Dryer Taking Too Long to Dry Clothes | Appliance Repair Boise

Clothes Dryer is taking a long time to dry clothes?
The difference between gas and electric dryers is the way in which the heat is generated.  In an electric dryer, AC current flows through a low resistance coil network causing high current flow through the wire coils.  Because of the low resistance heater coil, current flow is high so it generates heat.  Air from the internal dryer ducting flows through these wire coils to heat the air and a blower wheel, usually attached to the drum motor, pulls the heated air through the dryer drum.

If you look closely in the dryer drum you will see an inlet and an outlet.  The intake is usually at the rear of the inside of the drum, commonly described as looking like a cheese grate.  This is where your heat comes from.  Well, if you have heat coming in, you have to have heat leaving the drum.  The heat duct outlet is located either on the inside next to the intake or on the front of the machine at the lint filter.  If the outlet is on the inside rear, you’ll see the lint filter located on top panel of the dryer.  If your outlet is on the inside front, you’ll see the lint filter in the same location
In a properly working dryer, electric or gas, you will have heated air coming into the drum and you will have one addition to the heated air that leaves the drum – MOISTURE.  The heated air from the heat source blends with your clothes and creates moisture in the air.  This moisture MUST escape the drum for your clothes to dry properly.   I can guess what you’re thinking at this point – “but I always clean the lint filter.”  Yes, most of my customers diligently clean their lint filter but ask yourself this – When was the last time you had a professional vent-cleaning company come in to clean your dryer vent?  I don’t mean that flexible venting behind your dryer.  I mean the vent that goes from the wall behind your dryer that extends to the outside wall or roof of your house.  These should be cleaned AT LEAST every 5 years. 
Here is some typical problems a clogged or obstructed vent will cause:  Blown heater element – coils overheat from low air-flow causing overheat condition which reduces the lifetime of the element.  Blown high-limit thermostat and thermal fuse – caused by an overheat condition.  If your dryer is still heating properly but not drying clothes than you are in luck, you still can prevent damage to your dryer and avoid a costly repair.  Most dryer repair calls I make are directly related to a restricted or clogged dryer vent.

Appliance Repair Meridian Idaho | Replacing Washer Hoses

Replace any hose that leaks from a crack or puncture.  If the leak seems to be at the connection, try moving the clamp to a lightly different position on the hose.  Be sure the clamp grips the hose and pipe end.  The best tool to use is hose-clamp pliers, because it's made for the job.  If you use regular pliers, watch your fingers.  This tool easily slips off the springy clamp.  To replace a worn-out gasket, just lift it off the tub rim and slip a duplicate on.

Rich
Appliance Repair Meridian Idaho
208-599-1086

Washer - Dryer Motor Windings Clean | Western Appliance Repair Meridian

Cleaning Washer and Dryer Motor Windings:

Most trouble with Washer and Dryer motor windings can be blamed on dirt, grease, and moisture which create such an undesirable conduction medium which may result in a breakdown of insulation.  Dirt and grease collected on the inner and outer surfaces of electrical units prevent proper circulation of air and conduction of heat to the outer surfaces and air.  This could cause the appliance motor to overheat and decrease the life of your appliance.  It is, therefore, very important that all accumulations of dirt, grease, and moisture be removed.  The best means of cleaning motors and generators are air pressure, vacuum suction, and grease solvents.

Air pressure, reversing a vacuum cleaner and blowing dust off the windings is the most satisfactory device.

Vacuum suction, use a vacuum cleaner or hose to remove grit, carbon, iron, and copper dust.  Be sure the hose is not made of metal.

Rich - Western Appliance Repair Meridian Idaho

Automatic Washing Machines - Western Appliance Repair Meridian Idaho

Automatic washers offer various cycles of operation.  Provisions for soaking, rates of agitation, lengths of washing time, rates of spinning, and kind and number of rinses differ among models such as whirlpool, kenmore, maytag, and ge.  Here, however, are the basic operations common to all automatic washers.

Soaking clothes in a washer:
In some washing machines, separate user settings are provided for a soak cycle.  The clothes are agitated about in warm or cold water in the same manner as for washing.  Water is extracted and drained at the end of the soak cycle.  The user setting may have to be reset to start the regular washing machine cycle.  If there is not a user control setting for soak, the wash setting can be used with warm water, and after the water has be drained, the setting will be reset for the regular wash cycle.

Western Appliance Repair Meridian
email
Meridian, Idaho 83642
208-599-1086
http://www.western-appliance.com

Washer Electrical System - Washer Timers

Some of the parts in a automatic washing machine appliance, new and old, include timers, solenoids, switches, motors, pumps, and motors. 
The most important, or the "brains" behind all the operations performed is the washer timer.  The timer programs the other electrical components in such a manner as to control the mechanical functions, water fill system, dispenser, drain, agitate, and spin.  There are also different modes of timer control such as Delicate, Permanent Press, Second Rinse, Normal Wash, Pre-wash, and Pre-soak.  These merely identify the various cycles available and the setting of the timer to obtain those cycles.  Timer settings require the operator to set it manually and select and set the wash and rinse water temperatures.  Some of the more modern Front Load Washers, have sensing features that choose load size, wash time, and spin time automatically.

For more appliance repair articles in Meridian and Boise Idaho, please visit our website at http://www.western-appliance.com
You can also email Western Appliance Repair

Dishwasher Repair - Soft Water | Dishwasher Repair Meridian

Soft water, as used in dishwashers, is virtually mineral free.  Total dissolved solids are usually low, in the range of 100 to 200 ppm.  Water is considered soft when the grain hardness does not exceed 4 grains/gal.
In naturally soft water the temporary hardness, or bicarbonate content, is the important factor affecting the Ph.  Solutions of bicarbonate, when heated to a high temperature, undergo a chemical reaction to form a carbonate.  In the presence of hardness, the carbonate with the calcium and magnesium, precipitates out of solution as scale.  In soft water this precipitation does not take place, and the carbonate stays in the solution.  Carbonate is much more alkaline than bicarbonate, causing the alkalinity of the final rinse water in a dishwasher to increase.  The carbonate and bicarbonate content of water is part of the total dissolved solids.  Most naturally soft water will have some calcium and magnesium dissolved in it, even though the amount may be small.

Many appliance repairs in Boise, Meridian, and Eagle areas of Idaho have to do with white scaling found on glassware and dishes.  In the majority of these dishwasher calls the problem lies with the hard water that is being used to clean the dishes.  If you suspect you may have hard water the best cure would be to invest in a good water softener.  This will help your dishwasher clean better and it will minimize the white scale you see on your dishes.

Another Tip from Western Appliance Repair Meridian and Boise.  You can contact us at 208-599-1086 or Email Me .

Refrigerator Door Seals Replacement | http://www.western-appliance.com

Refrigerator Door Seals Diagnosis and Repair
Refrigerator door seals may be one of the most misunderstood parts of the refrigerator.  Ask a layman or do-it-yourselfer about why his refrigerator is not functioning or warming properly and the first thing he may say after “I don’t work on compressors” is “but let’s check the door seals."   The door seals rarely go bad or have a problem over the lifetime of the refrigerator.  The only door seals I’ve seen go bad are when dogs or cats chew or sharpen their claws on them, or kids that like to climb or hang on the refrigerator door.  A really bad door seal problem is most likely to show up as a defrost problem or frost buildup on the interior of the freezer.  This is due to humid air getting into the refrigerator.
Door seals are magnetically held to the door frame to keep the doors closed.  Unless the seal is shredded or you can physically see a gap between the seal and the door frame with the door closed, there is no reason to suspect a door seal problem.
To replace the refrigerator door seal, you should have a nut driver of the proper size.  A cordless drill-driver is better choice.  A magnetic tip will prevent you from going crazy trying to hold the driver, the screw and the seal at the same time and allow you to complete the job faster.  There are lots of screws holding the seal on so be prepared.  Remove the screws from no more than two sides at a time.  One side at a time is better.  The idea is to prevent the plastic inner door liner from drifting around.  If you have to re align it, it can be a long, frustrating process.  The new seal will fit in the same way as the old one came out.
You are much more likely to have a door alignment issue or warping.  There’s not much you can do with a badly warped refrigerator door except to try to warp it, or bend it, back into shape or replace it.
With the door closed, measure the gap around it, top and bottom, left and right.  Check if the door edges and the refrigerator edges are parallel.  If the measurements indicate that the door is badly out of alignment, re align it by loosening the hinges slightly and shifting the door around.  It may take a few tries to get it aligned properly.
Remove anything that might be obstructing the door seals.  Sometimes the kick plate or drawer will get in the way.  If it’s metal, you may be able to bend it slightly to solve your problem.
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