How a Dryer Repair Visit Works

The eight steps of a repair visit

Every repair follows the same order, whether it is a thermal fuse in a Czech Village basement or error codes on a new Samsung in Marion.

1. You call. You talk to the people who do the repair. Tell us the brand, gas or electric, what the dryer is doing, and your address. That tells us which parts to have on the van.
2. We set a window. Calls before noon, Monday to Saturday, usually get a same-day visit. Later calls usually get the next morning.
3. We check the power and the vent. Before opening the dryer we check the outlet (an electric dryer should read about 240 volts across both sides) and the airflow at the vent.
4. We test, not guess. We meter the parts in the order they usually fail and find the one that actually failed.
5. You get the price. We show you the failed part and give you one price for parts and labor. Nothing is repaired until you say yes.
6. We fix it that visit. Fuses, thermostats, elements, igniters, valve coils, belts, idlers, rollers and door switches ride on the van, so most repairs finish in 30 to 90 minutes.
7. We test it before we leave. A full cycle with the drum turning, heat at the vent and airflow at the outside hood.
8. The warranty starts. 90 days on OEM parts we install and our labor. Aftermarket parts are not covered.

Why we test before we replace

Throwing parts at a dryer is expensive for you. A dryer that runs but won’t heat could have a blown fuse, a bad element, a failed thermostat or half its power missing, and they all look the same from the outside. A meter tells us which one in minutes.

Error codes on newer Samsung, LG and Whirlpool dryers help, but they point to an area, not a part. An HE code on a Samsung can mean a blocked vent, a fuse, a thermostat or an element. We read the code, then test.

Why we check the vent every time

A blocked vent is the root cause behind most blown thermal fuses, many failed thermostats and elements, and most mid-cycle shutdowns. Replacing a fuse without fixing the airflow means it blows again within weeks. So we check the airflow at the outside hood on every call, and if the vent needs cleaning we tell you and can do it on the same visit.

How to get ready for the visit

• Clear a path to the dryer and a little space around it. We pull it out from the wall.
• Have the model number handy. It is on a tag inside the door opening on most dryers.
• If the dryer stopped mid-load, take the clothes out.
• Pets in another room, please. We leave doors open while we work.
• If you can, tell us where the vent exits outside. We check it on every call.

Safety on every call

We unplug electric dryers or switch off the breaker before opening them, and turn off the gas valve on gas dryers. On gas dryers we check the connection for leaks before we leave and watch the burner light cleanly.