Why doesn't this darn dryer work better?

[MikeP]

That's a question I (we) have asked since we have had our 53. The dryer IS a 240VAC unit so even though it's small, it should be able to dry a load in a reasonable time. If you throw a load of towels in it, it takes 90+ minutes and MAY not be dry even then.

Well, today I decided to look into this a bit. I discovered that there was very little air coming from the dryer hose clamshell cover. So I checked the dryer. I found quite a bit of lint jammed into the output section of the dryer, after the filter. AHA! I cleaned that out and turned it on. Went outside - no difference, very little airflow. I couldn't see anything obstructing the hose at the clamshell end but, due to the angle of the clamshell opening, I couldn't see more than maybe 1" up the hose itself.

I took off the clamshell. Starting about 3 inches into the hose there was what appeared to be a bird's nest that, as I found out, occupied more than two feet of the hose. I pulled out the nest and as much as the packed up lint behind it that I could reach. Then I took a coat hanger, turned the dryer on, and "rodded out" the hose. Huge clumps of lint came sailing out for several minutes and I finally got a nice strong airflow.

I then washed some towels, and through them in the dryer. What used to take over 90 minutes took 15!

I have no idea how long the hose has been plugged but I'm betting it's been that way for years. I never paid any attention to the drier's poor performance because I had read several accounts about how bad those dryers were so I just ASSUMED it was acting normally. But now it appears to me that maybe all the ones people complain about have birds nests in the hoses as well!

One of the head exhaust vent hoses had a small nest in it as well.

I think from now on when I'm not on the boat I will be stuffing some foam or something in each of those clamshell openings...

 

[RT46]

i am told by my fireman friend that lint in dryer vents causes a large number of house fires.

I check my house lint vent regularly,

I never realized to check my boat dryer for lint until now.

thanks for making me aware of this

 

[krush]

Your way is too methodical. I say use this:

 

[MikeP]

That looks really cool - I should buy one just for the look...what the heck is it?

 

[davidwigler]

What a great idea. I have been unable to use the dryer because the vent is plugged and I dreaded pulling the unit out to reach the vent. Saturday I'll try removing the clamshell!

 

[bobk]

Guys, I think I posted this before, but you can buy a dryer vent brush with a very long flexible handle (like 8-10 feet). Turn the dryer on to air or fluff and start from the outside with the brush after removing what you can behind the dryer. This has become an annual chore and loads of lint comes out. I don't even have to remove the clam shell to do it. The problem on my boat is too many 90 degree turns in the vent hose.

Bobk

 

[Robby]

That looks really cool - I should buy one just for the look...what the heck is it?

A tool I use everyday doing lawns.A backpack Blower!

 

[krush]

A tool I use everyday doing lawns.A backpack Blower!

That one is a really powerful backpack blower. It will blow you backwards if you don't have a good footing!

 

[TopHattandTails]

That one is a really powerful backpack blower. It will blow you backwards if you don't have a good footing!

Or a turbo? Just aim it off the stern, wind her up and let it rip - extra knot and a half! I've also heard the new Fusion stereo's can get you another half knot when played real loud!

 

[davidwigler]

Wow, I removed the clamshell and found the hose completely plugged with birdnest. Thanks for the suggestion. Now I can do laundry.

If we could get the washer to spin dry better all would be well. The load is sopping wet after the spin.

 

[MikeP]

Great. Only thing that concerns me is that if I (or you) destroyed a nest of some endangered bird, we could be in big trouble if we were caught on video!

I am off the boat now and headed back to Mexico (I'll try to avoid the food court in terminal 2) but one thing I added to my "Extended Absence" check list was "plug camshells" and then a list of each one - dryer vent, port eng room blower, etc. - and a place for a check mark. No more nests in my vents!!!!

 

[GaryNW]

I had never thought about why my house has a "flapper"-i.e. check valve on the dryer vent. I'm sure our building codes require it- my house has nothing codes do not require. Guess I thought the birds would be happy enough with all the shit in the gutters. Might be time to figure out how to build a "flapper" suitable for boat vents.
Gary

 

[MikeP]

Probably the same flapper valve would work - might look a bit "Okie" as the Admiral might say (apologies to anyone from Oklahoma).