Dryer Smells Like Burning? Follow These Troubleshooting Steps!
When your dryer smells like burning, it’s understandable for you to be alarmed. You would think your appliance can start a fire anytime. But you don’t want to shrug off that worry because burning smells are indeed a hazard, so you want to try your hand at troubleshooting your dryer. How can you do this?
- Opening the dryer: You want to unplug your dryer first and foremost before you can start any troubleshooting steps. Take the manual with you to know how you can open or maybe dismantle dryer parts. The manual should have the instructions you need to check your dryer for any damage or malfunction.
- Checking for lint: Yes, you read it right! Lint can cause burning odors in the dryer. Do you see any lint buildup? You should know that lint is highly flammable and can burn easily, like flash paper, when heated. If they come in contact with the heating elements in your dryer, they start to smell like burning dust.
- Inspecting the thermostat: A thermostat can also cause burning smells when it fails. A failing thermostat is commonly due to overheating, so you can expect them to release scorching odors. If you see it’s not lint responsible for the burning smells, it must be the bad thermostat.
- Checking the drive belt: Is yours an old dryer? Old dryers use rubber drive belts to run the drum. This long rubber belt wrapped around the drum can slip out of place and come in contact with heating elements. If they do, they can melt and wear out, causing burning odors in your appliance.
- Inspecting the drive motor: Just like a failing thermostat, a bad motor can smell burnt, too. Dryer motors go bad when they age, which means they need replacing. You will know it’s the aging motor causing the burning smell because it typically comes with some noise.
If, after inspecting your dryer, you don’t uncover the cause of the burning smell, then it should be time to call a professional. Dryer and washer repair services are available to help inspect and troubleshoot your dryer. Make sure to hire a reliable technician to get the best service for your appliance.
How to Get Rid of The Burning Smell in My Dryer?
You must have already known why your dryer smells like burning. After carefully inspecting it, it’s time you take steps for its repair. So how do things go to get rid of your dryer’s burning smell?
- Vacuuming lint buildup: As you know, lint can cause burning smells in your dryer when exposed to heat. If you see lint building up inside the dryer, you want to vacuum it to clean your dryer using the hose of a vacuum cleaner. If you ask whether it’s safe to vacuum your dryer, yes, as long as you wear safety gloves.
- Repairing a failing thermostat: The first step to repairing a dryer thermostat is to test it. You want to make sure your dryer has been unplugged and the breaker shut off. Using an ohmmeter, touch the end of each meter lead to the different thermostat terminals. If the ohmmeter reads infinite resistance, it means a broken circuit and a bad thermostat.
A failing thermostat is often caused by excessive heat. If you suspect thermostat failure
in your dryer, the best thing to do is to replace it.
- Replacing a worn-out drive belt: If, after inspecting your dryer, you see a melted rubber, then it means the drive belt needs to be replaced. You saw the melted rubber hugging a drum. You want to remove this for the replacement. Your new drive belt should be placed exactly the same, making sure it’s wrapped around the drum snugly and not tightly.
- Repairing a bad motor: Motor failures are typically caused by their age. So, you will probably have to replace the motor in your dryer. To do this, you want to locate the motor and remove it. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer on how to open your dryer’s cabinet. Replacing the motor should be easy after you can remove the old one.
You have to take note that repairing your dryer is not a DIY task. You will need the hands of an expert to give your appliance the needed fix.
If you’re looking to hire a service for your dryer, Kenmore Best Appliance Repair Pro is willing to help you. Feel free to contact them and ask your questions about the repair of your dryer.
Kenmore Best Appliance Repair Pro is here to help with any of your appliance repair needs. To hire our service, you can call us. We can give you a free estimate of your required service and accommodate further questions. Contact us!