Looking for the DIS'er who's husband knows a lot about appliances

[lynxstch]

or any DIS'er who might know or has someone who might know!!


I had a repairman here yesterday to fix my 8 year old Maytag dryer..it had stopped heating..he found a burnt thermal fuse..and replaced the part, along with the other fuse that goes along with it..then he closed the dryer and turned it on..and had a meter stuck in it to see what temperature the dryer was at...it was going up to a little over 200 degrees..then cooling down..then going back up..he said it was running fine, except the 200 degrees thing had him a little concerned that it might be a bad thermostat..he didn't have the part , but said he would go home and do some research and see if he could find out what temp that thermostat was supposed to go to..he called back a little while later..and said he couldn't find anything..but that a new thermostat would be $23.95 plus whatever time it took him to put it in (have to take the front off..it's at the bottom in the front)..15 min - 30 min..
Anyhow...if I could find that DIS'er..maybe she could ask her husband if HE has any idea about the temp it should hit for max?..I don't wanna give this guy another $50 to fix something that might not even need fixing!!
Apparently this guy's eyes aren't what they used to be..he tried replacing the assembly the fuse was in with the dryer still all together..dropped a screw..then had to take the front off and hunt for it..(it almost dropped inside the motor)..then he tried to charge me for the time it took him to take the front off, take the drum out, and put it all back together..I told him no way..I wasn't paying for his mistake of dropping the screw!..it already cost me $108 to have the dryer fixed, not in the budget to shell out another $40-50 if it's not needed
If anyone knows the DIS'er I am talking about..please let me know..and if that DIS'er herself happens to see this, please ask your hubby?..thanks

 

[Scurvy]

Sorry, I'm not the Dis'er you are looking for, but. . . Do you know the model number of your dryer? Most of them seem pretty easy to repair if you google the model. You could probably replace the thermostat yourself if you figure out which one to buy and find the instructions online. That's what we've been doing when ours needs work. You could also google the normal temperature range of that particular model to see if yours is within the normal range.

 

[dawson5]

I think popular mechanics has nice "how-to" books. I think they are the ones with in depth instructions and with good pictures.

I think this is the one I bought for my brother:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Po...w-To/Popular-Mechanics/e/9781588163028/?itm=5

Most libraries carry them also. But like PP said, googling will help also. Can't help on the temp setting though. Would it be in your owners manual?

 

[lynxstch]

I think popular mechanics has nice "how-to" books. I think they are the ones with in depth instructions and with good pictures.

I think this is the one I bought for my brother:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Po...w-To/Popular-Mechanics/e/9781588163028/?itm=5

Most libraries carry them also. But like PP said, googling will help also. Can't help on the temp setting though. Would it be in your owners manual?

I can find the 'how to ' instructions on line..but I don't wanna have to replace it if it really isnt' bad..appliance guy seems to think that most dryers run at 160-180..this one goes to 200....

 

[dawson5]

is it in your owners manual?

Here's an idea, little corny but it could work. Go to someone elses house with a dryer (or the laundromat) and put a thermometer in there to read it. I have never thought about how hot my dryer gets, has to be less than an iron though or the clothes would burn. I am trying the think of what gets to 200 degrees and I'm drawing a blank (besides my oven, I don't want to turn it on right now.)

This maytag guy says 150

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081129045021AA8jkBN

and this person says 180:

http://www.chacha.com/question/how-hot-does-the-inside-of-a-dryer-usually-get

I guess somewhere in between there would be right.

 

[lovetoscrap]

My husband is good with appliances but he has no idea what the temp should be.

 

[lynxstch]

Geez..I looked everywhere yesterday and couldn't find anything like one of the posters did..lol..guess I was looking in the wrong places..
I cancelled the call for Monday..told him I would pass on the thermostat for now..I can always order one online and have hubby put it in since we know where it is now..I did 5 loads of laundry today..used different settings for all of them..and the old thermostat, old timer, and new thermal fuses all seem to work just fine..and the clothes were all dry and not overly hot..so I am going to play it by ear and hope it holds out.
Thanks again!
Lynn

 

[bengalbelle]

My Maytag dryer is 14 years old, and just had a service call. It was taking 3 hours to dry a load of towels.

I believe the correct temperature was around 160 (it will vary depending on how wet your clothes are too). Obviously my dryer is a different model than yours, but 200 degrees sounds high from the conversations with our repairman.

I was having problems with my clothes having damp spots and coming out really wrinkled, and I know they thought it might be overheating.

It turns out nothing was wrong with it . We changed the hose/duct on the back from plastic to metal and it's working much better now (we also pulled it farther away from the wall, but we'd tried that before the service call).

My husband found the service manual online using our model number. I'd try that and see if they have the correct temperature listed. Our guy gave us around $100 estimate for parts and labor to replace the thermostat. Personally, if I there was a chance my dryer was overheating, I wouldn't hesitate to spend that money for the peace of mind.

 

[golfgal]

Hopefully CatherineRose shows up-her husband repairs appliances (even long distance ). He will be able to help you if you wait a bit. Maybe find a post of her's and send her a PM?

 

[laurie31]

I just talked to my DH about your dryer. Here is his humble opinion:

Ours quit working a few months ago and he fixed it. He said he bought a pack that had two fuses and a thermostat for about $15; he thought you were supposed to replace the thermostat when you replaced the fuses, but he isn't sure if it's mandatory.

Anyway, he thought you should replace it to be on the safe side if it's getting too hot. Dyers are a major cause of house fires. You can do it yourself. The part shouldn't cost you $25. (the price the repair guy quoted included his profit. Which I understand we all have to make a living, but you can do this yourself, I promise!)

 

[ndelaware]

Why not call Maytag's customer service number?

 

[lynxstch]

I just talked to my DH about your dryer. Here is his humble opinion:

Ours quit working a few months ago and he fixed it. He said he bought a pack that had two fuses and a thermostat for about $15; he thought you were supposed to replace the thermostat when you replaced the fuses, but he isn't sure if it's mandatory.

Anyway, he thought you should replace it to be on the safe side if it's getting too hot. Dyers are a major cause of house fires. You can do it yourself. The part shouldn't cost you $25. (the price the repair guy quoted included his profit. Which I understand we all have to make a living, but you can do this yourself, I promise!)

the kit that the guy fixed my dryer with on Thurs..had 2 fuses in it..and the plastic 'block like' thing that they mounted in or on..there was another fuse..but he said it was for a gas dryer..I looked the thermostat up online I swear that the thermostat and the fuses look exactly alike?..lol.. and the cheapest I can find it is $19..so the guys's $23 wasn't too out of line.
I mentioned to my husband what your husband said, and I just finished ordering one online..we will put it in as soon as it arrives
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and their advice!