I need some dryer advice

[Jess from VA]

This is my oldest appliance.

1980s vintage Whirlpool heavy duty electric dryer (I got used while on active duty around 1985).

It has had one or two minor repairs over the years (sensor?), and the last guy to fix it maybe 10 years ago said... These are great reliable dryers, they don't make them like this anymore, and you should keep it as long as it is repairable.  And I have.

The lint sensor still works, but I clean that thing after every single dryer load.

After cleaning the lint trap after a load earlier, I took about 4 sheets of TP, wet it, and was wiping the vent hole down, and I dropped it down the hole.  (Dummy)

Before I went on line to get answers, I ran the dryer and went out the door to see if TP would get blown out the vent.  Nothing came out.

After reading on line, I probably should not have run it, likely got sucked into the fan.  I tried to hook it out with a straightened old wire coat hanger (nope), then tried to vacuum it out, but no hose or attachment will get more than halfway in there (nope).

Online (and I knew this) says if things get clogged up, it can heat up and can become a fire hazard.  It tells you to pull it out, unhook the vent pipe, and take the back panel off the dryer and then you can somehow reach in and get it out. 

Most people dropped more than 4 wadded damp sheets of TP.  One guy dropped something small down there and was advised to not worry about it.

Must I do surgery?

I never leave the house when doing laundry.

[klb]

The fan would probably chew up the T.P. and blow it out but it probably
could use a good cleaning out anyway. I looked up a video and
the Whirlpool is like my dryer and it's a pretty quick job plus it
would drive me crazy knowing something was in there.
4 years ago I lost one of those weird clamps on the drain hose on the
carburetor of my 1984 XR500R and to this day when I am in that area
where it flew off into I don't know land I still look for it.  

https://youtu.be/_gO0jODQCNY

[da prez]

  Jess ,It's as easy as a rear wheel service. Pull out far enough to dis-connect power if plugged in  or shut off breaker. Disconnect drier electric , hose and clean the floor. Follow the video. Take pictures  before dis-assembly.  Take your time. You can do it cheaper than Honda charges to screw up service on a Valk.  Clean out the vent line/hose.  It should take less than an hour.  Most calls I get for driers not drying is plugged vents. Most are flex lines. They should not be sold.

                                                        da prez

[Jess from VA]

Hose and clean what floor (under the dryer)??  My vent is solid pipe.

[Avanti]

I cleaned out my daughter solid vent pipe and it was almost blocked. I clean mine once a year. Lint screens do not catch all the lint. Lint plus moisture equals plugged vent pipe.

[Jess from VA]

I get cleaning the vent line.  Mine is not clogged (I don't think even a little bit).  

Do I really need to drag it out and take the thing apart for 4 sheets of damp TP?

If I do, I'll bring my 600 magnum Stihl backpack in the basement and blow the vent pipe out.

Could I blow down the lint tube where the TP went?

If it needs taken apart, maybe I should just call my service guy?

[Hook#3287]

I have a over 35 year dryer, Hotpoint I think.

It continues to work as designed.

I've repaired it a couple times with new belt and pulley.

I wouldn't worry to much about 4 sheets of tp, but if I did, I would flip the unit on it's side or front and see about fan and duct work access from the bottom.

The old appliances are built, like our Valks, to last and work well.

The new stuff, made to save energy, do not last and do not save anything.

[h13man]

When using dryer sheets always inspect, wash and clean the filter on a regular basis. Honestly I would think the TP would dissolve pretty quickly unlike a facial tissue that stays "glued" together. And no I wouldn't get rid of the dryer unless the cabinet is getting corroded but... Had our WP Cabrio dryer go bad the second time and the cost of part was more than the 13 yr. old dryer was worth. Went back Maytag and hopefully WP makes them just as good as the old MTag.

[Oss]

Our dryer was in this house when we bought it 40 yrs ago (gas)

A belt repair maybe 15 yrs ago and I replace the flex duct every 5 yrs. that vents to outside

It is a long run to outside so maybe this winter I will inspect and replace it once more soon

Yes clean that filter EVERY time I intend to use the dryer

Had a case once  -  an estate - where the owner had put coffee can filled with 100 dollar bills in the base of the dryer.  That was one surprised daughter as the potential purchaser of the house did not want that old dryer and she got thousands of dollars she was not expecting when her parent died

[GiG]

1) do not use TP & for sure keep it out your dryer - bidet is the civilized way to go  

2) my 40 year old Whirlpool drier gets used maybe 1 hour/ year- rack dry is the answer- provides needed indoor humidity this time of year when air is very dry & keeps your clothes new looking much longer, may even save energy 

[Jess from VA]

Well we had a hellova storm last night, thunderstorms, rain and high winds for hours, and now my perfect yard and scape looks like a disaster zone (deadwood from my 4 giant oaks down all over).   

As a bachelor (with too many clothes), I only do a couple loads of laundry a month, and I did 2 yesterday (before the stupidity set in), including all my filthy work clothes, so the dryer can be on the back burner while I work on the yard mess.  And time will dry out that TP. 

A neighbor said to unhook the vent and use the blower on the lint tube.

Also, I remembered who I've used for the very occasional repairs (like 3 in 34 years), and he lives just down the street.  So I'll call him and ask advice, and may be hire him to do a cleanout if that is even necessary.

[GiG]

Google luck with the yard cleanup, might be time for a thanksgiving bonfire 

[Rams]

Wouldn't have this problem if'n you had two Tee Posts and wire between them........ 

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Well blessed be all us poor sinners.  And the luck of the Irish too.

After my chilly early walk this morning, I suited up for a cold day of work in the yard, and again looked closely at the dryer exhaust louvered cover outside my basement walkout, and I saw just a small corner of paper.  I didn't see that before (and I opened that thing and looked after running the dryer again yesterday).  So it's a complete mystery.

Taking care, I opened the louvers and pulled out a piece of bone dry TP.  Then 3 more, and I'm sure that's all of it.

I'm glad I decided to wait on that project.  The language I would have used if I took that thing apart and found nothing would not have been nice.

So I'm sorry for wasting everyone's time, and I sure appreciate all the good advice.  You guys are the best.

I was so happy I then put in 5 hours in the yard and got that all cleaned up too.

Another good day for me.  

 

[HayHauler]

Jess, this is about the time you should go out and buy a lottery ticket.   

I repaired our 40 year old Kenmore 5 years ago.  The wheels that the drum roll on had the bearings fall out.  It was wobbling around and making a huge racket.  I ordered the wheels, tore into it, and replaced them and the belt.
I then proceeded to pull the internal lint trap, where the lint screen goes, and there was a ton of lint in it.  There was a lint mountain in the bottom of the trap and some had gone into the hose and on into the wall.

I put it back together and it has been running ever since.

I am afraid that our 40 year old Kenmore 25 sq ft fridge is on its last leg.  I have replaced the ice maker 8 times in 40 years, but this time, the new one will not make ice.  I believe the freezer section is not getting cold enough to trip the mechanism.

Good luck on the Lottery!!!

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Rams]

Jess, this is about the time you should go out and buy a lottery ticket.   

I repaired our 40 year old Kenmore 5 years ago.  The wheels that the drum roll on had the bearings fall out.  It was wobbling around and making a huge racket.  I ordered the wheels, tore into it, and replaced them and the belt.
I then proceeded to pull the internal lint trap, where the lint screen goes, and there was a ton of lint in it.  There was a lint mountain in the bottom of the trap and some had gone into the hose and on into the wall.

I put it back together and it has been running ever since.

I am afraid that our 40 year old Kenmore 25 sq ft fridge is on its last leg.  I have replaced the ice maker 8 times in 40 years, but this time, the new one will not make ice.  I believe the freezer section is not getting cold enough to trip the mechanism.

Good luck on the Lottery!!!

Hay 
Jimmyt

I envy your skill, knowledge and willingness to undertake such repairs.   My wife would have already had new appliances picked out before something went wrong..................  As usual, it's probably my fault..........

Rams

[HayHauler]

Jess, this is about the time you should go out and buy a lottery ticket.   

I repaired our 40 year old Kenmore 5 years ago.  The wheels that the drum roll on had the bearings fall out.  It was wobbling around and making a huge racket.  I ordered the wheels, tore into it, and replaced them and the belt.
I then proceeded to pull the internal lint trap, where the lint screen goes, and there was a ton of lint in it.  There was a lint mountain in the bottom of the trap and some had gone into the hose and on into the wall.

I put it back together and it has been running ever since.

I am afraid that our 40 year old Kenmore 25 sq ft fridge is on its last leg.  I have replaced the ice maker 8 times in 40 years, but this time, the new one will not make ice.  I believe the freezer section is not getting cold enough to trip the mechanism.

Good luck on the Lottery!!!

Hay 
Jimmyt

I envy your skill, knowledge and willingness to undertake such repairs.   My wife would have already had new appliances picked out before something went wrong..................  As usual, it's probably my fault..........

Rams

LOL  I have a picture somewhere of our kitchen.  It looked like a bomb went off with dryer parts all over the place....
I figured if I couldn't fix it, THEN I would pony up for a newish one.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Rams]

LOL 
I figured if I couldn't fix it, THEN I would pony up for a newish one.

Hay 
Jimmyt

Understood, that's the same attitude I had about previous girlfriends.   Ended up with one that came with a lifetime warranty.     But, at this point, a newish one would most likely kill me. 

Rams   

[HayHauler]

LOL  
I figured if I couldn't fix it, THEN I would pony up for a newish one.

Hay  
Jimmyt

Understood, that's the same attitude I had about previous girlfriends.   Ended up with one that came with a lifetime warranty.     But, at this point, a newish one would most likely kill me.  

Rams  

Full disclosure:  This was about 12 years ago.  Now, a neighbor has a used appliance business and I would buy one from him.

Hay  
Jimmyt

[da prez]

  Jess , i did not mean any dis-respect when I said to clean the floor.  Many years ago I delivered and installed appliances for extra money.  Upscale home , side by side refrigerator. We tried sliding it out. Would not budge.  Slid a strap over it and pulled low. Still wouldn't budge.  Grabbed the top and both of us pulled and heard a crack. Pulled out the fridge with  floor tile attached. Home owner said she didn't clean the floor under it this week.
 We asked if she wanted the new fridge set in place. well yes she said.  I wonder what it was like when they pulled that one out.

                                                         da prez 

[Jess from VA]

No offense taken Ross (I just didn't understand).  The basement utility room floor is concrete with an old paint sealer on it.  Probably years of crud under there and I don't care.  It will slide out forward on it's skid legs, I've done it before.  I've got a couple old throw rugs in there, and vacuum it every once in a while, but I never drag out the washer and dryer and big refrigerator and floor to ceiling shelving units along the walls in there... because that would be crazy.   

I think I figured out what happened with the TP.  I fired the dryer up to hopefully blow it out and went outside and watched the vent for awhile.  Nothing came out, and I looked in there with it running.  So I went in and shut it off and didn't look at the outside vent again.  What likely happened was that the dryer in full blower mode had that TP trapped in a corner in there, but when shut off, it popped out of the corner and got blown up the vent line while it spooled down.  I should have looked again right away after shutoff, but didn't until the next day, and found it just peeking out of the louvered cover.  Lucky me.