Appliance Repair Wisdom for the Ages

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

You have a case of what we professional appliantologists call Ventitis Restricticus. That's the academic Latin name for the diagnosis of your dryer problem. Actually, it's not a problem with the dryer at all--it's a bad vent. Specifically, the airflow through the vent is restricted by any number of factors: overly long, kinks, crimps, clogs, too many 90º turns, and yada-yada and so-forth and like that-there. Don't believe me? Ok, here's a quick and easy way to prove it: completely disconnect the vent hose from the back of the dryer and fire up the dryer. After observing the dryer heat up normally and averting your eyes at my brilliance, refer to The Ultimate Dryer Venting Guide to surgically correct the Ventitis Restricticus. Hail, Caesar!

3 Comments:

So I have basically the same problem, where the flame ignites, but goes out after a short while, then ignites again awhile later, goes out again, and repeat. I disconnected my exhaust vent line (which is only about 6' long to begin with, since my dryer is right next to the outside wall), but still little/no heat.

What do I do now?

By  Chris, at October 03, 2007 6:56 PM  

I have exactly the same problem. Today after the second load, the whirlpool gas dryer stopped heating normally. The flame comes on in about a minute but then goes off after less than a minute. It comes back on briefly after a few minutes ( I watched it through the peephole). I presume it would repeat this ad infinitum, but it isn't enough to heat the dryer airflow. The same thing happened with the vent pipe disconnected and a good airflow out the back. I wonder if it could be that the hi-temp cutoff switch went bad? If so, is that hard to replace?

By  Russell, at October 07, 2007 6:04 PM  

My problem is a bit different..

no exhaust blockage..

have removed the vent and still get the same symptoms..

Symptoms...

Gas Dryer.. turns on the heat for exactly 4 mins.. then shuts off..

and does not turn on again..

IF the dryer is stopped.. and let sit to cool down for approximately 1/2 hour.. the heat will return for exactly 4mins..

if the wait time is not given..

the heat does not come back on..

until it's given the cool down time...

it's not the sensors.. they've already been replaced..

going to open the dryer up and check the relay coil resistance next..

not sure of the exact function of the spilt coil (hold coil) except to maybe give an initial .. ignition.. and once the ignition relay opens and shuts off the igniter after the flame appears..

the main coil should keep the burner running.. IF that main coil is not opening.. this may cause the shut down..

this really is guess work...

your thoughts?

By  cdog_00, at October 10, 2007 10:29 PM  

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