Dryer Appliance Repair: How to 

make dryer last longer

Here are 5 ways to prevent your dryer from breaking down

Your dryer is likely one of the most commonly used appliances in your home. Typically, dryers have an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years, according to Angie's List, a consumer rating service.

McCombs Supply Co., Inc., a reliable and fast shipping supplier for appliances since 1953, has the parts to keep your dryer lasting longer. 

One of the biggest preventative measures with your dryer is removing lint after every load, and clean the vent periodically. Additionally, clean your dryer hoses, heating element and dryer ducts at least once a year. 

Properly maintaining your dryer not only extends its life, but also reduces the chance of a dryer fire (this can happen when lint accumulates on the heating element or in the ducts).

Here are a few dryer maintenance tips that McCombs Supply Co., Inc. recommends you should try to incorporate into your home maintenance routine in order to help you avoid the need for calling a repairman or replacing your appliance.

1. Clean the Lint Filter

This is an important tip. When homeowners fail to clean their link filter  before and after each load of laundry, they put themselves at risk for their appliance catching fire. In fact, thousands of house fires are started each year by homeowners failing to properly clean their lint filter on a regular basis.

2. Clean Your Dryer’s Interior

It is important to remove lint that accumulates between the rotating drum and the dryer cabinet during the normal operation of the clothes dryer.

Even if you are the type who routinely cleans their dryer’s lint filter, you may be surprised to find where else lint can be hiding. Lint can begin to collect within the dryer itself as well as within the dryer’s venting system. 

In order to ensure that your dryer is running as efficiently as possible, it is important that you perform a thorough cleaning on your dryer’s interior at least once a year as this will help prevent unnecessary strain from being placed on your dryer that can cause it to begin to fail.

Dundas Jafine Dryer Lint removal Kit stock number BPCK helps keep the dryer running safely and efficiently.
It also helps cut the drying time and Increases the dryers performance and reduces the risk of dryer
vent fire by removing lint build up in all areas of the dryer and
dryer duct.

The 10-inch dryer duct brush removes lint and debris that gets built up on the inside of the duct while the 36-inch lint trap vent brush as well as the vacuum hose attachment help to deep clean the lint trap of the dryer.

DOs & DONT’s (according to Dundas Jafine)

• DO read the manufacturers Use & Care book regarding the safe use of the dryer
• DON’T dry chemical, oil or gasoline impregnated material or fabrics (i.e. mops and cleaning fabrics saturated with wax, flammable solvents or vegetable oils). Even after washing, these can ignite during the drying cycle
• DON’T dry natural or synthetic rubber, rubber coated sneakers, rain boots, foam pillows or any garment with foam padding (i.e. blouses with shoulder pads, bras, cycling shorts)
• DON’T dry garments cleaned with dry cleaning fluid. Dry only water washed articles

3. Replace the heating element

The heating element on an electric dryer is a restive coil similar to the element on an electric room heater, and replacing it is an uncomplicated home repair task. 

Gas dryers don't have heating elements, but they have ignition coils and ignitors that can fail and require replacement, and that job is similarly uncomplicated. If you don't hire a repair technician, replacing either one shouldn't cost any more than the price of the new part.

Ignitors can fail on gas dryers.The 41-311 ignitor is a good replacement ignitor.

                         Heating Element  (Cost: $24.95)      

4. Dryer thermostat thermal fuse kit

If your dryer's heating element burns out more than once within a year or two, the thermal fuse,  which is supposed to protect it, is probably defective, so it's a good idea to replace it.

5. Other parts

A dryer maintenance kit, semi rigid aluminum dryer vent ducting venting and soft aluminum tubing with with fittings are other other parts that are worth replacing while working on your dryer and should lead more years of service for your dyer.

Anything with rollers, listen for a "clunk" sound. It means the wheels have a flat spot. If you hear a "clunk," here is where you can purchase new wheels and dryer maintenance kits.

Replace white vinyl dryer vent duct with aluminum ducting

DID YOU KNOW: Flexible white vinyl ducting is highly restrictive and does not meet U.S. federal fire safety standards.

Below is a video on how to install an all metal dryer hook-up kit

Why replace the dryer timer?

The dryer has a thermal fuse (some call it a switch) that will blow and needs to be replaced often from having a restricted vent on the dryer. Keeping the vent from being restricted will help prevent this problem.

Knobs often go bad when contacts inside stop working after heat going through the timer burns the contacts. 

Timers also get replaced when the stems on the timers break. These often break when knobs become difficult to turn and operators use a pliers try turning and break off the stem. 

Dryer Timer WE4M532 GE Dryer Timer (AP5788219, PS8746223)

Bonus Tip

Wipe down the outside of the dryer regularly

Along with taking good care of the inside of the dryer, it is important to keep an eye on the outer surfaces. Make sure to wipe down the outside on a weekly basis so that soap residue won’t corrode its finish.

How to care for your dryer

1. Replace white vinyl dryer vent tubing with aluminum tubing

2. Remove lint from the lint filter (lint trap) screen) after EVERY cycle.

3. Pay attention to drying time.

4. Clear the dryer venting tube.

5. Clean the dryer's interior.

Improper venting or a clogged vent will give

1. Long drying times.

2. A nosier dryer than usual.

3. Clothes that are still hot and damp after cycle ends.

4. Automatic sensors that fail to shut off.

5. Premature failure of heating element, motor or bearings.

Major fire hazards associated with clothes dryers include:

Dudas Jafine, a leading provider of high quality and innovative air distribution products to help solve venting issues, lists five fire hazards associated with dryers.

1. lack of maintenance
2. improper installation (venting)
3. drying flammable materials
4. accumulation of lint
5. use of plastic ducts

According to Dudas Jafine, the lack of maintenance / care and improper installation (i.e.incorrect venting) are the leading causes of fires in clothes dryers. Fires also occur when flammable materials are inadvertently put into these appliances. If a fire occurs, it will often start within the drum of the dryer and be fueled by lint that has accumulated in the dryer cabinet.

About Us

McCombs Supply Company, Inc.

In business since 1953.

Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, McCombs Supply Co., Inc. offers replacement repair parts for dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, range-ovens, refrigerators, washing machines, HVAC, commercial refrigeration, commercial cooking, and more.

Some of our manufacturers we distribute for include – Backer-Chromolox, Broan-Nutone, Exact Replacement Parts (ERP), EZ Flo, Fasco, Jason Manufacturing, ICM, JW Harris, Packard, Robertshaw, Sealed Unit Parts Company (SUPCO) and White Rodgers.

We supply contractors, service technicians, housing developments, institutions, and do-it-yourselfers.

Today, we have nearly one million SKUs in our system. We are constantly upgrading our cutting-edge technology to serve our customers better.

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McCombs Supply Co., Inc. (717) 299-3866 or 800-732-0499