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Will heating work if one out of six coils is broken???
Rank: Member
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Joined: 1/22/2009(UTC)
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Thanks to Denman and his advice in my other thread, as well much other info from links up here, I was able to take my Maytag apart and remove the heating element "thing". I think the whole thing I took out is called a "Heater sub-assembly".
Inside that thing are 6 coils, arranged in 2 columns of 3 coils, with a metal plate of some in between the 2 sets of 3 coils.
I can see that one of the coils is completely broken, and also the metal plate in the middle is warped and broken in places.
Obviously this is not good and should be replaced but since I don't really know what I am doing here I would like to ask - would this even work like this??? I don't want to replace this and put everything back together only to find that it would have worked as is and that this is not the actual problem that I am trying to diagnose & fix (the problem is that my dryer runs but it does not heat up at all).
So #1 I'd really appreciate it if anyone could tell me for sure that the way this is my dryer would will not heat up, therefore my replacing this it (should) be all I need to do, or do I need to keep looking/diagnosing????
THANKS!!!
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 8/13/2008(UTC)
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The heater sub assembly needs to be replaced, part link Heater sub-assembly that should be all you need. But you may want to check all the thermostats for continuity just to be sure. Here's the parts breakdown: Model LDE8420ACWNat
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/22/2009(UTC)
Posts: 6
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THANKS!! I got a new one locally today, and the dryer is working again!!!!
I notice it smells very much like it is burning electronics though, but I think that is the new elements getting burned in - yes??
I discovered a bigger problem though now. I decided to check my vent line behind my drywall (i have a finished basement), to see how hard it would be to replace the current crappy vinyl line with a better metal one after reading so much how it the vinyl ones are considered bad. And to my shock and dismay, I discovered that my line is not even $*%&ing attached to the outside vent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The line is just coiled up in a heap at the other side of the drywall, about 12 feet under where it is supposed to be hooked up to the outside. I've been running it like this for god knows how long.
And now I have a BIGGGGGG problem. The only access I have behind the drywall is about a 3 foot square "window" which is on the wall perpendicular to the dryer. It was poking my head in there that I could see the problem. I have no good way to attach a ventline back up at the top which is like 12 feet higher than where I am down here. At least not that I know of.
I am going to call some friends with more building experience/handyman etc than I for ideas but it looks like the drywall will have to be cut out, a new line put in, then patch the drywall. Crap. I have no tools or experience with how to do any of this and can only imagine what the bill for this is going to be (after I even figure out who can do this kind of thing).
On the bright side at least I fixed my dryer & saved a couple hundred bucks on that (I think).
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Rank: Advanced Member
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It is hard to visualize your vent system but should not be a huge problem to redo it.
One thing to check is that you can remove the vent louvers or vent itself from the outside of the house leaving your vent piping in tact. That way if you get a plug in the future it will be easy to get at from the top. Many vents do not allow just the removal of the outside piece without pulling the vent out of the wall, not a good thing.
I would use round solid metal ducting to bring the vent down. Although not recommended I would screw the duct sections together. Tape will eventually fail, dry out. Use short screws that will not stick into the duct too far OR install the screws then remove them cut the ends off to shorten them and then reinstall them. You do not want them sticking too far into the duct as they will collect/hold lint.
You will probably have to install a couple support straps to hold the ducting up, 12 feet is a fair amount of weight.
If you can use metal ducting all the way to the back of the dryer.
The plastic is not recommended because of a fire hazard but the expandable metal dryer ducting is a pain every time you touch it it wants to split/rip.
Here is how I have hooked mine up. I come out of the exhaust with a 90 then go straight up past the top of the dryer with a 4 foot section of metal ducting. This I have attached to the dryer with a strap using a screw on the back of the dryer. Then I attach this to my venting system. That way if I want to work on the dryer it is easy to remove it from the vent system since it is out where I can get to it. I hate crawling around on the floor trying to reach behind a machine.
I do have a short piece (about a foot) of plastic duct tubing between my jiggery pokeried dryer vent and the actual vent pipe. This lets it vibrate without making a lot of noise or shaking my vent system too much. Also makes it easier getting the two aligned and reconnected. I guess I should change this to expandible metal one of these days!!
Hope you find the above useful and congrats on the dryer repair. |
THIS FORUM IS DEAD!!!!!!! |
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/22/2009(UTC)
Posts: 6
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Thanks for all your helpful advice Denman.
I am in the process of trying to rig up some new vent tubing. I have nothing connected to the outside now (it fell down 12 feet to the level of the dryer). I took off the outside piece (which was pretty mangled up anyways and always stuck open) and bought a new one. I have gathered up the old vinyl crap tubing that was lying in a curled heap behind my drywall (it was pretty gunked up with lint anyways) and am throwing it out.
For the new venting I cannot use rigid metal tubing unless I tear down my drywall ceiling or walls in order to be able to rig it up. What I am trying to do now is use the approach of flexible metal tubing dropped down from my outside venthole. That will be the least pain/work for me.
My hurdle now though is that although my outside hole is 4.5inches, and the new tubing is "4 inches" which I assumed I could fit through the hole going from outside to inside, the tubing does NOT fit through the hole. Turns out the INSIDE diameter of the tubing is 4 inches - the freaking OUTSIDE diameter is roughly 4.5 inches, thus I can't squeeze it through the existing hole. And to make it even more complicated, I see there is a copper plumbing pipe running right behind the vent hole making it a tight fit clearance wise. But I think I can get around that pipe.
I am now trying to find a friend who has some kind of saw that will let me increase the outside hole, or figure out what the right equipment is that I need and rent or buy something (I have nothing to do this). Jesus Christ, it seems like the hurdles never end....at least the dryer works again, but I still can't do my laundry yet! Getting closer though (I think).
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Will heating work if one out of six coils is broken???
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