Tumble Dryer Not Getting Hot

vansboy

It spins - but doesn't cook the clothes!!

Any ideas - or do I just post in I Wanna New Tumble Dryer!!??

Thanks

VB

trafalgar_2

this happened to us and all we did was change the thermostat control thing and it's been going great

quoia

It spins - but doesn't cook the clothes!!

Any ideas - or do I just post in I Wanna New Tumble Dryer!!??

Thanks

VB

Is it electric or gas ?
Is the fan/blower working?
I wouldn't discard it without some investigation since there is very little in a tumble dryer to actually go wrong.

freestyle_3

I would suggest using the ukwhitegoods.co.uk forum

f107btx

Try reset button on the back of dryer

vansboy

Thanks for the tips - I'll get my screwdriver out in the am!

Listen for the bang!!

VB

vansboy

Looks like it was just a wire burnt out for some reason!

I've trimmed it back, refitted it & it seems Ok - but 'll keep the fire extinguisher handy!!

VB

quoia

Looks like it was just a wire burnt out for some reason!

I've trimmed it back, refitted it & it seems Ok - but 'll keep the fire extinguisher handy!!

VB

I'd suggest that if it didn't go BANG when you turned it on or tried it for the first time after the repair, you will be OK.

Was it at a crimped joint or a screwed connector block ?
(I presume it wasn't just in the MIDDLE of a piece of wire)

Joints like this sometimes go high resistance because of oxidation, corrosion, failure of the mechanical bonding between surfaces (screw gets loose/ crimp slackens) through vibration, or some of the strands of the flex break.
All of these (ie higher resistance than normal design spec.) will cause heat and make the problem worse.
At some point it will usually burn out .

Nice fix vansboy you've saved yourself a bundle !

RedOnRed

Tumble driers are so cheap that if it's quite old and out of warranty i'd just get a new one.

Unfortunately, longevity isn't their reputation.

Bogof_Babe

I have a different problem - the tumble dryer works fine, but the plug becomes extremely hot, and I am afraid it is going to burst into flames one of these days. The outer casing of the plug is becoming discoloured (yellow), which is worrying . We've only had it about a year, but have noticed this problem for a few months.

It is used in a double socket, and other appliances in either of the two don't seem to be similarly affected.

The plug is one of those that came already attached via a thickish rubber-coated flex, so I don't think it can be replaced - unless anyone knows otherwise? :-/

quoia

I have a different problem - the tumble dryer works fine, but the plug becomes extremely hot, and I am afraid it is going to burst into flames one of these days.  The outer casing of the plug is becoming discoloured (yellow), which is worrying .  We've only had it about a year, but have noticed this problem for a few months.

It is used in a double socket, and other appliances in either of the two don't seem to be similarly affected.

The plug is one of those that came already attached via a thickish rubber-coated flex, so I don't think it can be replaced - unless anyone knows otherwise? :-/

OK this can be caused by a couple of things.

The socket may be at fault.
This would be the case if the contacts within it are rather dirty or corroded, or the pressure at which they are pushed against the pins of the plug is zero or very very low. (Basically they touch but "only just")
Other appliances may seem ok but this could be purely because they use a relatively small amount of electricity (current) compared to a tumble dryer. Afterall it contains an "electric fire" and a fan (basiacally a "fan heater") to dry the clothes.

If the tumble dryer plug gets hot in both of the 2 sockets of this particular double, then unless they both are suffering from the above condition(s), then it is more likely to be the plug at fault.

The plug may be at fault.
MOULDED plugs on appliances have been "standard" for quite a while.
These can go "faulty".
Check the the pins on the plug are not heavily oxidised, blackened or corroded, as this will make a poor contact.
Any doubt clean/polish them with wire wool.

As I said before, connections and connectors (crimped or otherwise) can go high resistance.
High resistance joints will generate heat, and the amount of heat is proportional to the amount of current flowing throgh it. High currents will make the "faulty" plug get very hot.
2 "joints" that you can check are the ones at either end of the fuse.
Even these moulded plugs have replaceable fuses and if the contact between fuse and the metal pegs that it clips into is poor, then these will get hot.
However if it is a contact or crimp within the moulded section then all you can do it cut off the plug, strip back the wires and fit a standard plug with a screw-on top.

I'd recommend using a high quality BRANDED one, like MK, that will definitely handle a high current up to the design specification of 13 amps without issue.