I bought a low-cost Hotpoint dryer about a year ago, and recently I've been noticing it takes 2-3 cycles to dry a single load. I've cleaned the duct thoroughly, removing it from the back and vacuuming inside the dryer and the entire duct for about 3 feet to ensure it's clear. I always clean the lint trap after each use, flipped the breaker on and off, and it does heat up fine and the drum spins. I can't help but wonder if this is just a junk dryer because my old Samsung dryer, which was gifted and lasted over a decade, never had these issues. Are pricier dryers really that much more reliable?
4 Answers
Also, make sure the exhaust is clear and not blocked. A clean exhaust is crucial for drying effectively!
Regarding whether higher-end dryers are worth it, my take is no. If it’s not drying in 80 minutes with a good load, you might be overloading it or your spin cycle isn’t getting enough water out.
Check how snugly the dryer outlet pipe is attached and make sure there are no kinks. Sometimes issues can stem from the exhaust not being connected properly.
Kink shaming? ? Just to clarify, it's completely clear, straight, and I even vacuumed it out just to be sure.
Yep, I removed the exhaust duct completely and it's all clear. So that’s not the issue.
Dryers are pretty straightforward machines. Have you checked the heating element? It might not be heating evenly. Also, double-check if you’re using 'timed dry' instead of 'sensor dry'—if that sensor's malfunctioning, it could be messing with your dry cycles.
I typically set it to max timed dry (80 minutes). It's such a basic model that I don't think it even has drying sensors. I just opened the back; is there anything specific I should look for on the heating element?
Nah, it doesn't look burned out or anything. So I guess that should be fine.
Yeah, I took the duct off and checked it. Totally clear, no issues there.