The best care for an older dryer is clean airflow and a dry, ventilated room. Houston heat and moisture are hard on wiring, belts and sensors, so small habits matter more here than in drier climates.
Every Load
- Clean the lint filter.
- Leave the door open a little after the last load so the drum dries out.
Every Few Months
- Wash the lint filter in warm soapy water, then dry it fully. A film from softener sheets can clog it.
- Vacuum the filter housing and the area around the door.
- Confirm the machine is level and that nothing has squashed the vent hose behind it.
Once a Year
Clean the entire vent from the dryer to the outside wall. If the vent is long, do it more often. Wipe moisture sensor bars inside the drum with a cloth and rubbing alcohol, since a film on them makes the dryer misread dampness and stop early.
What Care Cannot Prevent
Belts, rollers and heating parts wear with use regardless of how well a machine is kept. At 10 to 20 years, a squeal, a thump or a slow loss of heat can show up. We test it, put the cost in writing before any work, and say so if the machine has reached the point where fixing it no longer pays.
See our dryer repair page for the repairs we handle.
Try not to leave baskets of damp laundry sitting in the room. Small habits add up, and a dryer that is 15 years old and kept clean can easily outlast a newer one that was ignored.
When the dryer starts acting up, call us or fill out the online form to book a visit.