Hello and thank you for your time reading this message. Here is my current situation. The check vent light came on recently, which reminded me that it was time to clean the vents. One of my steps after cleaning the vents is to check the airflow to make sure it’s strong. It’s very strong. However, I noticed that the air coming out of the vent did not seem very hot or warm. It was cool. What I also will note, is that the check vent light is still on, which I know it shouldn’t be. When I dry a large load of towels, it takes well over an hour to dry them. I often have to run a manual cycle for about 30 minutes on high to really get them dry. I always thought perhaps the towels are just too bulky and often ignored this problem. Smaller loads I’m noticing also do not come out completely dry. I popped off the little piece on front of the dryer and noticed I do have a flame in there burning nicely. The sides of the dryer are warm to the touch. There is a little vent in the back of the dryer that also was hot to the touch. I noticed the vents do not seem very warm during the run cycle, which I recall they used to. This dryer has an option to change the sensor cycle settings to increase drying time. I bumped this up one notch to see if that would make a difference. It didn’t. Finally I verified that no gas lines were "kinked" and the gas is on.
In previous years I replaced the dryer gas valve coils. I do have some repair skill, but not too much. I’m not able to test anything using any type of Ohm meter.
Any ideas or thoughts on what this problem could be?
What you are explaining seems to be a clog or restriction somewhere in the vent system.
Another question is when you say the air coming out of the vent was strong yet cool, where were you checking this flow at, the back of the machine or outside the house where the exhaust is located?
Thanks for the questions. The vent exits in the back of the house. The vent run from dryer to wall is too long. The basement was finished before I moved in and is just the way it is. However, it has always dried just fine without a problem as long as I do proper maintenance.
I felt the air coming out where it exits in the back of the house. In the past, when I have done this, the air has always been warm/hot. In addition, when I feel the vent ducts I can feel the air flowing through. However, in the past it was always very hot to the touch, and now the vent ducts are cool to the touch.
I would also have thought there must be some restriction or clog, but the air flow seems really good and strong. I guess I might have to set time aside to take it apart more and check closer.
I notice you saw flames on when you popped off the front cover. Did you happen to watch this for the entire cycle or just the beginning? Some times if the coils are going bad they will open and you get flames at the very beginning of the cycle but when the cycling thermostat shuts it down they won’t restart. I would suggest watching the heater for at least 10 minutes or more to see if the fire is cycling on and off properly.
Ok, that is what I will do. I’m all done with laundry for a few days so I will post back here when I wash another load. However, these dryers tend to turn the flame off/on a few times I noticed. At least I think that is what they do.
You are correct the cycling thermostat turns the flames on and off. When the exhaust temperature reaches a preset level of the cycling thermostat about 150 to 160 degrees the circuit opens and the gas valves are shut down and the fire goes out. When the exhaust temp lowers by 25 to 30 degrees the circuit closes on the thermostat and the flames reignite. So what your looking to see is do the flames cycle on and off during the "entire" drying time? Now during the last 5 minutes or so no flames will be seen (the cool down mode) the end of the cycle.
I was able to run the dryer and watched the fire through the peep hole. I saw it go on and off throughout the cycle without a problem. I noticed I had the check vent light on the entire time. The only thing in the dryer was a table cloth. No way the check vent light should be on for just that. I’m thinking I need to take apart the ducts and really see what is going on. How likely would the clog be in the actual dryer? Meaning, should I take off the back to see if anything is clogged in there? When I cleaned the vents the other day, I did just the flex tube from the back of the dryer and all the vent duct runs all the way to the outside. The air flow feels strong, which is what is so confusing about this.
Ok lets take this one step at a time. Now you say the ducts do not feel warm or hot when the dryer is running like they use to but you have good air flow outside. Try this if you have a meat thermometer (if not they are cheap enough at the store) stick it into the flex hose coming out of the back of your dryer. Have the dial facing up where you can see it while your machine is running. Turn your dryer on (to high heat setting) and watch the gauge. It should register up to 150 - 160 degrees before the flame goes out. If it doesn’t we are narrowing down the issue.
I used an instant read thermometer. It registered 120 degrees while the flame was on. With the flame off, it was about 90-100 degrees. I will wait on your reply before proceeding.
Alright I don’t know how your thermometer works but lets imagine its accurate.
Now this was a temp test with the transition hose disconnected from the machine, true?
And when you ran the test you felt adequate air flow?
If so when you ran this test did you notice if the clean vent line indicator came on? It should not have with the transition hose off…
So if the temp reading only registered as high as 120 then there must be a leak somewhere that the air is not being pulled from the drum or the drum air is not pulling completely from the burner funnel.
You see all of the air being pulled from the machine by the fan should be from the drum and its air intake should be completely from the heater can / burner funnel. The exhaust air should be well above 120 with the temp control set to high.
No the temperature was taken by poking a hole in the flexible vent that comes from the dryer connection and goes into the solid vent duct. I thought that is what you asked me to do.
I did take the entire backing off the dryer off to make sure there was no buildup or clog. There was not. While it was off, I ran the dryer to get a feel for the air flow. It was very strong. I did not take the temperature coming out from there. I did not check to see if the check vent indicator light came on. It wouldn’t come using the timed dryer (high heat) setting. It would only do that if I ran a sensor cycle. I could try it set on towels.
Sorry I am one step ahead of myself.
Yes please remove the transition hose from the wall so that it free flows air right in the laundry room. Then with your thermometer inserted in the hose, try a setting that will allow high heat, along with air flow sensing for the check vent indicator light. Run that for at least 10 minutes and lets check the results.
What temps did you get now, high and low?
Did the check vent indicator light come on with the hose disconnected?
Ok here are some results. First, this dryer has either sensor cycles or none censor cycles. The none censor cycles do not have the feature to detect the vent status and show you either good or check vent.
Non-Sensor Cycle Flexible Vent hose disconnected from dyer.
Cycle: Time Dry High Heat
Temperature was at 165 degrees when flame was going. Went down to about 130 degrees when flame was off.
The vent indicator light is not possible to be on during this cycle.
Cycle: Sensor Cycle = Towels (high temperature)
Temperature was at 165 degrees when flame was going. Went down to about 130 degrees when flame was off.
The vent indicator light went from detecting to off. This happens when it can’t detect anything. This only happens when the flexible vent hose is disconnected.
Additional test:
I had some wet towels so I put them in the dryer.
Flexible vent hose disconnected
Cycle = Sensor Cycle: Towels
The vent light would go from detecting to off. It would now light up either good or check vent.
The temperature coming from the back of the dryer was low, with wet towels in there. Only about 40-50 degrees coming out.
Hope this is the information you were looking for. Let me know what else to check or what you think might be the problem.
Ok based on the results and coupled with your previous statement that while connected to the vent hose and the reading was only 120. I tend to believe there is still a blockage or occlusion in the vent ducting or exhaust cap.
Brobriffin, I’m going to really take it all apart next weekend or as soon as possible and see if I can’t find the blockage. I would be surprised, because I use one of those long extension brushes attached to my drill to clean the entire vent run. I will let you know and thanks for all of the troubleshooting so far.
brobriffin said:
Ok based on the results and coupled with your previous statement that while connected to the vent hose and the reading was only 120. I tend to believe there is still a blockage or occlusion in the vent ducting or exhaust cap.
Well I’m back again on this topic. It’s almost been a year now. The same problem has been happening. It just now seems to be getting worse and I can’t figure this one out.
The last time we left this issue, user brobriffin was kind enough to lend some suggestions. He believed there to be a blockage. I completely took the entire duct work apart and cleaned out the entire run. I’m positive there is no blockage. Let me ask, how dangerous if at all, is it to run a wet clothes cycle through the dryer without the ventilation connected. It would be venting into my basement which is finished.
Any other thoughts on what this could be? I’m about ready to throw this dryer out the door.
You will just be dumping moisture and heat into the basement but if the clothes dry normally that will tell you about a blockage in the vent system somewhere
brobriffin said:
You will just be dumping moisture and heat into the basement but if the clothes dry normally that will tell you about a blockage in the vent system somewhere
Ok I might give this a shot. Again, I literally took apart the entire vent system, cleaned it with a big scrub brush, resealed it all, and the dryer still has the problem. I don’t get it.