If you have received a warranty with your clothes dryer, then it would be best to take it to the service shop instead of trying to repair it yourself, or a repairman will come to your home and check the dryer out. You should know that trying to fix it for yourself might null the warranty. It means that you shouldn’t open the top or the back as then you may end having to pay for all the parts. On the other hand, if the warranty period is over then you are free to try to repair it yourself. Most of it is not that difficult.

If you have noticed that your clothes dryer need more time to dry your clothes than usually, the reasons for that can be various. In that case consult the owner’s manual. First of all, you are advised to check the lint filter, which you have previously cleaned out several times. Make sure you do this regularly, at least once a week.

If nothing is wrong there, then you should check your vent tube. It is possible that it has been clogged by something and needs to be cleaned out. In that case unplug the dryer and move it a little bit from the wall so that you can get to it from the back. The hose (tub) will only let you move the dryer for a short distance. Then you may need a screwdriver, a pair of channel locks, or a pair of pliers to release the hose. Once the hose is up and you are able to see down into it as far as you can, you may need to shake it so that you could check if there is some trash that has blocked the hose.

Be very careful to take the back off the clothes dryer because of the sharp edges on the cross plates which are very dull and may cut you sometimes very severely. After you have done it, you will have to disconnect some wires, but it would be good if you first mark which wires go where. It is very important as putting them back in the wrong place may cause an electrical fire. On the inside of the plate you will find some screws or nuts that might have been tightened down. You may need to make a lot of pressure to release them  Yet, once the unit is detached you should take it to the proper facility to have it checked.

Furthermore, there are other parts such as the belt and the motor, but there is not enough place in this article to cover those areas. However, all that was mentioned in this article is certainly very useful for you to know what to do if something goes wrong with your clothes dryer.

1. Electricity

Those who already own the clothes dryer know how much electricity it spends. Namely, they are known as devices that use so much energy, so if you already have trouble paying your electricity bills, or if you are thinking of turning into a Greenie, then perhaps a clothes dryer is not for you.  Keep this in mind before making a purchase.

2. Budget

In most cases, the cost of the clothes dryer ranges from $400 to $2000 for domestic versions, and much more for commercial types. After you have heard this ask yourself whether you can afford buying it. If your budget is small, then you should wait until you have saved enough to get yourself a dryer. Make it a treat for yourself, because everyone needs to have clean clothes and towels, no matter what the weather outside is like.

3. Energy rating

Taking the above tips into consideration, you can always choose clothes dryer that has a great energy rating. In Australia, energy ratings are measured by a Star reward system. Therefore, it means that the more Stars on the sticker on the front of your dryer, the more energy efficient the clothes dryer will be.

4. Size

Next, consider the size of the clothes dryer before you decide which one to choose. In general, your dryer should be of the same kilogram load as your washing machine. It means that if you have a 4kg washing machine, you will choose a 4kg dryer. Still, this depends on your personal needs and demands.

5. Durable clothes

Go to your laundry basket and check the tags of a few of your favorite clothes. On how many of them is written, “Do not tumble dry”? If there are more than 5, then consider buying a dryer immediately. Keep in mind that cotton-based clothing is much better in dryers than clothes made out of polyester materials.

6. Settings

When it comes to the settings, you should read first clothes dryer manual and choose the right settings for you. It would be better to choose an automatic switch off, which ensures the dryer turns itself off when the clothes are done. This is great for the precaution against fire.

7. Lint catcher

Well, the lint catcher is the easy-to-spot netted part inside the door of your dryer, which catches all of the loose thread and lint, that come off your clothes during the clothes drying process. It is very important to empty this catcher each time before and after you use the dryer. Remember this!

8. Fire safety

As already said, never leave the house until your clothes dryer hasn’t finished running. Anyway, you can turn it off mid-load if you are in rush and have to go out. As a matter of fact, the clothes dryer is one of the largest fire hazards in the home.

9. Warranty

And the last thing, check if there is a warranty with your new clothes dryer. Also, talk to the sales assistant to find out how much the costs of extending the warranty are.

People mostly prefer electric dryers, because gas dryers can leak combustion by products, such as carbon monoxide into your home. However, if you have a gas dryer and are worried about possible odorless and toxic leaks of carbon monoxide, you can ensure piece of mind by providing a home detector.

But first of all, make your device be checked by a professional person once a year. According to the statements made by gas authorities, dryers which are professionally serviced in terms of maintenance schedule should not leak gas. As a matter of fact, any work conducted on the appliance, like replacing connectors for example, should be carried out by an expert. Remember that you must never try to do any work by yourself.

Researches done recently show that people don’t need to be concerned about the electromagnetic field (EMF) which surrounds their electric dryer, nor do they need to take any precaution measures in order to avoid exposure while the machine is running. As a matter of fact, it hasn’t be proved that EMFs cause diseases or other problems with health. Also, the EMF quickly decreases as you move away from the source. However, if you are still not sure, just minimize your exposure to the electric dryer while it is working.

Make sure your dryer is vented outdoors as small pieces of lint will be emitted in the air if the exhaust ducts are released indoors. It might cause problems with breathing.

You should never put rubber, plastic, foam materials or oil soaked fabrics in the dryer, as these are easily flammable materials.

Do not allow children to crawl into the clothes dryer. If it happens that your kid pulls the door shut from inside, he or she may suffocate. Make sure to lock the laundry room door while you are away from home. Besides, cats may find a clothes dryer attractive place to hide, so keep in mind this before you turn your device on.

Clean the filter after each use, so as to prevent lint buildup. If you have an electric model, it is advisable to unplug the machine once or twice a year, remove the service panel, and smoothly vacuum the lint catcher and internal workings, as well as the dryer’s base, with a crevice attachment. However, you should call the technician to clean or remove lint or dust from the mechanical areas of your gas dryer.

From time to time check exhaust ducts for tears, and either repair a damaged area with duct tape or replace it. Metal ducts are preferable to ribbed plastic hose, which can be easily bent and so collect lint.

On the basis of everything previously said, you can realize that clothes dryers are so useful, especially when it comes to washing and drying your clothes quickly and you are in lack of time. However, keep in mind that proper installation and maintenance are of utmost importance.

Reduce Drying Time:

You can save money and make your clothes dryer last longer if you reduce the time needed for drying. One of the possible ways is to place smaller loads of clothes in the dryer, as drying too many clothes at the same time will cause the dryer to dry them unevenly, and the clothes will still have many wrinkles. What’s more, the dryer can overheat if overloaded. Another way is to keep the dryer lint-free. If you want to have the most of your dryer, you are advised to clean the lint-filter after every load. Next, drying time can be reduced if you hang clothes outdoors because nice and warm weather will dry the clothes quickly. This will save on your power bill and help prolong the dryer’s life

Clean the Clothes Dryer Often:

Apart from wiping lint from the lint-catcher after each load, you have to clean out the excess lint within the vent that the filter did not catch. Use a vacuum hose or lint brush to remove it. This has to be done at least once a month to prevent build-up. Also, once in every two to three years, call a professional service technician to come and clean your dryer thoroughly.

Clothes Dryer Safety

Venting should be carried out with all-metal ducting instead of plastic or vinyl exhaust hoses, as these are flammable. Moreover, do not try to dry clothes on which any of the flammable substances have been spilled like kerosene, alcohol, cooking oil, gasoline and solvents. It might be very dangerous because they can give off some explosive vapors causing a fire due to the excessive heat in the dryer. Therefore, make sure to wash items of clothing with these types of spills very thoroughly several times and hung to dry to be sure all the flammable substance is gone. Further, avoid synthetic fabrics, plastic rubber, and foam as they retain heat causing the dryer to overheat or catch fire. If you need to install a gas or electric dryer in a new home, find some suitable place where it will ventilate properly. Outside walls will be great for that.

You should never leave your home or fall asleep if you haven’t previously turned off the dryer. Besides, provide a fire extinguisher and locate it in the same room as the dryer or nearby if possible in case of fire.

Alternatives to the Standard Electric Dryer

If you live in a small place with little space to put your electric dryer, don’t worry, as there is a solution. You can use a spin dryer. It is a compact dryer which you can take with you when traveling. It plugs into a 110V outlet. Its capacity is a 12.2 lb for wet laundry and 5.5 lb for dry laundry. Besides, there are portable washing machines to go easier on your septic tank, and there are products to improve your septic system or decrease septic system maintenance.

To sum up, have these electric clothes dryer tips in mind, as they will certainly do you good, especially when you receive your electric bill at the end of the month.