2 days ago, did some laundry, noticed that the inside of the dryer smells very strongly like something is burning. Took off the air vent, cleaned it out, ran it without it connected and it still smells. It does NOT smell when air dry is used which leads me to believe it’s related to the heating element.
I took the dryer apart, checked all over, cleaned the little amount of dust I found and there was/is none ON the burner itself that I can see. However as soon as the heat kicks the burning smell is almost instant.
Dryer is around 4 years old. Any suggestions on the next steps? I’d like to try to repair it myself if possible (obviously why I’m here). Any help is appreciated, thanks!
Very likely the dryer overheats due to an insufficient air flow. Have you removed the chute (#55 on the diagram) to clean it from lint and check the blower wheel?
Have you checked the burner funnel for a signs of burned lint?
Ok so after reading a bunch of posts about paint/chemicals in the house causing the smell, I didn’t think about it but the day before and the day that I did the first laundry I was using spray on grout sealer upstairs (dryer is the level below). While the smell wasn’t overbearing in the entire house I could smell it in the laundry area.
So tonight, days after the sealer was used, I did a few loads of test laundry and it seems to be getting better almost to the point where there’s no smell. I have the top off while doing the test loads to let lots of fresh air into the dryer.
So at the moment I believe that was the cause, as many others have said online - who thought they could be right.
Gene, #55 is the part where the exhaust vent connects to the back, right? If so I did clean a small amount of lint from there. Where is the blower wheel located?
