aaronm Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Client's daughter has 2007 townhome where clothes dryer top gets hot and does not dry clothes. She had the vent professionally cleaned and they found no obstructions. Builder (of course) says that it was installed properly. They want me to take a peek and perform miracles. My idea is to run the dryer and use the IR camera to try and trace the length of the vent in the wall. Any better ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Unless it was a client that had hired me in the past and I just felt like being helpful, I would recommend they employ an applience repairman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 You've probably thought of these things already, but ...... Maybe it's a problem with the dryer. If not, there has to be an obstruction somewhere. An IR camera may not be of much help in finding it, because a blockage anywhere in the line would pretty much prevent exhaust discharge from even entering it. I'd start by checking for discharge at the exterior hood. If there's no discharge there, pull the dryer away from the vent line. If there's airflow, it's definitely an obstruction in the line. No airflow, means it's a problem with the dryer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Any better ideas? Clothesline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Clothesline. 2007 townhome = restrictive covenants Most likely gonna have to be a basement clothesline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Blower fan not working. Restriction in duct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Take a picture of the vent pipe where it comes out the back. Sometimes that gets crushed when they push the dryer back into position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpdewitt Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 I've also found them crushed. Found one metal flex between the dryer and the (1 foot long) solid vent to exterior that was fully extended to TEN FEET and then practically tied in a knot to fit it behind dryer and then mashed up against gas supply line! People had lint all over the room and couldn't figure it out. Cut flex down to 3 feet long, excising ripped part, and all was well. Also, lint (or sock or whatever) could be somewhere between lint trap and outlet in the dryer, hardware stores sell a special long thin brush you can use to clean this area. Sold as a brush to clean refrigerator coils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Found this just the other day. Click to Enlarge 56.45 KB Click to Enlarge 61.51 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkenney Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Dryers also contain thermal fuses. Much like your coffeepot heating element. Be prepared, 1/4" nut driver, phillips screw driver, multimeter. If the fuse is blown drum rotates, blower blows - no heat. A blown thermal fuse is usually indicative of an obstruction in the vent system but can occur simply from age. Many dryers have multiple elements for different cycles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles46 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 I had a dryer several years ago that had an upper and a lower heating element. The lower element went out and the clothes would not dry worth a flip. Pull the dryer out from the wall, disconnect the vent hose and cover the end with a sock or point it towards a 5 gallon bucket with a couple of gallons of water in it, then turn the dryer on. This will contain your lint and confirm if the dryer is indeed working correctly. If the dryer is working correctly, take an electric leaf blower and let it blow into the vent. You should be able to feel the air coming out the vent if the vent is not clogged. Or just take out your IR camera and follow the heat trail in the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlparham Posted March 12, 2013 Report Share Posted March 12, 2013 If the dryer vents through the roof the damper seal may be defective. Some seals during that era would get hot and fuse the damper to its seat. The manufacturer now uses a felt seal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garet Posted March 12, 2013 Report Share Posted March 12, 2013 I've found several on new construction (or warranty inspections) where the damper was painted shut. One customer wondered why her clothes dryer didn't wok worth a darn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omagic12 Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Most dryers have two elements: a low heat and high heat element. Possibly, one of the two is not working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garet Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 Most dryers have two elements: a low heat and high heat element. Possibly, one of the two is not working. Possible, but unlikely since it was a new appliance in a new house. You can heat the moist clothes all you want, but if you don't remove the moist air the clothes will never get dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubrooks Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Just a few pertinent questions: How long was the dryer vent? What material? What diameter? Does the anti-back flow flap open when the dryer is running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted December 5, 2013 Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 Hi Stu, I doubt that the O.P. will answer or even care. He started this thread more than two years ago. I suspect he's figured it out by now and moved on. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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