It's like a new machine

Ever forgetful of an important rule of any project, no matter how mundane, I neglected to make the camera the first tool used on yesterday's task. Instead, without so much as a thought about documentation, I dove headlong into cleaning out the clothes dryer. So, no pictures on this post. Just words.

In recent times, we noticed that we were having to run the dryer longer and longer to get the job done. Despite being vigilant about cleaning the lint filter after every load, over time, lint was building up inside the ducts and the heater chamber and, most importantly, clinging to the heating elements. It was as if the heater was wearing a sweater.

So, we disconnected the appliance, carried it out the back door setting it on a large four-wheel dolly that I rolled over to the door to my workshop. Working outside, I removed the top and front covers, pulled out the lint filter, took the cover off the blower wheel and fired up my air compressor. The compressor was set to 120 PSI. Wearing hearing and eye protection and using a three-foot blow gun, I blew a dust storm out of the chassis. Circuit board; air intakes; capacitors; motor windings; tension arms the whole shebang. Then I turned my attention to the air chamber; the tunnel that moves the air over the heater coils into the drum, through the lint filter, and out the vent. Another major dust up. And, um, a little Corgi hair. Paying special attention to the heater coils, I sent the tip of the blow gun deep into the ducts and made sure the blower fins were clean.

For good measure, I went over some of the parts with glass cleaner on a terry cloth rag. I also replaced a section of aluminum tape that the manufacturer, Asko, placed over a seam in the duct near the blower. The result? Like a brand new dryer. We're back to short cycles and dry clothes. And saving energy too.

We've had this dryer for about five or six years so I'm guessing this little hour-or-so project should be done every four years give-or-take. Another justification for having a large air compressor.