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Dryer Tutorial

by David Dean, Master Appliance Technician

Automatic clothes dryers use a thermostat to regulate the temperature and controls determine the type of cycle or cycles. The simplest dryers are timed-only cycles while more advanced units can tailor the cycle to the fabric type. One manufacturer has a data-link from the washer to the dryeer to automatically adjust the dryer settings to match the washer's load. Some dryers today even provide steam to aid in freshening and de-wrinkling clothing. The better dryers also have a cool-down cycle to help reduce wrinkling.

Electric dryers are more affordable than gas dryers, but gas dryers are less expensive to operate in the long run. Because electric dryers require more energy, they can sometimes cause more wear on clothes. Electric dryers can also undergo faster wear and tear when compared to gas dryers. An individual who doesn't have the proper infrastructure to operate a gas dryer has to have it installed, which can be expensive. This extra expense can cancel out the less expensive operating costs of gas dryers. Liquid propane gas stored in a large tank can be used as an alternative to having a gas line installed. Properly maintaining and repairing a gas dryer also calls for a specialized technician. Specific features such as moisture sensors, noise reduction and automatic cool-down are often desirable no matter if the dryer is electric or gas. Steam cycle is another desirable dryer option, but can be expensive. The usual choice of heating source for a clothes dryer dryer is gas or electricity. All dryers use at least one motor to turn a large drum that tumbles the clothes inside. At the same time, a flow of warm air is blown over and through the tumbling laundry to speed drying by distributing the heated air. For most of us, the basic choice of how to dry clothes comes down to gas or electricity.

Temperature: Load size and dampness can have an impact on the internal temperature. These factors can change the way the air flows through the dryer drum. Room temperature is also a factor because the dryer pulls air in from the room. Restricted air flow can affect the temperature too. Excessive lint build-up or long vents can restrict the air flow, causing the temperature to rise. When that happens,the internal thermostat turns the heat source off until the dryer temperature is at a safe temperature again.