Clothes Not Drying? 7 Things to Check Before You Pay a Repairman

If your clothes are not drying in the dryer, don't call a repairman yet. Check these seven things first. Most of them are free. If your towels and jeans take two cycles to dry, the easiest and cheapest fixes come first: a lint trap coated by dryer sheets, a clogged or crushed dryer vent duct, dirty moisture sensor bars, a duct run that's too long, an overloaded drum, the wrong cycle setting, and a washer that isn't spinning the water out. I spent thirty-two years in apartment maintenance approving appliance repair invoices, and a service call starts at sixty to a hundred and forty dollars before anyone touches the dryer. In this one I show you how to check all seven yourself, including the free water test for your lint trap, why white plastic dryer duct is a fire hazard, and the one problem that isn't about the dryer at all. Which one was your problem? Tell me in the comments. ⚠️ Unplug your dryer before you check anything, and shut off the gas valve before moving a gas dryer. If your dryer produces no heat at all, or you smell burning, stop using it and call a professional. Prices mentioned are typical U.S. ranges and vary by region and model.