Because wet clothes don’t line dry went it rains
August 3rd, 2007 by The Bosphorus
Hive mind, Oh Hive Mind, what sayest thou?
Should I call the repairman, or buy a new dryer? The machine is ten years old or more and I don’t care to fix it myself. Tell me what you think, Hive Mind.
August 3rd, 2007 at 4:32 pm
We’re at the same point with our dryer. I keep telling myself those new fangled dryers are supposed to be more energy efficient. I’d really be doing the earth a big ol favor by getting a new one.
August 3rd, 2007 at 4:45 pm
No doubt you’d be mother earth’s bff by buying a spanky new energy efficient model.
The old dryer could then make a new life as a lawn decoration with flowers planted in it.
August 3rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Bzzzz bzzzzz
Good luck finding an energy efficient model… (There’s no energy star rating for dryers, for some reason).
I vote for buying a new-used one from some yuppie upgrading to the latest high-end model. (I just bought a spare washer and dryer for $50).
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I’m in the same boat with you, Bos. 20-year old dryer broke yesterday; wet clothes were on the line today when the storm rolled in.
Back to school clothes, back to school computer, back to school dryer…. WAIT! Shouldn’t the tax holiday apply to dryers, since kids have to have clean clothes to go to school??
I’ve ordered the part to fix mine, but it’ll be a few days.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Give fixin it a whirl, man, if you have a vague notion of what the deal is. Since you have a gas dryer, tho, I dunno…
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:38 pm
This happened to me once, I couldn’t really afford a new one and took the back of the dryer off. Didn’t really know what I was looking for but amazingly, I didn’t have to. The rubber belt that turned the drum had worn & broken. It was easy to fix and cost about a buck fifty - and I did it myself. So proud! There’s not a whole lot to a dryer, you should check it out first. Then check Craigslist.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Once I replaced the heating coil on my old dryer - with the help of a book from the library. My part cost $10. It’s worth a look to see if it is something easy.
Daco seems like the kinda guy who should be able to fix a dryer … Daco, where are you?
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I think its igniter doohicky is busted. That’s my best guess since it’s not heating, just tumbling and blowing cold air.
I took the back off the sob this morning and the gas line runs way back into the machine’s innards. I don’t see fixing it myself.
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Sounds like it’s time to go shopping!
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:59 pm
we have been through too many dryers since rhino was born … 3, i think. hubs fixed a some parts here and there but they kept busting. we finally bought a new one this spring. they make them to self-destruct … it’s a conspiracy.
August 3rd, 2007 at 11:01 pm
I’m dreading the day mine goes out, cuz its one of those washer dryer top bottom combo dealies, so I’d have to get a new washer too… yeesh.
August 3rd, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Is it electronic ignition or is it old skool thermocoupler? If it is old skool it will have a piolet. but come to think of it, it probably has the ignitor thinger. Pop off the front and clean out the heating element/burner and the heat exchange. If that does not do it I am sorry to say that it is dead and not worth the time to fix it. Ours only lasted 5 years (two years out of warrenty). we are on our second dryer. Buy a kenmore. avoid amana. It seems that lots of rich folk have those new $3K sets. My opinion is that 3K worth of stuff to go wrong. I don’t need my clothes steamed in the morning — downy wrinkle releaser is part of my morning. Yes Bos, I actually flatten my clothes before I go to work now…
August 4th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Tim thanks for the advice. I can’t believe you knock the wrinkles out. I just can’t believe it.
AT, that’s the best argument I’ve heard for not getting one of those stacked washer/dryers I’ve heard.
August 4th, 2007 at 9:39 am
frankly, i think timsan is way off base … sounds like it could be the flux capacitor to me.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:21 am
I have to agree with sumgirl. You might just need more plutonium. If you put more plutonium in and it still won’t start, try hitting the front of the dryer with your forehead a couple of times. It worked for Michael J. Fox!!
August 4th, 2007 at 10:41 am
My 20 y/o dryer is disassembled in the floor as I write. First the belt broke, then we realized that the idler pulley had disintegrated as well.
What idiot makes idler pulleys out of plastic, anyway? No one local has it in stock, so there’s some creative engineering going on to devise a fix. Should know by this afternoon if it will work.
I dread the clothesline, because that’s where ticks come from. Already pulled one off, from yesterday’s line-dried laundry.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I guess you guys can all come over here and use my dryer, provided you bring beer.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Repairing a dryer can take a day out of your life but is fun, you find some socks, kill some spiders, and learn how simple these devices really are.
Patterson’s Appliances at Lovell and Kingston Pike is very helpful in making these repairs. They get parts quick and fair cheaply.
10640 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922
(865) 694-4181
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=patterson’s+Appliance++knoxville+tn&ie=UTF8&ll=35.874029,-84.186172&spn=0.375564,0.831528&z=11&iwloc=A&om=1
Dave’s Repairs is very helpful.
Hmmm. Seems I’ve talked about dryers more than I remember.
August 5th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Too bad! Our washer of 6 years just broke for the third time! Our dryer is still going strong though. When I called to complain about how much this Kenmore has broken the guy said, “How long do you think they should last?” Well? My Mom had her kenmore for 20 years so I don’t think asking 10 is that much. I’d replace the heating coil (is that it?) and see if that fixes the old thing.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Planned obsolescence is lame.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
There be another steampunk in our midst? *boggle*