How Does a Clothes Dryer Work?
Damp dungarees are a thing of the past
Highlights
A dryer uses a heating element and air movement to dry clothing.
The spinning drum also aids in drying by moving the clothing.
Even simple pieces like baffles inside the drum can improve performance.
If you like tossing your favorite blanket into the dryer for a few minutes before curling up underneath it on a cold winter night, you’re not alone. You may not care all that much how a clothes dryer works, but you’re just happy it delivers warm and toasty results. However, if you ever have a problem, troubleshooting becomes easier when you understand this appliance. So, how does a dryer work? Let’s get to the basics.
What the Clothes Dryer Does
How does a dryer work when it dries damp clothing? When you load the drum with wet clothing and turn on the dryer, it activates the heating element to heat up the air inside the drum. It uses either electricity or natural gas as fuel to generate the heat.
The drum spins to move the clothing, working in conjunction with the blower that moves air. The moving air pulls dampness out of the spinning clothes, and the blower expels the damp air through the vent.
The process continues until the dryer's sensors determine that the clothing is at the desired level of dampness.
Key Parts of a Clothes Dryer
How does a clothes dryer work? It uses a series of internal and external parts to dry your clothing.
External Parts of a Dryer
You can often access the external parts of a dryer for repairs and maintenance.
Baffles: Baffles are raised segments on the drum's interior that help promote airflow. They may break away over time, requiring replacement.
Door and door latch: Many dryers require a securely closed door before the machine will run. If the latch is not engaging because of debris stuck inside or because of a malfunctioning electronic switch inside the latch, this could explain why a dryer won’t start.
Light bulb: The light bulb comes on automatically when you open the dryer door, allowing you to see what’s inside.
Lint filter: The lint filter slides into a slot near the door opening or in a slot on the exterior body of the dryer. It catches hair and clothes lint before they reach the vent. Cleaning this filter regularly helps the dryer operate efficiently and works toward preventing a clogged vent.
Vent: The vent tube moves the dryer’s damp air through the home’s walls to the exterior of the home for expulsion. If the vent tube becomes clogged with lint, it needs cleaning to reduce the chance of fire. If you’re wondering how often to clean a dryer vent, once a year is best, whether you do it yourself or have a pro clean it. Doing a visual inspection is one option for how to check a dryer vent. If you notice it’s taking significantly longer to dry clothes, this also could indicate a clogged vent.
Internal Parts of a Dryer
You won’t be able to access the internal parts of a dryer without removing panels. Performing a repair on these internal parts may be more complex than you want to tackle. Consider calling a local dryer repair technician for help.
Belt: The dryer belt fits around the outside of the drum and spins it. Why is my dryer not drying? A worn or broken belt could be to blame, especially if you can hear the dryer motor operating but you cannot see the drum spinning.
Blower: The blower circulates air to aid in the drying process, pulling dry air into the drum and removing damp air.
Circuit board: The circuit board controls the settings and cycles on the dryer. Think of it like the dryer’s brain.
Heating element: The heating element is a metal coil or wire that uses fuel to heat up to a high temperature. The blower moves air across the heating element, warming the air quickly.
Moisture sensor: The moisture sensor near the blower measures the remaining dampness in the clothing. It uses constant measurements to determine when to end the cycle.
Motor: The dryer motor spins the belt that rotates the drum. You may wonder, why is my dryer squeaking? Why is it making an unexplained loud noise? These sounds could indicate a failing motor.
Thermal fuse: If the dryer overheats, the thermal fuse cuts power to the appliance, preventing fires. You can’t reset a fuse once it blows, so a blown fuse may explain why your dryer won’t start.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is technically possible to convert a gas dryer to electric. However, manufacturers do not recommend trying to convert a gas dryer to an electric one because of the complexity involved. Aside from manufacturers’ recommendations, it simply isn’t cost-effective versus just buying a new electric dryer, either.
A dryer often takes 30 minutes to an hour to dry a load of clothing. Bulky items or an extremely large load will take longer to dry. If your washing machine doesn’t efficiently spin much of the moisture out of the clothing, the drying cycle can take longer, too.