When you stuff too many clothes into your dryer, they can't tumble freely. The result is a longer drying time and more wrinkles in your shirts, pants, sheets, and other types of laundry. More clothes in the dryer means more lint, which builds up in the lint trap.
If you frequently overload your dryer, it could cause long-term damage to the appliance. The dryer motor has to work harder when the tumbler is overloaded, which can cause it to burn out. Other parts of the dryer, such as the mechanical bearings, may also wear out more quickly with regular overloading.
To determine if you've overloaded a clothes dryer, look for the following signs: Drying Performance: If clothes are still damp or take longer than usual to dry, it may indicate an overload. Noise: An overloaded dryer may produce unusual noises, such as banging or thumping, as clothes struggle to tumble freely.
There have also been various fires reported where the person had overloaded the dryer with too much clothing or bedding materials. The overloaded dryer could not move air through the drum causing it to overheat and begin to burn.
To prevent this problem, the dryer should never be more than 3/4 full. Also, your clothes will not dry properly if there are too few items in the dryer. At least 3 to 5 items are recommended and will ensure the sensors in your dryer can properly detect the laundry's dry level if you're running a Sensor Dry cycle.
Understanding how washers and dryers work can help you see why overloading them is a bad idea. These machines are designed with specific mechanisms to efficiently clean and dry your clothes. When overloaded, these mechanisms can't function properly, leading to subpar performance and potential damage.
When your dryer is overloaded, it can't work efficiently. Your load of laundry will take much longer to dry. When you pack in too many clothes, towels and sheets, your dryer has to work harder to get them dry. Trying to do its job, the motor of your expensive dryer can overheat and eventually burn out.
Dryer is getting hotter than usual, along with your clothes. Burning smell – When lint builds up in the dryer vents, a fire could start soon after.
Filling the drum just over half way is a good rule of thumb to follow. Keeping the lint filter clean is key to good drying performance, and we're firm believers of getting into the habit of cleaning it after every load. Give the lint filter a quick check after you put a new load in, just to be sure.
To prevent overloading, the dryer should never be more than 3/4 full.
The Risks of Overloading Your Washing Machine
A burned-out motor can be expensive to repair or may even require replacement. Drum Imbalance: When too many clothes are stuffed inside, the load becomes uneven, causing the drum to wobble and vibrate excessively.
The high limit thermostat can be found in gas and electric dryers and serves as a safety feature that helps to prevent the dryer from becoming too hot when it's running. The thermostat is designed to shut off power to the dryer's heater when the dryer vent is blocked or clogged.
Overloading the dryer with too many clothes can cause it to stop working, as it may become unbalanced or overheated. Filling your unit with too many clothes can also strain the drum and motor, which can cause additional dryer issues in the future.
Common causes of a burning smell from a dryer include lint buildup or a failing thermostat, motor, or belt. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, appliances and electronics start 24,200 house fires yearly. About a third of fires related to dryers are caused by excess lint buildup, so it's time to investigate.
The high-limit thermostat, or thermal fuse, is a safety feature that's designed to trip whenever the dryer reaches a dangerous temperature. Once the thermal fuse reaches its threshold, it will turn off the heating element or dryer.
Motors are susceptible to burning out, as they use gears that run in high revolutions per minute. The heat generated by the unit plus the heat due to friction can cause this. Also, motors can have their wires severed eventually depending on the age of the dryer's parts. Replacing the motor should do the trick.
Overloading will put a strain on the dryer motor. If regularly made to overwork, the motor can burn out prematurely or explode, causing your repair bills to blow up as well.
As a general guideline, you can usually stack any washer and dryer if the width and depth measurements are equal, or if the washer's footprint is larger than the dryer's. Unfortunately, you can't stack a bigger dryer on top of a smaller washer – it's just physics! Imagine a set of children's building blocks.
A good rule of thumb is to fill the drum just over halfway, as this will allow your laundry to move freely and dry effectively. Don't be tempted to leave your laundry in your dryer. Functions like 'crease care' periodically rotate the drum after the cycle has finished, preventing your washing from creasing.
Lint is the leading cause of dryer fires. It's highly flammable, and it's everywhere. Lint naturally accumulates in your dryer and dryer exhaust system. This buildup makes the dryer work harder for each load and the lint can work its way into the heating element, which is bad news.
It is not recommended to leave a dryer running at night or when you are not at home. The risks of fire and overheating are too high, even though it does not happen very often. It is always better to be present when using household appliances that could pose a potential risk.
If your machine is overloaded, it can force small items down the drainage line. As annoying as those things are, overloading can also damage your washer. When that mountain of laundry gets wet, the extra weight can damage the components and strain the motor to the point that it might need a repair.
Don't stop the dryer mid cycle. It is possible that heat can continue to build in the drum and lead the clothes to ignite. This can occur several hours after the dryer has been stopped.