Owens Corning
Operating a Clothes Dryer Effectively
An electric clothes drier pushes a lot of air through it. Any restriction in the flow of this air and your dryer cannot operate efficiently. After every use remove the buildup of lint from the lint filter. Periodically, check the dryer vent at the back of the dryer for a buildup of lint and dust. Use the crevice tool of your vacuum to remove this buildup. Once a year remove the service panel to vacuum out any lint that's accumulated around the heater housing and motor. The lint and dust is flammable and can present a fire hazard if you allow it to build up.

It's a good idea to inspect the duct work that carries the hot air away from the dryer. Check to see that it runs straight and doesn't kink. If there are signs of wear or small holes, patch the damaged area with gray duct tape.

Clean the dryer with a mild soap when necessary and wipe off any spilled cleaning products as soon as possible.

After drying heavy rugs or fabrics, a dryer sometimes wiggles or shimmies out of position so it is no longer level. If that happens, check to see if it's sitting solidly on the floor by trying to rock it back and forth with your hands on its top. If it wobbles, it needs adjustment.

To level the dryer turn the dryer control to Off and unplug the unit. Place a carpenter's level on top of the dryer. Get down on your hands and knees with an adjustable wrench and flashlight to look for the four leveling feet that are located in the corners. The sheet metal housing or the feet may have sharp edges so be careful with your hands; don't poke your hand underneath the dryer without using the flashlight to see what you're doing.

Each leveling foot has a jamb nut that holds the foot to the bottom of the dryer. Use the adjustable wrench to position the front feet first. Loosen the jamb nut and screw the foot in or out depending on if the front needs to be lowered or raised to center the bubble on the level. Sometimes all 4 feet require adjusting, often it's just one of them. When the machine rests solidly on all 4 feet and is level right to left and front to back, tighten the locking screws on each foot. Then plug the dryer back in and it's ready to use.

Gas dryer maintenance is basically the same as for a electric dryer. In addition to keeping the lint filter clean, check for an accumulation of lint around the gas burner assembly. Lint is flammable and, if allowed to accumulate inside the drier for long periods, can pose a fire threat.

Written by the editors of HouseNet.
Copyright HouseNet, Inc.

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