why is my dryer taking longer than usual to dry clothes?
a dryer has more work to do when laundry starts very wet or air cannot move freely. check the washer spin, load size and lint filters before looking for an internal fault.
use a spin speed suitable for the fabric and avoid exceeding the chosen drying programme's capacity. separate heavy and light items when their drying needs differ. after the normal cool-down, isolate power and clean all lint screens shown in the manual.
the linked guides separate lint care, load or sensor checks and model-specific condenser or secondary-filter maintenance. a conventional removable condenser is not a template for cleaning a fixed heat-pump exchanger. do not open internal ducts, probe fins or wash a part unless instructed.
if drying stays slow with a suitable load and correct maintenance, arrange assessment. report what changed and which programme was used. a burning smell, damaged filter or recurring warning is a stop condition, not a reason to run longer cycles.
possible causes
- lint is restricting airflow
- the condenser or secondary filter needs cleaning
- the load is too large or was not spun well enough
solutions
- how to clean and refit a tumble dryer lint filterremove lint from every screen shown in the cleaning instructions and inspect the mesh. wash only if permitted, and dry washed screens fully before refitting.
- how to check dryer condenser care and clean a washable foam filteridentify whether the dryer has a removable condenser, washable foam filter or fixed exchanger. only a filter explicitly marked washable should be rinsed.
- how to prepare a tumble dryer load and check moisture-sensor careseparate heavy fabrics from light clothing and stay within the selected programme's capacity. clean sensor strips only where the manual identifies them for owner care.
diy warning
working on appliances can involve mains electricity, water and moving parts. always disconnect power and water before you start. in Australia, gas work must be done by a licensed gasfitter, and fixed (hard-wired) electrical work by a licensed electrician. everything on this site is guidance only, and any repair you carry out is at your own risk. we are not responsible for any damage or injury caused by attempting a repair. if you are not confident, please use a qualified technician.
