It’s laundry day. Your second load of clothes is finishing up in the washing machine, while your first load finishes its dryer cycle. The timers on both machines ding, and you go to empty the dryer so you can move over the next batch of washed clothing.
There’s just one problem. The clothes in the dryer are still wet.
Despite going through a full cycle at the appropriate setting, you now have to run them again. Meanwhile, the load that just finished in the washing machine has to sit in a wet heap, building up an unpleasant damp smell. The clothes in the dryer face extra wear and potential shrinking due to another dryer cycle.
And your drying machine itself goes through added stress due to the additional cycles.
Running each dryer load multiple times is not a solution to your problem. Not only is it hard on your cloths, your machine, and your electricity bill, but it could potentially lead to a dryer fire.
Instead, you should find the source of the problem and address it. The good news is, it can be a relatively simple fix.
Check Your Lint Trap
Despite its small size and simple function, your lint trap can have a major impact on how well your dryer performs. A lint trap should be cleaned after every load of laundry. Not only does it improve performance, but it greatly reduces the chances of dryer fires.
Make no mistake, the threat of dryer fires is very real. Dryers and washing machines cause nearly 16,000 structure fires a year. 90% of those fires stem from clothes dryers.
Don’t Overfill It
Dryers need space to work effectively. If you’re overfilling your dryer to the point where clothes are literally spilling out of it, it’s too full. And if your dryer is too full, it probably means you’re washing too many clothes at once as well. Make sure to follow capacity guidelines for both your washer and dryer.
You may think that doing more clothes at once will save you on water and electricity, but it actually just leads to more stress on your machine, while leaving your clothes dirty and wet.
Have Your Dryer Vents Cleaned
Even with a properly maintained lint trap, your dryer’s vents and ducts will get dirty. Overtime, lint can build up to the point where it blocks airflow. As with lint traps, this leads to underperformance and greatly increases the chances of dryer fires.
Your dryer vents should be inspected and cleaned once a year.
For dryer vent cleaning in the Dayton, Ohio area, Air Duct Cleaning & Radon Company has you covered. We’ve been working in the HVAC industry since 1970.
What if My Machine Still Isn’t Drying?
If you’ve done everything listed above, and your vents are clean, it’s time to call a repairman. They’ll be able to inspect your unit and see if a part needs to be replaced. Otherwise, it might be time for an upgrade.
You might not want to shell out the money for a new machine, but trust us, it’s much better to buy a new dryer than risk a dryer fire happening in your home.
