So you want to know how a gas dryer works? Well, you’ve come to the right place! We’re going to explain and give you some answers as well.
A gas dryer works by using a gas burner to heat air and then passing the heated air over the clothes that are inside the dryer’s drum. The heated air evaporates the moisture from the clothes and is then exhausted out of the dryer. The dryer will then shut off the gas burner and continue to blow the remaining warm air until the clothes are dry.
First of all, we find a gas dryer more energy efficient than an electric dryer. Someone may find this assumption wrong, which is why we are going to elaborate on our claim. When you’re trying to get the most out of your laundry, a gas dryer is a way to go.
You’ll find that a gas dryer has many benefits over an electric one, including:
- A faster drying time means less money spent on electricity and more time to do what you want!
- The ability to use less water than electric machines – saves money on both water costs and your utility bill overall.
- A lower emissions rate than electric machines (eco-friendly).
How actually does a gas dryer work?
While the exact way they work can vary by model, and other design details, most gas dryers are fueled by either natural or propane gas. They use a burner to heat up the air inside the dryer and a blower to circulate the air. In some models, the burner and blower are connected to a single unit, while in others they are separate. The drum rotates around an axis, tumbling your clothes as they’re heated and dried.
Let’s start with a quick overview of the process:
- Wet clothes go into the drum.
- The drum is heated by natural gas.
- As the clothes are tumbled, moisture evaporates from them and is vented out of the drum.
- Voila! Dry clothes.
Here’s a more detailed explanation
A gas dryer functions much like an electric dryer, except for one big difference: it uses gas instead of electricity to heat up its interior. Heat is still produced via an igniter (like a pilot light) and a burner assembly (which directs the gas flow). Once the heat is on, it’s applied to the incoming air via a heating element in an air chamber, which then moves through an air duct into the dryer drum. As this hot air moves around inside your dryer, it absorbs moisture from your laundry and carries it outside through your exhaust vent, while drying your clothes simultaneously.
Gas Dryer – All About
The first, and most important part of a dryer is the drum. The big round thing that the clothes tumble around in is called a drum. It’s made from stainless steel and is held in place by two or three glides or bearings that are attached to the inside of the cabinet. The drum itself has a small gap between it and the cabinet wall to allow for airflow.
As you may remember from science class, air expands when heated and contracts when cooled. This is exactly what happens once the drum is turning around. In order for heat to make its way into the dryer, there has to be an outside source of energy, which is where the heating element comes in. This part of your dryer is responsible for producing hot air and then sending it through the drum and pushing it out of vents that are located at the back of your appliance.
The motor’s job is simple: it turns on the drum so that tumbling will occur and create airflow. The motor itself won’t spin unless you turn on your dryer and choose a drying cycle – program.
Gas dryer problems and how to resolve them?
If you have ever tried to dry your clothes with a gas dryer, then you know that there is nothing more frustrating than not getting the result you want. The clothes do not dry properly and they feel almost wet even when they are obviously dry. This is because the heat generated by the dryer does not get distributed evenly throughout an entire load of clothes.
There are many reasons why this happens but one of them is that the heat generated by gas-powered dryers tends to be very uneven. There are also other factors that can affect how well your laundry dries in a gas-powered dryer, such as if it has been used before or if there is an obstruction blocking some parts of it from receiving adequate heat exposure.
In addition, these types of machines tend to be bulky and heavy which makes them difficult to move around when needed. This may cause them to break down easily since they will face more wear and tear than other types of appliances such as electric ones which do not move around often enough for this type of problem to arise often enough for anyone who uses them frequently enough to notice any problems until after they’ve already occurred.
Four Most Searched Questions About Gas Dryers
Gas dryers are a more efficient alternative to electric dryers, which promise faster drying times, less use of water, and lower energy utilization. They use either propane or natural gas to heat up and circulate air. In some models, the blower and burner are separate, while in others, they are connected as a single unit. In a gas dryer, a drum rotates and tumbles to heat up and dry your clothes.
The basic principle of gas and electric dryers are generally similar, but one uses gas and another uses electricity to generate heat. In gas dryers, the burner assembly has a pilot light (igniter) and a module that directs gas flow. As the hot, dry air circulates inside and vents out of the dryer, moisture is removed from your laundry. Despite being relatively simple in terms of operations, there are common issues that may prevent your gas dryer from working properly.
After making sure that your dryer is plugged properly, check your fuse box, to see if a breaker has tripped. A common cause of a non-working dryer is a faulty temperature switch. If you have the tool and experience, use a multimeter to check the temperature switch’s terminals. If the reading on your multimeter is infinite or zero, the temperature switch is still working properly. You also need to do the same thing with the thermostat, start the switch or terminal block. If you are not comfortable, you may ask an electrician to check and replace any faulty components.
If the drum isn’t spinning, but the motor is still running, it is most likely caused by a broken belt. Be sure to get an identical belt from the manufacturer. After removing the old belt, look for markings on the drum. Align the new belt with the marking. Wind it around the idler and motor pulleys. If the roller becomes too worn out, you need to replace it as well. You can find the roller directly underneath the tumbler. Be sure to get an original tumbler from the manufacturer and you need to unscrew the front panel. Take the worn-out tumbler out, by removing the retaining clips, then replace it with a brand-new tumbler. A more serious problem is if you have a faulty motor. You need to call a technician because replacing a motor is more complicated to do.
If the drum spins and there’s no heat, it could also be caused by a faulty temperature switch, heating element, thermostat, or timer. If you have the tool and experience, you can check these components one at a time with a multimeter. If you are unsure, it is better to ask a technician to do the task for you.
It’s a potentially dangerous situation to let your dryer overheats. Before checking the condition of your dryer, be sure to let it completely cool. A common cause for this problem is a clogged vent and you need to check whether there’s lint build-up. A combination of high temperature, dry air, and flammable lint can be a potential fire hazard. Faulty heating coils and thermostats may also cause your dryer to overheat.
Better clothes-drying results
If you want to optimize your drying experience—both for gas and electric dryers—there are a few things you can do:
First off, don’t overload your machine: Overloading prevents proper circulation of hot air inside and prevents moisture to go out.
Make sure you keep your dryer clean: It is important to periodically clean the dryer. Dirt in the dryer system due to product buildup often results in increased operating temperatures.
Optimize heating system efficiency: It is important that the heating system operates as efficiently as possible. Make sure that the heat exchange system is free of debris. Regular maintenance ensures that the burner is set up properly and working as efficiently as possible.
Conclusion
If you regularly use the gas dryer to dry your clothes, it can be frustrating if your appliance is malfunctioning and the above issues may prevent you from getting the expected results. If your dryer doesn’t run at all, the drum doesn’t spin, it stays cold or it overheats, this could be caused by single or multiple reasons. Your clothes may still feel damp if your dryer doesn’t work properly. If some of the clothes remain damp, while others are dry, it means that hot air doesn’t circulate properly throughout your load of clothes.
Proper use of a gas dryer will not only give you optimum results, but it will assure its longevity. If you want to dry something heavy or bulky, like a winter coat, bed cover, or curtain, be sure to not overload the dryer. If the interior of your dryer is tightly packed with clothes, hot air won’t move around them. The belt, tumbler, and motor may wear out quickly if you constantly overload the gas dryer.
It should be part of the regular maintenance to clean the lint filter. You should do this once each week to prevent possible clogging. You may need to clean the filter more frequently if you regularly dry cotton clothes and bath towels. Dry lint is highly combustible, which poses a serious fire hazard. If hot air can’t circulate properly due to a clogged filter, the interior of your dryer will be too hot, which will raise the risk of fire. The exhaust vent can also be clogged by cotton lint, dead insects, or dirt, so you need to check it as well. Your average gas dryer usually lasts for around 10 years if maintained and used properly. It’s normal for some components to wear out before the expected lifespan of your dryer. Be sure to replace them immediately, before the problem escalates and affects other components.