Why Is My Dryer Taking So Long? Lint, Venting, and Ottawa Winters

Start with the lint trap

Clean the lint screen before every load. Once a month, wash it with warm soapy water: dryer sheets leave a waxy film that blocks airflow even when the screen looks clean. Hold it under the tap; if water pools on top instead of flowing through, it needs a scrub.

Check the vent hose and outside hood

Pull the dryer out and look at the vent hose. Crushed or kinked foil ducting dramatically reduces airflow. Rigid or semi-rigid metal duct is the safer choice. Then go outside and run the dryer: you should feel a strong stream of warm air at the exterior hood.

In Ottawa winters, the exterior flap can freeze shut or get buried under snow banks. Keep the hood clear after every storm, and check that bird or wasp nests haven't blocked it in the summer.

Don't overload it

Clothes need room to tumble. An overstuffed drum dries slowly and unevenly. Also make sure the washer's spin cycle is working properly: if clothes come out of the washer dripping, the dryer is being asked to do the washer's job.

Signs of a failed part

• The drum turns but there's no heat at all: often a heating element, thermal fuse, or (on gas dryers) an igniter or gas valve coil.
• The dryer stops partway through a cycle: frequently a thermal fuse or an overheating issue caused by blocked venting.
• Squealing, thumping, or grinding: worn drum rollers, idler pulley, or belt.
• The dryer won't start at all: door switch, start switch, or a blown thermal fuse.

A note on thermal fuses

A thermal fuse is a safety device that blows when the dryer overheats. Replacing it without fixing the blocked vent that caused it means the new one will blow too, or worse. If your thermal fuse has failed, have the venting inspected at the same time.

When to book a repair

If you've cleaned the lint screen, confirmed strong airflow outside, and the dryer still runs cool or takes multiple cycles, it's time for a diagnosis. Gas dryers in particular should only be serviced by a qualified technician.