Appliance Repair in 19148 · South Philadelphia

Rowhouses share side walls, so a dryer can only vent toward the front or, more often, the back. In a basement, the duct commonly exits through a cut-down basement window or a hole in the rear foundation wall. On the first floor, it runs through the back wall into the yard. Short, straight runs work best, but many older installations use flexible foil duct, extra length or several bends.

Foil and vinyl ducts crush easily behind the dryer and trap lint in their ridges. Outdoors, the vent hood can clog with lint, get blocked by a stored item in the yard, or have a stuck flap, and in some yards birds nest in it. In winter, condensation in a cold basement duct can collect lint into a damp mat. The result is long drying times, a hot laundry area and extra wear on the heater or gas burner parts.

Use rigid or semi-rigid metal duct, keep it as short as practical, and look at the outside hood while the dryer runs. You should feel strong airflow. If airflow is good and the dryer still underperforms, the problem is probably inside the machine: a thermal fuse, heating element, gas valve coil or igniter.

Clear a space so the dryer can be pulled out, and know whether it runs on gas or electricity. Unlock any gate or back door to the yard so the vent hood can be checked. Parking near East Passyunk and the stadiums can be difficult, especially on game days, so suggest a time or spot if you know a better one.