Clothes dryer installation, troubleshooting & repair procedures.

Articles and procedures for installing, diagnosing and fixing problems with clothes dryers and dryer venting.

Page top photo: we've disassembled most of this gas fueled clothes dryer to correct a mis-adjusted gas burner before restoring it to operation.

This article series describes simple steps that you can take to get a dryer working again, or to decide that it's time to buy a new clothes dryer or that you would be smart to call an appliance repair person.

Clothes Dryer Installation, Inspection & Repair

As noted in Carson Dunlop Associates' Home Reference Guide cited below:

Clothes dryers tumble wet clothing in a rotating drum through which heated air is circulated. The hot air removes moisture from the clothing and is vented to the exterior. Heat may be generated by electric elements or by gas burners.

Electric dryers require a 240-volt electric outlet on a dedicated circuit. This circuit is typically capable of carrying at least 30 amps.

Gas dryers require gas piping with an accessible shut off valve. Please see the Heating chapter for information on gas piping and gas leaks.

Gas dryers also require a grounded 120-volt electrical outlet to power the motor and for the controls and timer.

Photo above: this dryer may have an exhaust vent pipe that is too long, resulting in higher operating costs, longer time to dry clothes, and risking lint clogging and worse, for older dryers missing an overheat detector, risking a building fire.

• If the dryer is won't start,
  
  the dryer may be unplugged, the breaker or fuse may be tripped or blown, a switch or control may be defective, or the motor may be defective.
  
  Check that the dryer circuit has electric power and check that the dryer's door switch is working.
• Watch out: If a dryer takes a long time to dry clothing,
  
  the lint trap may be clogged, or the vent may be kinked, clogged, or too long. There may also be lint clogging internal areas.
  
  The heating elements or burner may also be inoperative. A clogged clothes dryer vent or vent exit screen will make the dryer run "hot", will slow dry time, and most seriously, risks causing a fire.
• If an electric dryer does not generate heat,
  
  a breaker or fuse may be tripped or blown, or a heating element or burner may be defective.
  
  If a gas dryer does not heat,
  
  the gas valve may be turned off, the pilot light may be out, or the ignition system may be defective.
• Clothes dryer venting:
  
  

  As the hot air leaves the dryer, it goes through a screen that collects lint. Lint can interfere with the proper venting of exhaust. Lint traps are typically cleaned after each load.

  Watch out: The exhaust vent pipe connects the dryer to the exterior of the home. The vent pipe should be as short, straight, and smooth as possible to reduce the risk of lint collecting inside the duct.
  
  There should be no screws that extend into the duct. Many recommend avoiding flexible plastic ducting, although in some cases, it may be used for short distances as a transition duct as long as it is exposed. Rigid metal ducting is preferred.

  See our complete encyclopedia of clothes dryer venting installation and troubleshooting or repair given separately

  at CLOTHES DRYER VENTING - home

• Watch out: Don't vent the clothes dryer back into the building.
  
  Although there are heat re-claimers that can be used in the vent ducting to direct dryer air Inside back into the house, these are not recommended.
  
  They also direct excess moisture and lint back into the home.
  
  These should never be used with gas dryers, since this would send potentially dangerous products of combustion into the house air. Dryers should be vented to the exterior. 
• Before hooking up your clothes dryer
  
  be sure that the location where it's to be placed is dry and functional and that the dryer's power cord can reach its electrical receptacle; for gas dryers be sure that the gas piping is in place, tested for leaks, has the proper shutoff valve, and that the gas piping won't obstruct the exhaust vent.

  For examples of items that you should before you should consider before moving your dryer to its installation position, ,

  see WASHER / DRYER HOOKUP: FIX OTHER BASEMENT ISSUES?

• Clothes Dryer Installation and Operation or Repair Manuals:
  
  See this separate collection of free PDF downloads at
  
  DRYER INSTALLATION & OPERATION MANUALS

Carson Dunlop Associates' Home Reference Book

• The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
  
  Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
  
• The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
  
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
  

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Is an improperly installed dryer vent dangerous?

Any dangers in a improper dryer vent in stalled incorrectly? - On 2019-06-20 by Ted

Reply by (mod) -

Can an improperly-vented clothes dryer be dangerous?

The answer is absolutely, including the risk of a building fire.

Take a look at

CLOTHES DRYER FIRE HAZARD WARNINGS

and

CLOTHES DRYER SAFETY CHECKLIST

...

Continue reading at CLOTHES DRYER SAFETY CHECKLIST or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see this

Article Series

• APPLIANCE DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home
• CLOTHES DRYER INSTALLATION & REPAIR - home
• CLOTHES DRYER ASBESTOS
• CLOTHES DRYER FIRE HAZARD WARNINGS
• CLOTHES DRYER FIRE RESEARCH
• CLOTHES DRYER SAFETY CHECKLIST
• CLOTHES DRYER TEMPERATURES
• CLOTHES DRYER TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS
• CLOTHES DRYER VENTING - home
  • CLOTHES DRYER VENT BOOSTER FANS
  • CLOTHES DRYER VENT CLEARANCES & TERMINATION
  • CLOTHES DRYER LINT CLOG RESISTANT SCREENS
  • CLOTHES DRYER LINT FILTER HAZARDS
  • CLOTHES DRYER VENT CODES
  • CLOTHES DRYER VENT ENERGY SAVINGS
  • CLOTHES DRYER VENT INSTALLATION
  • CLOTHES DRYER VENT TERMINATION & SCREENS
  • DRYER EXHAUST VENT DUCT MATERIAL & SIZE
  • DRYER EXHAUST VENT HOOD TYPES
  • DRYER EXHAUST VENT INSTALLATION & ELBOWS
  • DRYER EXHAUST VENT ROUTING OPTIONS
  • DRYER EXHAUST VENT MISTAKES
  • DRYER EXHAUST VENTED INTO ATTIC
  • DRYER EXHAUST VENTED THROUGH ROOF
  • DRYER EXAUST VENTED INTO CRAWL

• DRYER INSTALLATION & OPERATION MANUALS
• GAS APPLIANCE CONVERT LP-to-NATURAL GAS
• GAS REGULATORS & APPLIANCE / HEATER CONTROLS
• LP & Natural Gas Pressures
• WASHING MACHINE REPAIR - home

Suggested citation for this web page

CLOTHES DRYER INSTALLATION & REPAIR at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to APPLIANCE REPAIR

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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