, the load is too little or too heavy, the laundry is inappropriately arranged, etc.

This is an instant fix and will need only slight tweaks. By simply arranging your laundry correctly, drying with a light load, removing clothes out of the dryer after a cycle, and making use of the permanent-press process will minimize wrinkling.

7. Clothes Take A Longer Time To Dry

Your dryer heats up efficiently but, somehow, the clothes are taking time to dry. Surprisingly, fixing a problem like this would not need much energy, time, and expert knowledge. Usually, the issue that causes the extended time of drying is minor, such as lint clogs. To put it simply, when your lint screen hasn't been cleaned out for some time, it builds up excessive lint. Such build-up compels your dryer to use more power than needed, so it takes a bit longer to dry clothes.

Tips On Taking Care Of Your Dryer

It could be a total nightmare if your dryer functions poorly. You'll either have to take your large bucket of wet clothes to the nearby laundromat or hang them all up to dry. You certainly won't find any of those choices to be especially appealing. That's why it's wise to keep your drier in its prime and ensure it remains serving you well enough for as long as possible.

Below are some tips on how to take care of your dryers so you won't need to do repairs in the first place or call a technician.

• Clean The Exhaust Pipes Regularly

The most crucial thing to do in keeping your dryer properly functioning and avoiding incidents of fire is cleaning exhaust pipes regularly. Start by detaching and clearing out blockages. Seeing to it that this is done regularly and adequately will guarantee the proper functioning of your dryer.

• Always Remember Not To Overload

Massive loads need a longer time to dry, and much more energy is used. If clothes aren't thoroughly cleaned, you could finish up with a damp and musty smell. It would be best to load your dryers just the appropriate weight of clothes for the machine to serve its function effectively.

• Deep Clean Your Lint Filters

Don't be too confident that you've cleaned your dryer's lint screen every after drying session. Instead, vacuum and deep clean it using a laundry detergent once every two months. You can also pop it into a dishwasher to remove leftover stuff by laundry detergents and fabric softeners.

• No To Plastic Exhaust Vents, A Metal One Is Much Better

Exhaust vents made of PVC or are plastic-based are highly flammable. Play safe by shifting to metal exhaust pipes.

• Be Mindful Of The Exterior Vent Caps

Building up of dirt, lawn debris, or snow around dryer vents is common. Every so often, clear it all out to allow air to flow more freely.

• Keep The Dryer Drum Clean

Keeping your dryer drum clean and free from any unwanted stuff is another trick to maintain your dyer at peak performance. Remove any residue by wiping the inside with a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol. Make sure that the tub is thoroughly dry after each drying process.

With a microfiber cloth and some rubbing alcohol, give the inside a downward wipe to remove any residues from the dryer sheet. Let it dry thoroughly.

In Summary

Greatly benefit from your dryer working harder and living longer with these essential dryer upkeeps. Avoid abusing your dryers such as congesting the machine, letting the lint filter clog, and keeping the exhaust vents dirty.

Be mindful of the common dryer problems mentioned above and perform necessary repairs when you can. Otherwise, seeking the help of someone knowledgeable would be better, especially if you want to be at ease and confident when using your dryer.