Dryer question.

[okrattler]

I opened my clothes dryer this afternoon and noticed the vent I guess you'd call it at the back of the dryer was glowing red like it had a torch on it. I blew out the hose to clean it out thinking it was stopped up, unloaded it and ran it without anything in it and it's still doing it. Is my dryer ready for the junk pile or is there something else I need to be looking at to solve the problem?

[Witchgrass]

I was thinking a bad bearing, but it does not sound like the correct location for that. It’s probably a simple fix, but does need to be address! Did you notice any burning smells?

[okrattler]

I was thinking a bad bearing, but it does not sound like the correct location for that. It’s probably a simple fix, but does need to be address! Did you notice any burning smells?

It just smelled hot. Not really burning but it's hard to explain exactly what it smelled like. It definitely smelled like something that could catch fire.

[MtnMike]

If it were me, I would junk it and get a replacement. Not worth the risk as it is a major fire hazard in my opinion!

[Tejas Wildlife]

If it were me, I would junk it and get a replacement. Not worth the risk as it is a major fire hazard in my opinion!

A lot of house fire are related to faulty dryers. Get a new one & ease your mind.

[RWB]

Take a pic of whats glowing red so we are not guessing. Dryers are not complicated except for the electronics on newer models.

[bugleboy]

I too would say it’s your bearing. Usually hear it squealing a before it gets to the point of glowing red hot. Has it been making any different noises than usual?

[PYBUCK]

Probably a bad heat regulator not letting the element cycle on & off to control the heat. Should be a simple replacement. Google bad dryer heat regulator and watch a video on replacing it.

[flywise]

Run it and while running place your hand over the vent ( outside the house) to feel if the volume of air coming out is pretty high. Blowing it out will not be sufficient in most cases. It needs to be cleaned out at least once every couple years. If there is a lot of air movement them probably need an overheat sensor.

[Monark]

How old is your dryer? Most have a thermal fuse that will not allow the dryer to get that hot. Mine tripped recently & I had to remove the back cover & clean out all the lint that accumulated. Once the fuse trips, you have to replace it.

[Pushbutton2]

Did you clean the interior duct work that runs from the lint filter to the back of the dryer?

[Big Lee]

Gas or Electric dryer?

[skulleton]

Did you clean the interior duct work that runs from the lint filter to the back of the dryer?

^^^ Im voting this for the win

[okrattler]

It's an electric dryer. I haven't heard any weird noises or anything out of the norm other than the red glow.

I haven't cleaned the interior duct work or anything besides just blowing the hose out is the only thing I've done so far. As for how old the dryer is I really don't know honestly the dryer was here when I moved in like 6 years ago.

I assume I just take the back of the dryer off to get where I can clean it out?

[60 Deluxe]

Electric dryers will have a thermistor that opens the heating circuit when it reaches a certain temperature. Yours apparently isn't working. Get the make and model number and then go to repairparts.com and find the part. It is likely a fifteen or twenty minute repair. While you are working on it, take off the back panel and give everything a good cleaning. Look at the belt, drum roller bearings, etc. Dryers are an easy fix for most stuff.