I need a new dryer

[REWahoo]

I recently read something on snopes.com that said that the softeners in dryer sheets cause a build-up over time (not one you can see).

omni, are you dissing dryer sheets?

REW

 

[VoyT]

VoyT,

Have you rinsed off the lint filter screen lately?

  Hadn't heard that one ... certainly can't hurt!

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

If you're getting condensation in front of the machine, then its not venting properly. Even if it was fully venting through a rust hole into your laundry room the clothes would still dry.

But 18 years is a long time, you got your moneys worth. A new one will probably save you some money.

And glad to be of service. Came in handy twice as my neighbor walked over while I was cutting the lawn and said he was off to buy a new dryer and did I know what a good one was...

 

[Martha]

Dont feel bad Caroline. My wife was appalled when she moved in with me and discovered that I 'folded and put away' the sheets by taking the wad out of the dryer and shoving them into the linen cabinet. I figure they're going to straighten out when I put them on the bed anyhow, and after 10 minutes of sleeping on them, they're gonna get mussed.

So anyhow, I fold the sheets now...

We both have an aversion to folding sheets. This is how I solved the problem. We have only two sets of sheets. The last washload is sheets and towels. Dry in dryer and leave in dryer until the next week. Take out and put on bed. Wash dirty sheets and towels, dry and let sit in dryer. Repeat forever.

 

[TromboneAl]

OK, here's my question:

Why can't they make a acombination washer/dryer?

I guess these things exist, but they're not common. I see no reason to have to take clothes out of the washing machine and put them in the dryer. Why can't a front-load washing machine just tumble with some heat when the washing's done? Cut the humans workload down by a third.

 

[REWahoo]

Why can't they make a acombination washer/dryer?

GE is all over it...

REW

 

[KB]

My Aunt and Uncle had one of those 'all in one washer/dryers' when I was a kid. It was made in switzerland. The downfall was that you only could do 1 load at a time from start to finish. It was great for after they had no kids at home and had less laundry to do each week.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

There are some, like this
http://www.dynamic-living.com/washer-dryer-combination.htm

Problem is, they cost more than a decent washer/dryer pair. Plus most homes are hooked up for a side by side setup and people are used to buying them this way.

Look at how hard its been to get people to pony up a little extra $ to buy a front loader set even though they'll make the whole cost of the set up in reduced energy, water and detergent within 10-12 years...

 

[Nords]

OK, here's my question:

Why can't they make a acombination washer/dryer?

Meanwhile, overheard back at the Institute of Really Bad Design Ideas:
"Hmmmm, plastic water hoses near electric heater elements. No, no, wait, CHEAP plastic water hoses by natural-gas spark igniters!"

I've fought plenty of fires in the trainers but only three of them on board. Two of them came from the electric clothes dryer. Your vents will clean themselves one way or the other, but I wouldn't recommend that method!

 

[TromboneAl]

That one you linked to, Th, is ventless. I wonder where the hot humid air goes?

Once, after watching all the wasted heat go out of the house I read up on info about a little valve you put on your dryer vent to direct the hot air into the house. Sounded like a good idea, so I rigged up one of my own design, and ran a dryer load.

Within 30 minutes all of my tools rusted. Didn't think rust could form so quickly.

[OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but they were rusted by the next day.]

 

[Nords]

Within 30 minutes all of my tools rusted.  Didn't think rust could form so quickly.

Yes, but it's a wet heat!

You read this "tip" every winter when people try to warm & humidify their cold, dry houses. Everyone gets excited about it until they realize 100% humidity doesn't make a cold house any warmer...

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

By the way after 3 days of baby induced minor sleep deprived brain damage, I know whats wrong with your dryer.

Theres a blower fan that draws air through the dryer and exhausts it out the vent pipe. If you take your vent pipe off, you'll probably find that there is no air (or significant air) coming out of it.

Unfortunately even if you found the repairman with the part, it'd probably cost you $100 at least. I'd go with the new dryer.

On the other hand, if you can find the part, its probably a piece of cake to put it in. Couple of screw clamps holding it to the ducting, couple of screws holding it in place, two wire electrical plug, you're done. Unplug it and tip it on its back, see what you see. Dryers (and washers for that matter) arent that complicated.

Al - ventless dryers or running your dryer vent through one of the many available doohickeys that let you 'recapture the heat' into the house are a very, very, very, very bad idea. I know of someone who did that regularly for about 20 years and ended up with a delightful case of mold and mildew, along with some nice hidden rot.

If you're in the winter time, using forced hot air heat, and regularly using a big humidifier to keep the air moist, and you have a way to circulate air throughout the house, you might get away with this for a few loads a week with the dryer providing humidity in lieu of the humidifier.

Keep a humidistat and keep your humidity level between 40-50%. When you stay at 50%+ sustained, you start getting mold and mildew.

I'm thinking the Eureka area doesnt have a problem with low humidity...?

 

[VoyT]

Theres a blower fan that draws air through the dryer and exhausts it out the vent pipe.  If you take your vent pipe off, you'll probably find that there is no air (or significant air) coming out of it.

   Gabe's decided to be a night owl, eh?  Or has he started the teething thing already?
    Sounds like I may doing some dryer tipping tomorrow.  The guy who cleaned the vents noted that there didn't seem to be a lot of air getting through.

   

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Here ya go, as much as it pains me...

http://www.partselect.com/GE-Dryer-Parts.htm

 

[VoyT]

  Your  sacrifice is duly noted (and certainly appreciated)   That looks like a nicer site than the one I found last night...

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Gabe's decided to be a night owl, eh? Or has he started the teething thing already?
Sounds like I may doing some dryer tipping tomorrow. The guy who cleaned the vents noted that there didn't seem to be a lot of air getting through.

No teething yet, but he decided to trade in his 7-8 hour sleeping shifts for 3 hour ones last week. We changed his bed, started him on solid food, and he's gotten a little older...not sure which thing (or combo) made him change up.

I get sole custody of him the next 4 days while the wife restarts working too... Oh well, sleep is overrated...

 

[TromboneAl]

I'm thinking the Eureka area doesnt have a problem with low humidity...?

I don't think the humidity has ever gone below 80% here.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

So its more a water line than a humidity thing then...thats what I thought.

Even though its dry in the summer here, it be damp during the rainy season. I make good use of a large kenmore dehumidifier on a regular basis.

When I sold my last house, the buyer bought in a mold/mildew specialist as part of his inspection process. Guy said my house was the driest house he had ever tested and the only one that he didnt find at least some trace of mold in.

Watching "house detectives" on hgtv, almost every house has some sort of moisture problem, standing water problem, leaking roof/pipes or some nimrod stuffed all the roof vents with insulation or vented a dryer into the house. I dont know if they just target those sorts of homes for the show or if thats the situation generally. I know every house I've owned had a grading problem near the house that allowed water to stand and had some sort of other moisture issue that I had to correct.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

GE is all over it...

REW

Yeah, but their current implementation is a washing machine that catches fire and dries the clothes in that manner...

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Or has he started the teething thing already?

Ok, I might take it back. He seems to have a lot of the symptoms of teething (drooling, getting 'mad' at his bottle, shorter sleep times, a little crankier) although I can feel no bumps nor is there any redness. Hmm. I bought him one of those water filled teething rings you put in the fridge, we'll give him that today and I'll feed him his solid food cool instead of warm. When I put him down tonight I'll give him a half dose of baby tylenol and see what happens.