How long should it take for my clothes to dry?
Most dryers dry a large load of laundry in about 45 minutes. If the load takes significantly more time than that, you may have a clogged vent tubing system. See our maintenance tips and/or troubleshooting section to help resolve this problem.
How often should I clean the lint filter?
Every time you dry a load.
What type of vent should I have? Is the white vinyl tubing OK?
All national and local building codes now require metal ducting for clothes dryers. It's ideal to use the stiff (rigid) aluminum tubing pieces. This type of tubing does the best job of resisting the collection of lint in the duct. You can use flexible aluminum ducting instead, though it's far more prone to collecting lint inside.
White vinyl ducting is dangerous. It is flammable and, if ignited by the dryer, it may burn and cause a house fire.
Should I oil the motor or rollers?
No. All dryers are designed to run without periodic oiling. If a roller or pulley becomes noisy or squeaky, replace it and clean or replace the shaft it rotates on.
Is a gas dryer cheaper to run than an electric dryer?
Yes. Gas dryers are typically half as expensive to run as electric dryers.
Do dryer softener sheets hurt the dryer?
Yes and no. Dryer softener sheets don't harm the dryer. However, their residue may cause the screen of the lint filter to become partially clogged or the electronic moisture sensor to be coated with residue. If this happens, clean the screen with a little detergent and a soft-bristle brush, wipe off the sensor with a cotton ball and a little rubbing alcohol.
Sometimes the softener sheets get stuck in the lint filter or over the vents on the inside of the dryer, so check to be sure the sheets come out of the dryer with the load of clothes.
Is it important for my dryer to be level?
Yes. All appliances perform best when set up properly. If a dryer is not level, it can cause some components to wear out prematurely.