Do you ever finish a load of laundry and wonder while looking at your dryer if a dryer repair is ever necessary? Chances are, you brush past that question and decide to put it off until something really goes wrong with your machine, but we’re here to tell you that you should be getting that dryer repair service. In fact, you should be getting it checked up for any repairs on a regular basis.
To find out what kind of problems dryers often run into and to find out how to know when it’s time to repair and when it’s time to replace, keep on reading!
Common reasons we repair dryers
In case you’ve never noticed, dryers do a lot of work. They’re hardy workhorses that pull a lot of weight in the household. Because of this, it’s common for dryers to run into some problems once in a while – especially if they aren’t treated to proper care or if they do multiple cycles throughout the week.
These are some common reasons you might need to repair your dryer:
- The dryer doesn’t turn on – While this may seem like the death knell for dryers, a dryer that doesn’t turn on could either be because of a big problem (a completely broken machine) or a small problem like a broken switch button or faulty wiring in the home. Either way, a repair should be called before you go out and completely replace it.
- The dryer turns on but there is no heat – A number of things could be causing this problem like a problem with the fuse, thermostat, or heating coils. You won’t know for sure what is causing it unless a repairman is called to open up the machine to check over every part.
- The dryer turns on but it does not spin – Though we usually know that this problem is most likely caused by a broken belt, the act of replacing a belt in a dryer is a repair that only someone knowledgeable about dryers should make.
- The dryer gets very hot very fast – This is an extremely dangerous problem that you should not take your chances with. A clogged vent can cause a dryer to get hot without actually drying the clothes in it. Clogged vents are also a fire hazard and are, in fact, one of the biggest causes of house fires in the US. You will need someone to professionally clean your vents to ensure the problem is completely resolved.
- The dryer shakes and makes alarming noises – A repairman will most likely tell you that the drum seal has broken in cases where the dryer is shaking or vibrating. A seal can become worn down and eventually break when you regularly overload your dryers.
- The dryer does not dry clothes properly anymore – Heating is an essential part of a dryer, but the part that releases that heat can break down if you overload your dryers or if there is something blocking the ventilation in the machine.
- The dryer suddenly turns off in the middle of a cycle – Many things could be causing this problem which, though common, is a serious problem that could point to a broken thermostat in the dryer.
- The dryer does not close/lock properly – This problem that many people run into may be due to the actual seal of the door, which can become broken down over time. It will need to be replaced.
These are the most common problems people run into with their dryers, but other problems do exist that would also need repairs like technical issues with the wiring or the electricity. In any of these cases, you will want a professional to make sure you get a proper assessment to stop any more problems cropping up in the future. But how do you know it’s not time to just throw the whole dryer out and get a new one?
Repairing your dryer vs replacing your dryer
It can be hard to know when it’s time to call for a repair or time to replace the entire dryer. How do you know that you aren’t just prolonging the problem by calling repairs every time? How do you know you didn’t buy a replacement too soon when a simple repair would have solved the problem?
A simple rule of thumb when it comes to the repair vs replace conundrum is to measure the number of years you’ve had your dryer against the number of years of its expected lifetime. Most dryers last for around 10 years, but smaller models may last for shorter. If you’ve only had your dryer for 3 years but have run into some trouble with it, we think you should take the route of repairing it. Chances are, it’s just one thing that’s gone wrong with your dryer instead of multiple parts failing at the same time.
But if you have had your dryer for what is approaching 10 years, you should start thinking about replacing it. Remember that while a repair is technically cheaper than a new dryer, a round of regular repairs adds up to a lot of money that might as well go towards a new machine. Some people call this the 50% rule – if the dryer is past 50% of its expected lifespan and if repairs cost more than 50% of its original price, it may be time to replace it.