Need to vent

[TMF]

One thing I'm learning from this thread is that I'm not much different than most as their fathers never taught them how to repair stuff either.

Sent from my mind using ninja telepathy.

Eh, my dad was at work all the time. He was a cop and they have jacked up shifts unless they work days. Even then, I don't recall much appliance fixing since we didnt have many appliances. The first dryer I had was one I bought in my 20s. Besides that, I don't recall my parents ever remodeling anything since I'm sure they never had the money to. They're into all kinds of stuff now; gardening and building fences and barns. They were real young parents so both worked throughout my childhood for very little money.

[jgradyc]

Funny story: I'm at my sister's house fixing something because her husband has zero knowledge about this sort of thing. I ask my teenage nephew for a screwdriver. He hands me a pair of pliers!

 

1. To move big appliances, get teflon sliders and put under the legs. Even if you can't get to the back legs, you can rock the weight forward and slide it easily.

2. There is a lint filter inside the dryer. It should be cleaned after every use. I'm sure the repairman checked this, but you need to do it from now on after every use. The dryer will get so hot it can catch fire or burn out if this is blocked. As a result, manufacturers make them fit loose. When people don't change them, the lint goes around the edges of the filter. Eventually it will clog the inside of the vent inside the dryer or at the flap where the air eventually exits the house. I bought a used dryer and had to vacuum out the inside of the vent before using it for this reason. Once the outside vent gets cracked open, varmints can get inside and cause havoc.

3. For the next couple of uses, do NOT leave the dryer unmonitored. You could have some burnt wiring from overheating that could continue to be a problem. If you smell something burning, call your repair guy, or replace the dryer. Personally, I'd not take a chance. I'd replace it in a heartbeat if I smelled something burning AFTER the repair guy has fixed it. You can get a decent used dryer on Craigslist from some wealthy family that is redoing the wallpaper in their laundry and needs the appliances to match. 

 

Another funny story:  We don't have a working dryer. My wife of 40 years cannot figure out that some clothes cannot be dried on the "High" heat mode so my clothes come out in doll sizes when she uses the dryer.  She can't figure out the washer either. Either that, or she's oblivious to what she's doing. She'll wash a new red shirt with white clothing!  I haven't owned white underwear in 20 years! :surrender:

Edited October 3, 2013 by jgradyc

[Lumber_Jack]

Its going finally but the damned thing is vented into the crawl space and there are no vents anywhere. Apparently in order to get to the lint trap you have to crawl under the house. WTF?The repair man had tools I didn't have. Sent from my mind using ninja telepathy.

So what was the issue, lint trap full?

[Clod Stomper]

I haven't owned white underwear in 20 years! :surrender:

Me neither, but by personal choice. :)

My dad taught me how to repair and build all kinds of things when I was growing up. He could build practically anything. So I've taken what he taught me and added to it with my own experience. And hopefully, I can take my whole knowledge base and pass it on to my 8 month old so he can skip the basics and build his own, bigger skill base.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Another funny story: We don't have a working dryer. My wife of 40 years cannot figure out that some clothes cannot be dried on the "High" heat mode so my clothes come out in doll sizes when she uses the dryer. She can't figure out the washer either. Either that, or she's oblivious to what she's doing. She'll wash a new red shirt with white clothing! I haven't owned white underwear in 20 years! :surrender:

Thankfully wife knows how to operate the washer and dryer or I'd have to go to walmart and buy new jeans and t shirts every week or two. The rare occasions I try to wash clothes, have to ask her to refresh my memory what buttons and dials to push and she looks at me like I'm retarded (or maybe just merely useless). :)

[Guest tdoccrossvilletn]

So what was the issue, lint trap full?

Nope issue was hose had holes in it which I patched up and the hose came off the back of the dryer which blew, lint everywhere and that's what smelled. We ran the dryer for a while save the hottest it ever got on the back was 95 degrees.

Sent from my mind using ninja telepathy.

[tnguy]

All most people need is a little confidence to do most repairs. Most people are afraid of failure. Also, don't be afraid to call a professional.

 

Also handy is an ability to follow instructions and an ability to think things through logically. It's important to recognize if you don't have these qualities otherwise things get messy and you end up voting for a Democrat.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Some gear service manuals or even user manuals have debugging flow charts. Check function one thing at a time till you drill down to the problem.

Now some talented fellas I've seen are kinda like the pinball wizard-- Lay hands on the device and go right to the problem by ESP or sense of smell or whatever. Otherwise, an orderly debugging method or flow is slower but reliable.

Another useful attitude is keep an open mind on the problem. If one jumps to a conclusion about what is wrong too soon, and starts in fixing what might not even be broken, lots of time and money can be wasted.