Dryer mystery...

[RShack]

This has me stumped...
We've got 3 electric clothes dryers in a laundry room (doing a B&B at the beach means lots of both sheets and towels). They range in age from a couple years to a dozen years, and they all work fine... except for one thing that abruptly began simultaneously on all three of them a month and a half ago. After using them, there is often (not always, but often) very damp lint in the lint filter and even a puddle of water in the bottom the drum. Not all the time. The problem comes and goes.
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This started with all three when there was a stout storm with wind blowing hard, and I figured that maybe we were using the machines, so the little trap-doors on the exterior wall were open, and a bunch of rain got blown in. Seems kinda far-fetched, but I thought, well, what else could it be?
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But then it kept happening long after the rainy windy storm was gone. So, I figured maybe the rainy event made lint balls inside the vent-duct all wet, and it would just take some use to dry out. Seems kinda far-fetched, but I thought, well, what else could it be?
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But then it kept happening long after usage would have dried stuff out. So, then I figured maybe the vent hoses are clogged up with years of lint-balls, so the moisture from the clothes drying just isn't getting out. Seemed kinda far fetched, especially since it happened to all 3 machines at the exact same time, but I thought, well, what else could it be?
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So, I undid all 3 dryer vent duct-hoses and looked. While there was a fair amount of linty stuff lining the walls of the flexible duct, they weren't at all blocked up. When I straightened them out, I could see right through from one end to the other. I was kinda hoping I would find massive lint-blockages, but I didn't.
So now I don 't know what the hell to think.

I haven't hooked them back up to see if getting the vent lint off the side of vent-duct does the trick. In order to do that, I need stuff from the store that I don't have. Plus, it's a pain to move all the washers and dryers around to where I can get to everything, so I'd rather not hook them up if I'm gonna have to turn around and take everything apart again. So, I wish I knew what the hell is going on, but I don't.

At the moment, I figure it's one of two things:
1. Maybe the vent-duct didn't have to be all clogged up to make this happen. Maybe just having linty stuff lining the walls is somehow enough to keep moisture from getting out. And, now that I've gotten most of the linty stuff off the vent duct walls, then it will work right. In one of the hoses, a lot more came out than I thought was in there from looking. But on the other hand, the shortest-and-newest of the 3 vent-duct hoses had almost none.
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2. Maybe the water is not dryer moisture that's trapped in there, maybe the water is coming from outside, or from the wall somehow. But how would it travel back to the dryer and climb up to get inside the machines? Plus, the wall connections are spread out over about 9 feet of wall, so it would mean that water was somehow effecting a span of 9 feet of wall the same way. I looked at the walls, both inside and out, and there's no sign that they've been wet. But when I disconnected the vent-duct from the wall, the lint at the far end was kinda cool and damp-ish. Makes sense that it would be cool, not sure about the damp-ish part.
So, anyway, I'm stumped. I'm guessing the water is moisture that's not getting out, not water from elsewhere that's getting in. But why all the sudden on 3 machines at once?

Anybody know anything about this? Anybody got any ideas?

[weams]

I think you have fixed the problem. Unless the flaps got bent in the storm and no longer open properly or the heating element warlock made all three of them go dim at the same time.

[Miller192]

I don't know if we've had the same problem but I had water in my dryer before.

It was brand new and still under waranty. I called the store where I bought it and they sent a repairmen out.

Apparently, the outside vent wasn't closing properly and rain water got in. It wasn't much but it got trapped and caused condensation to form in the line. My lint vent was soaked after I ran the dryer.

The mechanic cleaned the vent and ran the dryer for two cycles with no clothes in it and on high heat. Haven't had a problem since.

Give that a shot.

[weams]

So. How did it turn out?

[RShack]

So. How did it turn out?
Not sure yet...

[Left Field]

Rshack,

Sorry that I just saw this thread 2day....

I had the same problem with my dryer a few years back. I think you are on the right track about the issue being with the vents/pipe. However, I would be shocked if it was caused by outside rain water. My dryer has a 4' flexible hose running from the dryer to the wall. At the wall, the hose is clamped to standard PVC and runs for another 10' or so through the wall.... The repairman told me that the lint was lining the inside of my PVC not unlike plaque in peoples arteries. When you dry clothes, the flexible hose and and the part of the PVC nearest your dryer will effectively dry out, but farther down the track the moisture overcomes the heat put out by the dryer. This moisture will back up into the dryer causing the moist clothing as well as possible water in the drum. Just like your issue, he said that this issue arises most when drying heavy large items that we tend to jam in the dryer (towels.) I have a pool so we go through a lot of towels and this issue occurred in the summer.)

Here is what I was told to fix it. First, you need to determine if you have a straight run from your dryer hookup to the outside cap and vent. Also, if that run is under 10ft or so your in even better shape. Use any type of long pole(I have heard people using 2X4's) and "rake" out the PVC as best you can. You may have to affix a rag or cloth to the end to help get out all the lint.

If you have what I have which is a couple of bends in the PVC on its way outta the house, it's a little more involved but still easy. I got as much out from each end of the PVC pipe as I could reach and then took a leaf blower and inserted it into the dryer side of the vent pipe. I then had someone else stand outside in front of the outside vent and hold the leaf bag that came with my leaf blower over it. This bag is good because it allows air to flow through a bit. Most of the lint that comes flying out will be in the bag and not on the ground. Do this a couple of times to ensure you get most of it out.

The last thing you should do in both instances is to run your dryer once or twice with nothing in it to get dry heat to go through the vent. I wouldn't recommend doing this a lot, but once or twice will be okay.

Finally, you're just going to have to watch the amount of towels that get dried. Once I did all of the above, I have not had a problem for 3+ years..


Hope this helps and good luck.

[Malike]

I can't help with this particular mystery. But I have one as well. Everytime I wash my socks, I'm always missing one from the pair, every single time. I swear, I think I have an evil Gremlin, or Dwarf lurking about my basement.

[RShack]

So. How did it turn out?
It fixed it...

[weams]

It fixed it...So glad to hear.