How Does an Electric Dryer Work? — Appliance Repair Tips
Summary
TLDRThis video explains how dryers work through the combined action of airflow, heat, and drum rotation. It details the process of air intake, heating, and circulation inside the drum to dry clothes efficiently. Proper airflow and ventilation are emphasized as crucial to the dryer's performance, and potential problems like overheating, tripped fuses, and airflow blockages are discussed. The video also covers maintenance tips, such as cleaning the lint screen and vent, and highlights common issues like worn drum supports and broken belts, with solutions provided through Repair Clinic’s resources.
Takeaways
- 🌀 All dryers function using airflow, heat, and drum rotation, which work together to dry clothes efficiently.
- 💨 Dryers use a blower wheel to draw air from the front or rear of the appliance, heating the air and circulating it through the clothes as the drum rotates.
- 🔥 Electric dryers heat the air using a heating element, and airflow is critical to proper operation.
- 🚪 Proper airflow requires the dryer to be placed in an open, well-ventilated area, with enough space behind it to allow air to flow freely.
- ⚠️ Poor airflow can cause the high-limit thermostat to overheat, shutting off the heating element and lengthening drying time.
- 🔌 Two types of venting material can be used: rigid venting (effective up to 40 ft) and semi-rigid venting (up to 20 ft), with bends reducing efficiency.
- 🔄 The heating element activates when it receives 240 volts of alternating current through two voltage legs, and thermostats regulate the heating process.
- 🧰 If the dryer isn’t heating properly, common causes include a malfunctioning thermal fuse, heating element, high-limit thermostat, or thermal cut-off fuse.
- 🧹 Regular cleaning of the lint screen and exhaust vent is crucial for maintaining airflow and preventing fire hazards.
- 🔧 Repair Clinic offers resources like part testing, disassembly, and replacement guides to help with troubleshooting and fixing dryer issues.
Q & A
What are the three main factors that contribute to the operation of a dryer?
-The three main factors are airflow, heat, and drum rotation.
How does airflow impact the dryer’s performance?
-Airflow helps circulate the heated air through the clothes. Poor airflow can prevent proper drying, cause the heating element to overheat, and damage thermostats or fuses.
What is the role of the blower wheel in a dryer?
-The blower wheel draws air into the dryer from either the front or rear, which is then heated and circulated through the clothes during the drying process.
Why is it important to ensure that the dryer has sufficient space around it?
-Sufficient space is needed to allow proper airflow. The back of the dryer should be several inches away from the wall to prevent overheating and poor air circulation.
What can happen if the airflow is restricted due to a clogged vent or lint buildup?
-Restricted airflow can cause the dryer to overheat, leading to potential damage to the high-limit thermostat or thermal fuses. This may result in the dryer not heating or not running at all.
How often should the lint screen be cleaned, and why is it important?
-The lint screen should be cleaned after every load to maintain proper airflow, reduce the risk of overheating, and ensure the dryer operates efficiently.
What types of venting materials are recommended for dryers, and what are their length limits?
-Rigid venting is recommended and is efficient up to 40 feet, while semi-rigid venting is efficient up to 20 feet. Bends in the venting reduce these length limits.
What should be done if the dryer is not heating properly?
-You should test components like the heating element, thermal fuse, high-limit thermostat, and thermal cutoff fuse individually to determine if any of them are faulty.
What is the function of the cycling thermostat in a dryer?
-The cycling thermostat monitors the air temperature inside the dryer and switches off the heating element when the desired temperature is reached.
What might cause the dryer drum to stop rotating even though the motor is running?
-The drive belt may have broken, or one of the support components such as rollers, glides, or pulleys could have failed, causing the drum to stop rotating.
Outlines
🌀 Understanding How Dryers Work: Airflow, Heat, and Drum Rotation
This paragraph explains the fundamental principles behind the operation of all dryers, which revolve around airflow, heat, and drum rotation. It details how air is drawn in, heated, and circulated through clothes while the drum rotates. Proper airflow is essential for efficient operation, and if air is restricted, it can lead to thermostat and heating element issues, causing the dryer to take longer to dry clothes or even damaging the machine. The paragraph also emphasizes the importance of positioning the dryer in a well-ventilated space to ensure optimal performance.
🔥 Preventing Airflow Issues to Ensure Safe Dryer Operation
This section discusses the importance of maintaining proper airflow in the dryer to prevent overheating and equipment damage. It warns about the dangers of poor airflow, which can trigger the high limit thermostat to shut off the heating element and potentially damage the thermostat or cause fuses to blow. It recommends cleaning the lint screen after each load and regularly cleaning the exhaust vent to avoid clogs. It also explains the differences between rigid and semi-rigid venting materials and their respective length limits for optimal airflow, noting that bends in the venting can significantly reduce effectiveness.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Airflow
💡Heat
💡Drum Rotation
💡Heating Element
💡Thermostat
💡Thermal Fuse
💡Blower Wheel
💡Exhaust Vent
💡Drive Belt
💡Lint Screen
Highlights
All dryers operate using three main factors: airflow, heat, and drum rotation.
Airflow is drawn in by a blower wheel from the front or rear, heated, and circulated through the tumbling clothes.
Electric dryers heat the air using a heating element; proper airflow is vital for efficient operation.
Poor airflow can cause the high limit thermostat to overheat, shutting off the heating element.
Dryers may have thermal fuses that can fail due to restricted airflow, resulting in no heat or the dryer not running.
To maintain airflow, clean the lint screen after each load and ensure the exhaust vent is clear.
Rigid venting material is recommended for exhaust vents, as it is efficient up to 40 feet in length, while semi-rigid venting is efficient up to 20 feet.
Each 90° bend in venting reduces airflow efficiency, subtracting 8 feet from the maximum venting length.
Blocked exhaust vents can cause fire risks due to lint buildup, so cleaning the vent annually is advised.
The heating element is powered by 240 volts, with two legs of voltage carrying 120 volts each.
A cycling thermostat maintains air temperature between 120°F and 160°F by switching off the heating element when needed.
If airflow is restricted, the high limit thermostat may prevent the heating element from functioning.
If either the thermal fuse or thermal cutoff fuse fails, the dryer may stop heating or running entirely.
Commonly failed components in dryers include the thermal fuse, high limit thermostat, and heating element.
The drum is rotated by a drive belt connected to the motor, with baffles inside the drum helping clothes tumble evenly for faster drying.
Transcripts
[Music]
not all dryers look the same but all of
them operate in the same manner through
a combination of three main factors
airflow heat and drum
rotation in this video we will address
how these three factors work together as
well as potential problems you may
encounter
when operating the dryer uses a blower
wheel to draw air in from the front or
rear of the appliance the air is heated
and circulates through the clothes as
the drum rotates the hotter the air the
more effective it is at removing
moisture from the clothes you can expect
an average load of clothes to take about
60 Minutes to
dry for electric dryers the air is
heated by a heating element and air flow
is vital to its property
operation to ensure your dryer has
sufficient air to operate it should be
located in an open well-ventilated area
and not in a cramped closet or laundry
room for proper air flow the rear of the
appliance should be kept several inches
away from the wall if the air flow is
poor the heat from the element will not
be pulled through the heater housing
properly this can cause the high limit
thermostat to heat up and switch off the
voltage to the heating element the
thermostat will will reset after it
cools and the process will
repeat however the dryer will take too
long to dry because the heat is
continually being shut off and the
thermostat itself can become
damaged some models may have a thermal
fuse on the blower housing and a thermal
cut off fuse on the heater housing
either of these fuses can fail due to
poor air flow if this happens the dryer
will not heat or it may not run at all
until the fuse has been replaced
if functioning properly the heated air
is pulled evenly through the tumbling
cloes and then through a lint screen to
maintain proper air flow it's important
to clean the lens screen after each
load the last stage of air flow is the
exhaust stage the heated air that has
removed the moisture from the clothes
must be vented to the outside of the
home an exhaust vent is used for this
purpose there are two types of venting
material that can be used each has a
different length limit the best type to
use is rigid venting which is usually
efficient up to 40 ft in length however
be aware that any Bend in the venting
impedes air flow and reduces the length
limit for effici operation for example
each 90° Bend subtracts 8 ft from that
40ft limit the other type of venting you
can use is semi- rigid this type of
material is usually efficient up to 20
ft in length again any Bend Will impede
air flow a 90° Bend Will subtract 8 ft
from the allowable 20ft total use only
rigid or semi- rigid venting any other
material may increase the risk of fire
as the lint in the vent could ignite
during normal operation since an exhaust
vent clogged with lint is the most
common cause of restricted air flow we
recommend cleaning out the vent at least
once a year
as we mentioned earlier the air inside
the dryer is heated by the heating
element this element is activated when
it receives 240 volts of alternating
current through two legs of voltage each
carrying 120
volts the timer heat selector and start
switch on the dryer control panel allow
the first leg of voltage to carry the
current to the motor and through the
cycling thermostat high limit thermostat
and thermal cutof fuse on its way to the
heating element the second leg of
voltage carries the current through a
switch on the motor which closes when
the motor is
running the current is then sent to the
opposite side of the heating element
once both legs of voltage reach the
heating element the circuit is closed
and the element begins to heat the air
to maintain the proper air temperature
the heat in the blower housing is
monitored by the cycling thermostat
during normal operation ation the air
temperature is usually between 120 and
160° F when the air reaches the proper
temperature for your dryer the cycling
thermostat will switch off the voltage
to the heating
element the high limit thermostat and
thermal cff fuse also monitor the
temperature of the element and its
housing again if there is an airflow
problem the high limit thermostat may
switch off the first leg of voltage to
prevent damage to the dryer
eventually if the airflow problem is not
corrected the thermal cut off fuse on
the heater housing May Fail and the
dryer will not heat or the thermal fuse
on the blower housing May Fail and the
dryer will not run or heat the heating
components that most commonly fail are
the thermal fuse the thermal cof fuse
the high limit thermostat and the
heating element
itself if the dryer does not heat or
Heats inadequately all of these
components can and should be tested
individually to determine if one of them
has stopped
functioning keep in mind that only the
first leg of voltage runs the drive
motor therefore if the second leg of
voltage is lost due to a blown house
fuse or a tripped breaker the dryer will
still run even though the air is no
longer being
heated if you suspect your electrical
outlet is not providing sufficient
voltage you can test the outlet using a
a voltage meter set to volts
ac be aware that readings can vary
between 210 and 240
volts as the blower wheel draws the air
into the dryer and the heating element
Heats it the drum is rotated by a drive
belt the belt goes around the entire
drum and is looped onto a drive pulley
on the motor which drives the belt and
around an idler pulley which puts
tension on the
Belt the drum has baffles inside to lift
and rotate the clothes which is an
important step in the process as it
allows the heated air to dry the clothes
evenly the drum is supported by Glides
or rollers in the front and rollers or a
bearing in the rear depending on the
model over time the drum supports will
wear out and the dryer may become noisy
during use if the drum is overloaded or
if a support roller Glide bearing or
pulley fails the belt May begin to slip
it can also Fray and eventually
break when the belt breaks you may hear
the motor running but the drum will not
rotate on some models a broken belt will
activate a switch that prevents the
motor from
running airflow heat and drum rotation
are all necessary for efficient dryer
operation and as you can see all three
are
interrelated if you're experiencing a
problem with your dryer repair clinic
has a solution enter the appliance's
full model number in our website search
engine for a complete list of compatible
parts our site also has an extensive
selection of instructional videos to
assist you covering topics like part
testing disassembly and part
replacement at Repair Clinic we make
fixing things
[Music]
easy
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