Are your clothes taking longer than normal to dry in your clothes dryer? Or perhaps cool drafts are leaking into the interior of your home? While dryers and dryer vents can last for more than 10 years or more, scheduled maintenance and repairs are very important. Homeowners should check out for potential problems and address them immediately to avoid fire dangers and unplanned energy costs.
Dryer Repair Cost
Professional cleaning of a dryer vent costs between $100 and $150, and it normally starts with an inspection of the vent itself. Look for a certified Dryer Exhaust specialist to help you.
An appliance repair technician can determine the problem and fix it for an average cost between $300 and $420, but it greatly depends on the parts to be fixed.
Typical Dryer Repairs and Their Costs
Like so many home appliances, dryers and dryer vents contain many different parts that can fail. While some are very simple fixes that can be done by the homeowner, others take more expertise and can be expensive. Actually, fixing a dryer is cheaper than installing a new dryer
Dryer Repair Prices by Brand
Homeowners almost always buy a washing machine and dryer together, so it’s smart to consider the long-term repair costs for both. Appliance testers and experts report that for electric dryers, LG models have lower failure rates over Frigidaire, GE, Electrolux, and Samsung. While the average repair cost for dryers is around $103, fixing an LG or Samsung dryer is more expensive with an average of $120.
Gas Dryer Repairs vs. Electric Dryer Repairs
When buying a new dryer, you have to choose between an electric or gas dryer. One way to know which is best is to look at the difference in the repairs and costs. Electric dryers tend to have a failure rate of 6% to 15% by the fifth year in the home, while gas dryers have a slightly higher failure rate of 7% to 21% by the fifth year. Electric dryer’s dry clothes using heating coils, require more energy to operate but fewer maintenance costs. Heating elements, fuses, and belts are cheaper to fix and fail less often. Gas dryers use gas burners, which saves more energy but often more repairs. Gas dryers frequently require a simple fix, which can be expensive and requires the attention of an expert.
Signs Your Dryer Needs Repair
Loud noise: When dryers are making too much noise, this could be a result of broken bearings, seals, or worn-out belts. When a squeaking noise is heard, the dryer belt likely needs to be replaced. To do this, you need to remove the lint filter and dryer top and remove the screws holding on the front of the dyer.
It does not start: If the dryer will not start, the high limit thermostat or heating element may need to be replaced.
Won’t heat properly: If it does not heat properly, a fuse may be blown or the heating element may be broken.
Does not tumble: Switches and belts may be to blame.
The timer does not advance: If the timer does not advance, the timer’s motor may need replacing.
Does not shut off: Door switches or timers may cause a dryer to not shut off.
Shuts off too early: Heating coils, thermostats, and fuses may be the culprit for dryers shutting off too soon.
Dryer Repair Discounts
Many appliances are covered by product warranties and, often, home warranties. It may be smart to purchase a home warranty to cover the repair or replacement of major home appliances, including water heaters, well pumps, or air conditioning units.
Find a Laundry Room Contractor
While some people can work are DIY, it’s advisable to work with a professional dryer exhaust or appliance technician to identify the exact problem and solution to keep your clothes dryer operating safely and economically.
You can contact our specialists at Factory Appliance Houston for help.
We operate within Houston and its neighboring areas.