Clothes dryer maintenance: schedule, lifespan and costs
Updated
Overview
A clothes dryer is a drum, a heater and a fan, and it has one rule: the hot, damp air has to get out. Everything that goes wrong with a dryer short of a worn-out motor comes back to airflow. The lint screen catches most of the lint, the duct to the outside carries the rest, and when that duct clogs the dryer runs hot, dries slowly, and becomes the most common cause of appliance fires in the house. The dryer's maintenance is that duct, cleaned once a year, and the lint screen cleaned before every load.
Lifespan
A clothes dryer lasts 10 to 13 years. What shortens that is heat it can't get rid of. A clogged vent keeps the hot air inside the machine, where it cooks the heating element, the thermostats and the motor. The drum rollers and the belt wear with every load, and a dryer that runs long cycles because it can't vent wears them faster. Lint that gets past the screen also builds up inside the cabinet, around the heater and the motor, where it's both fuel and insulation.
What extends the life is a clear vent, a clean lint screen, and loads that aren't dripping wet when they go in, since every minute the dryer runs is wear. The signs a dryer is near the end: a drum that squeals or thumps as it turns, which is the rollers or the belt, a heating element that's failed more than once, a motor that hums and won't start, and a cabinet that's rusting through at the base.
Maintenance schedule
The one scheduled job, which matters more than any other appliance task in the house.
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Clean the dryer vent | once a year |
Alongside it, a habit: clean the lint screen before every load, and wash it with soap every few months, since dryer sheets leave a film that blocks it even when it looks clean.
Replacement cost
A new clothes dryer costs $500 to $1,500. The low end is a basic electric dryer with a few cycles, and the high end is a large unit with steam, a moisture sensor and a quieter motor. A gas dryer costs a little more to buy and less to run, and needs a gas line at the laundry.
The repair-or-replace rule: if the repair would cost more than half of a new dryer and the machine is past the middle of its lifespan, replace it. A motor or a drum on a dryer older than 10 years is a replacement. A heating element, a thermal fuse, a belt, a set of drum rollers, a door switch or an igniter on a gas dryer is a repair, and most of those are cheap parts that an owner can change with the cabinet open.
Common problems
- Clothes take more than one cycle to dry: a clogged vent, nearly every time. Clean the dryer vent, and check the lint screen and the duct behind the machine for kinks.
- The dryer runs but makes no heat: a blown thermal fuse, which blows because the vent was clogged, or a failed heating element or igniter. Clean the vent before replacing the part, or the new fuse blows too.
- The dryer won't start: a door switch, a thermal fuse, or a start switch. The door switch is the usual one.
- A squeal or a thump as the drum turns: worn drum rollers, a glazed belt or a dry idler pulley. All are cheap parts.
- A burning smell: lint inside the cabinet near the heater, or a clogged vent overheating the machine. Stop using the dryer until the vent and the cabinet are cleaned out.
- Lint around the outside vent flap, or a flap that doesn't open while the dryer runs: the duct is packed. Clean it before the next load.
FAQ
How long does a clothes dryer last?
About 10 to 13 years. A clear vent is what gets it there, since a dryer that can't exhaust runs hot and wears out its heater and motor.
How much does a new dryer cost?
$500 to $1,500, from a basic electric model to a large one with steam and a moisture sensor. Gas dryers cost a little more to buy.
Is it worth repairing a dryer?
Usually, since most dryer faults are cheap parts: a thermal fuse, a heating element, a belt or rollers. A motor or a drum on a dryer older than 10 years is the exception.
Why does my dryer take so long to dry?
The vent is clogged with lint, so the damp air can't leave. Clean the vent and the lint screen, and check the duct behind the machine for a kink.
Can a dryer catch fire?
Yes, and lint in the vent is the usual cause. A yearly vent cleaning, a lint screen cleaned before every load, and no dryer running while the house is empty are the defenses.