There are many things that contribute to the proper operation of a clothes dryer, the venting is perhaps the most critical. Below we describe a dryer's functions and how its venting plays a part. Moisture

One of the most important functions of a dryer is the elimination of moisture recovered during the heating of damp clothing. This moisture is held in the warm air produced by the dryer as humidity and is normally expelled to the outdoors through the dryer's vent. If this air can not be adequately removed, poor drying will result.

This moisture can also condense into pools of water in the dryer vent, eventually leaking out. Any moisture accumulation inside the dryer ducting is a sign of poor venting which should be looked into. Heat The heat is another important function of a dryer. Many current dryer models have 'one time', non-resettable, thermal fuse or safety. These safety devices will open should the dryer's vent not be installed properly or if it becomes restricted. Once this happens, the dryer will no longer heat and will require the part to be replaced to correct the condition. On some dryer designs (usually gas) failure of one of these thermal fuses will totally stop dryer operation altogether.

On older models without one of these thermal safeties, poor venting can cause the dryer to cycle on its safety thermostat instead of the temperature control thermostat. This usually contributes to poor drying, can cause overheating and on some models malfunctioning timer operation on some cycles.


Prevent a dryer fire at your home