How to Fix Washing Machine and Dryer Problems

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(Photograph by Frick Byers/Getty Images)

You opened the dryer door to check your towels, and now the dryer won’t start again.

THE QUICK FIX
"Most dryers built in the last 10 to 15 years have a thermostatlike thermal fuse," according to Chris Zeisler, a former appliance technician and senior member of the RepairGuru staff at RepairClinic.com. "The heat-activated fuse prevents a fire in the event that the dryer severely overheats. Opening the dryer door in midcycle can trigger a heat spike that blows the fuse interrupting power to the dryer’s motor circuit. Located on the heating element or gas burner housing or the blower housing, the fuse has a one-time lifespan—you’ll need to replace it when it blows. Replace the fuse and check the dryer ducting and venting that exits to the outside; poor airflow can be a contributing factor for the fuse blowing."


Your clothes dryer seems to have lost its zip—you need your favorite shirt and it’s not getting dry.

THE QUICK FIX
Clear the vent duct by removing the vent pipe and vacuuming out any accumulated debris from the pipe and duct. It’s a three-minute fix that can save you a pricey visit from a technician.


The washer is doing the shimmy ’n’ shake even though you’ve been careful to level it and evenly distribute clothes in the basket.

THE QUICK FIX
There’s level, and then there’s LEVEL. Taking a level reading off the top of the washer can be a problem, because it doesn’t ensure that weight is being evenly distributed on all four corners of the washer. Make sure the adjustable legs are firmly in contact with the floor when leveling and that they are sharing the burden of the washer’s weight.


You’re getting steamed because your iron isn't, making ironing your shirts even more of a pain that it normally is.

THE QUICK FIX
Mineral deposits from tap water can clog the steam pores in your iron, reducing the steam setting to a feeble drizzle. Fill the water reservoir with white vinegar, put the iron face down on a metal rack, such as the one you use for cooling cookies, and let it run on the "steam" setting until the reservoir is empty. The steam pores should be clean as a whistle.

With the fast pace of appliance innovations—new styles, new features, and new price tags—it’s sometimes hard to make the judgment between fixing an older appliance and ditching it for a new unit. Although the decision is largely an economic one, it is also affected by intangibles such as how comfortable you are making repairs, and whether you want to upgrade as part of remodeling.

>> ELECTRIC DRYER
Ditch if … gas is cheaper than electricity in your region. You might save on utilities by buying a new gas dryer, though you will incur the cost of adding a gas line. If you stay with an electric dryer, you still might save if you are replacing a truly ancient appliance that uses a timer instead of a moisture sensor to end the dry cycle.

Fix if … you have to upgrade to meet requirements set by changes to the National Electrical Code. Electric dryers now use a four-prong plug and receptacle instead of a three-prong type. In some cases you might need to upgrade the circuit. That added cost may be reason to repair rather than replace.

>> WASHER
Ditch if … you want to conserve. Today's front-loaders use less water (and less heated water) than top-loaders, and reduce drying time thanks to spin cycles of 800 to 1600 rpm (compared to 500 to 600 rpm for top-loaders). If you do a lot of laundry, the savings can pay for the machine.

Fix if … you’re concerned about the immediate impact on your budget of a new machine. Most washer repairs are straightforward. With a few basic fixes you could keep your machine chugging along for years to come.

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