Tumble dryer has died.

[crashtestmac]

All.

We have a White Knight tumble dryer that has served us proud for just shy of 10 years. But it keeps cutting out now, it works, seems to get hot then cuts out. You can start it again but it stops after another minute.

Anyone have a clue or is it time for an upgrade....?

[russbeer]

They are very simple machines mate, basically a fan heater connected to a rotating drum!

Open it up and have a look, if the thermostat on the heater has gone, its cutting out to stop overheating so its a fire risk if you try and override it. They are pretty cheap to buy anyways.

I used to fix basic problems like that in my old job 7 years back, and I have no tech/mechanical experience whatsoever so if i can do it, most people should!

[CallmeGoose]

yep as stated above, sounds like thermostat is cutting out to protect itself. very easy to replace, i do this all the time where i work. also check the filter, if its full of lint this could also be causing the machine to overheat, tripping the thermostat, very common problem - most people dont check there filters for years...

[Cooleo]

Did you try to recreate that brick in a dryer YouTube clip?

[Bodman]

Defo the overheat thermostat. I would unplug it and take the lid off it. they are very simple machines and prob full of lint and dust. Give it a damn good hoover out. also check the extract vent - stick the hoover down it. do you clean the filter

//Bod

[crashtestmac]

There is a lint catcher that is in the front under the "door" i will check the others and the back tube, it was moved a couple of months ago so it might be getting stuffed now.

Thanks i will have a look.

[tombott]

As already said it will either be the heater or thermostat.

I fixed mine last week, and have done a few times now.
Mine was not heating, but turned on and the drum turned etc.
Took it to pieces, cleaned out all the filters (it's a Condenser drier so has more filters than normal driers) took the heater element off the back of the drum and found it was full of fluff, conkers and party popper streamers!
Cleaned it all out, put it back together and it works a treat.
Before now its stopped working and that was due to a ball-bearing being stuck in on of the condenser tubes!

Obviously if you are going to have a look yourself make sure you unplug it first, and are not stood in a puddle of water!

[Goldberg]

My first instinct would be to look for excess dust as already mentioned. Dust is evil!

[chesser]

Knowing Crash very well as I do I'm amazed he hasn't come back with Lint\Dust Filter? probably 2 inch thick by now!

[crashtestmac]

Knowing Crash very well as I do I'm amazed he hasn't come back with Lint\Dust Filter? probably 2 inch thick by now!

Screw you bitch....

The insides are clean, a bit dusty but nothing major.

I can get my arm up the extraction tube and that is clear right into the machine, i have had the lid off and all that looks good.

I have just run it with the lid off and you can smell it getting hot, so i guess it is the thermostat. I will start taking it appart and see what i find...

[crashtestmac]

Nothing...!

Lid off back off at the bottom and it is all clear....

There really is feck all to it..! any pointers for what else it could be, anyone know a repair man in Huddersfield..?

[russbeer]

Do you have a vent on the wall that it leads to?? Check the mesh at the end isnt clogged.

As far as repairs go mate, you can buy a new one for what it'll cost.

[crashtestmac]

vent is clear. looks like the thermostat. There is a place near by that with diagnose for £20 then what ever the part costs so it should be about £60+VAT.

May have to get an new one seems daft to sink 40% of the cost of a new one in getting this fixed..!

Balls.

[diablos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv9bAma0ft8


Rip the Dryer.

[B B Leo]

Replace the stat. You wnt see any thing wrong with it. It's inside it. Also check if there is a thermal cut out on it any where. This would knock it of.

[Goldberg]

I can get my arm up the extraction tube

Show off!

[crashtestmac]

Replace the stat. You wnt see any thing wrong with it. It's inside it. Also check if there is a thermal cut out on it any where. This would knock it of.

Is it worth bothering, is a thermostat not going to cost a bit...? Then it might not be that...!

[ming]

lol, please make sure you unplug it. i changed my heating element but forgot to unplug it. now that was a buzz i could`ve done without.

[B B Leo]

Is it worth bothering, is a thermostat not going to cost a bit...? Then it might not be that...!

personally i would just buy a new machine 10 years is good going out of any machine, bet the next wont last that long

[Goldberg]

A newer machine will probably be A (or AA) rated surely? Think of the money over the next 10 years you will save!

You could do what I have to do, stick them in a room with a window open and a De-humidifier running to suck the moisture out!