jeff1
12-29-2012, 04:03 AM
Appliance tip of the week...
Our aim is to give you some basic information on how a dryer works. If you know what happens and why, diagnosis of problems becomes much simpler. A dryer dries clothes by simply moving heated air through the clothes and venting that air to the outside. All dryers operate the same way, although control locations and methods of control vary from brand to brand and even model to model.
The motor: Most brands of dryers use a double shafted motor. A pulley is located on one end to turn the drum and a blower wheel [fan] is attached to the other. [note: A few brands use a pulley on both ends and a belt is used to turn a fan.]
The timer: A timer is used to begin operation and control the amount of time that the dryer operates. Timers are no more than a box containing switches that are turned on and off by a cam and a small electrical motor that turns the cam through the various cycles.
Heating elements or burners and thermostats: Elements and burners are the heat sources for electric or gas dryers. The thermostats simply control the operating temperatures.
How they work: When the dryer is turned on the motor turns the drum and the cycle begins. At the same time power is sent through the ?heat? circuit and the heat source is activated. Air is drawn into the dryer from the rear, across the heat source and vented to the outside. The baffles located inside the drum causes the clothes to fall through this air flow. It is important to note here that air flow is the most important aspect of efficient drying. The size and length of the vent will play a major roll in drying time. All manufacturers recommend a 4? rigid vent. The length of the vent will vary for each installation. All manufacturers provide a lint filter which must be cleaned either before or after each use. Although this filter is a fine mesh screen, some lint can get through and over time will collect inside the vent. This will restrict air flow and cause excessive drying times. The vent should be periodically checked and cleaned to avoid this problem.The heat circuit: When the dryer is turned on power is sent through the timer, regulating thermostat ,High limit thermostat, heat source and motor. On some dryers a separate switch allows you to select an operating temperature such as high, medium, low or air fluff. On other dryers, this setting will be located on the timer dial.
Drying time settings: There are three methods of controlling the drying times. Straight time, automatic and electronic control. The straight time setting advances the timer continually through the selected cycle. The automatic setting will advance the timer only when the heating source is cycled off. The electronic control settings uses sensors to detect the amount of moisture in the clothes.
80
Dryer preventative maintenance kit (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=1261075)
81
Repair kit for Whirlpool, Kenmore, Roper dryer; rollers, belt and idler pulley, for 29" wide Dryers built 1965 and later (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=587636)
82
Dryer Repair Kit, includes drum belt, 4 rollers and idler pulley, For 27" wide dryers built 1965 and later and Thin Twins (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=587637)
83
LintEater Rotary Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=1154681)
jeff.
Our aim is to give you some basic information on how a dryer works. If you know what happens and why, diagnosis of problems becomes much simpler. A dryer dries clothes by simply moving heated air through the clothes and venting that air to the outside. All dryers operate the same way, although control locations and methods of control vary from brand to brand and even model to model.
The motor: Most brands of dryers use a double shafted motor. A pulley is located on one end to turn the drum and a blower wheel [fan] is attached to the other. [note: A few brands use a pulley on both ends and a belt is used to turn a fan.]
The timer: A timer is used to begin operation and control the amount of time that the dryer operates. Timers are no more than a box containing switches that are turned on and off by a cam and a small electrical motor that turns the cam through the various cycles.
Heating elements or burners and thermostats: Elements and burners are the heat sources for electric or gas dryers. The thermostats simply control the operating temperatures.
How they work: When the dryer is turned on the motor turns the drum and the cycle begins. At the same time power is sent through the ?heat? circuit and the heat source is activated. Air is drawn into the dryer from the rear, across the heat source and vented to the outside. The baffles located inside the drum causes the clothes to fall through this air flow. It is important to note here that air flow is the most important aspect of efficient drying. The size and length of the vent will play a major roll in drying time. All manufacturers recommend a 4? rigid vent. The length of the vent will vary for each installation. All manufacturers provide a lint filter which must be cleaned either before or after each use. Although this filter is a fine mesh screen, some lint can get through and over time will collect inside the vent. This will restrict air flow and cause excessive drying times. The vent should be periodically checked and cleaned to avoid this problem.The heat circuit: When the dryer is turned on power is sent through the timer, regulating thermostat ,High limit thermostat, heat source and motor. On some dryers a separate switch allows you to select an operating temperature such as high, medium, low or air fluff. On other dryers, this setting will be located on the timer dial.
Drying time settings: There are three methods of controlling the drying times. Straight time, automatic and electronic control. The straight time setting advances the timer continually through the selected cycle. The automatic setting will advance the timer only when the heating source is cycled off. The electronic control settings uses sensors to detect the amount of moisture in the clothes.
80
Dryer preventative maintenance kit (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=1261075)
81
Repair kit for Whirlpool, Kenmore, Roper dryer; rollers, belt and idler pulley, for 29" wide Dryers built 1965 and later (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=587636)
82
Dryer Repair Kit, includes drum belt, 4 rollers and idler pulley, For 27" wide dryers built 1965 and later and Thin Twins (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=587637)
83
LintEater Rotary Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=1154681)
jeff.