DIY- Fixing the Dryer

We are well aware of that fact that our washer and dryer are on the way out. The hubs and I bought them when we got married and we'll be celebrating our 15th anniversary next month. The set has seen better days but have just kept on working. Well good enough anyway. We're planning on replacing them in a couple of months so of course that's why Friday night our dryer started making a horrible sound.

My oldest had put a load of his wash in the dryer and a horrible clanking sound ensued. The laundry room shares a wall with my bedroom and it was LOUD! It was night time and the younger two children complained that they couldn't sleep with all the racket. I went in and opened the dryer. His load was a light load- mostly socks and undies. No Jeans. No Shoes. Nothing that would make a racket. It was still hot and had been turning like it is supposed to. I didn't smell anything burning so I decided that his load would finish drying and I would assess the situation in the morning. 

Saturday morning I gathered up a few tools and got to work. You see, I'm the fixit person in this family. Oh the hubs does a lot too- yard equipment, cars, etc. But if it's in the house I usually take a crack at it first. (I fixed the washer when it wasn't draining a couple years ago). And the hubs was working so it was the perfect time to get this figured out.

Our laundry room is a small little closet. The washer and dryer squeeze in with only a few inches to spare. I managed to shift the dryer to the front of the room so I could climb on the washer and swing myself over to get behind the dryer. I armed myself with the vacuum knowing there would be lots of dusty lint to get rid of.

I unplugged the dryer and got to work with the drill unscrewing the back cover. Much to my surprise there wasn't a whole lot back there. Some electrical wires and the casing for the lint trap. So I got to work reattaching the back cover. Unfortunately while trying to get it into the clips it slipped and cut my finger. Not too bad, no stitches or anything, but definitely unpleasant. Oh well, only the best jobs leave battle wounds. 

At this point I decided to do some searching on the internet. I searched "My dryer is making a clanking noise". The hubs laughed at my search when I told him about it and was shocked when I told him there were tons of results. The best sounding suggestion was that one of the wheels that rolls the drum had worn out and broke. Luckily there was a good chance I could buy the replacement part and fix it myself. I just needed to get to the broken piece for the removal and replacement. 

Another quick search on the web and I was able to find a YouTube video showing me how to take apart the front of the dryer. Out came the power tools again and before you know it I had the top off. A couple of minutes later I was removing the front.

As I was taking the front off I saw some clothing. It was then that I realized that my son hadn't taken his laundry out of the dryer. And of course, I hadn't even bothered to check. 

I quickly grabbed a basket and removed his clothes. The site of my dismembered dryer above- with one little exception....

As I removed his clothes I made a discovery. His pocket knife lay at the bottom of the dryer. Guess what was making all that clanking noise the night before? That's right, the pocket knife.

What makes the story even better is that fact that I spent a good hour taking apart the dryer, battle wounds and all, and had I just checked inside and emptied the clothes first I would've found the culprit right off the bat. 

And that folks, is how I spent my Saturday. Go ahead and laugh, I've been laughing ever since I found the knife. I've also been saying "thank you" prayers because we cannot live without a dryer and can't buy a new one yet. 

I haven't hung up my tool belt for good. In fact, it's been brought to my attention that the agitator in the washer isn't working too well. Stay tuned for that story. :o)

HAPPY FIXING!