Ah, the humble clothes dryer. Found in almost every home, but also often one of the most problematic aspects of doing the much-dreaded laundry. Many people often complain about their dryers – they either don’t actually dry clothes and linens or some just flat out refuse to turn on if there are more than even 2 towels in it. If you find yourself in this predicament, it just may be time to invest in a brand new tumble dryer. In today’s article, we look at 6 common signs that tell you it’s time to go out and get yourself a new dryer! Read on to find out more.
1. Start, Stop, Start
Do you find that every single time you put a load of laundry in the dryer, it seems that the cycle turns on, only to stop a while later and then resume after half an hour? While cycle stops may indicate an electrical issue, there is a much higher chance of the problem being a lot simpler — your drying is simply overheating. If you’ve cleared all your lint traps and have inspected your dryer vent for a clear passage of air and the problem still persists, it just may be time to go out and get yourself a brand spanking new clothes dryer.
2. You’re Lacking In Stars
Ever noticed that almost every appliance in Australia comes with an energy star rating? If your dryer seems to be lacking in stars, it may be time to upgrade to one that is more energy-efficient. In fact, did you know that older, less efficient dryers can use up to 20% more electricity than a newer, certified model? This may not seem like a big deal in summer months but just think about the cooler months where you’ll have to utilise your dryer sometimes even more than once a day. That’s a lot of money spent on utilities which could instead be used on investing in a more modern, quality dryer that will most certainly do a better job than granny’s dryer.
3. Something Smells Like Its Burning
A burning smell emitting from your dryer is one of the most dangerous things that could happen. It is something not to be overlooked if you care about your safety and is most certainly a telling sign that your clothes dryer needs to be replaced as soon as possible. In a few cases, burning smells could be a result of a lint basket that needs clearing, but that won’t always be the case. Other potential causes of this odour could be a dryer hose that is broken or jammed. Always remember that a burning smell puts you at risk for a fire, so replacing your dryer sooner rather than later is of utmost importance.
4. It Just Won’t Spin!
If the drum in your dryer just refuses to spin, you can almost be promised that your clothes aren’t going to come out feeling soft, fluffy and warm. One of the main culprits of a drum that won’t spin is a snapped belt, and in some instances, an overload of laundry in the clothes dryer. You can always enlist an expert to assess the damage and repair it, but if the problem persists, it’s more than likely that you will need to go appliance shopping sometime soon!
5. Squealing Noises
Loud metal squealing or grinding noises are an indicator of a serious issue with your dryer’s motor bearings. If not attended to by a professional in time, chances are your dryer will end up becoming damaged beyond repair. Damaged bearings will almost instantly lead to a complete dryer breakdown, and can cause further damage if not attended to soon enough. If you find yourself in that predicament and your dryer is damaged beyond repair, chances are you will need to invest in a brand new one, and not ignore any squealing noises from here on out!
6. It Just Isn’t Warm Enough
Lastly, is it a struggle getting your dryer to heat up sufficiently to dry your clothes in an effective manner? Is it running as per normal but failing to heat up? The most common cause of this issue is damage to the heating element. Whilst this is a problem that can be fixed, it may end up costing you more to repair than it would to just go out and get a new one!
Clothes dryers are finicky little machines, and taking good care of them is essential in preserving their longevity. We hope that this article has given you some insight into some of the tell-tale signs of a dryer that needs to be replaced!
