DIY tumble dryer repairs advice - continued

Can I fix my own tumble dryer?: Some people can, and some people shouldn't even try. It depends on your competence, and understanding of electricity - especially DIY safety issues. Many tumble dryer breakdowns though are not serious, and can be repaired - if you just know what to do.

You must be aware that electricity can and does kill - even qualified engineers. Never work on an appliance that is not totally unplugged. DIY repair safety and tips The following tumble dryer repair help contains general advice only. It may help to solve some basic tumble dryer faults that don't require an engineer, or to give an idea of how serious a fault may actually be. Never work on a tumble dryer that is still plugged in! Using this advice is at your own risk.

Common tumble dryer faults (continued)

• Tumble dryer smells of burning
• I get electric shocks from the tumble dryer

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Tumble dryer smells of burning

Tumble dryers can and do cause house fires. Other appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers can cause fires too. ( Fire safety advice for domestic appliances ). Don't leave them to run totally unattended such as while everyone is out, or in bed. If your appliances are in a separate utility room away from the kitchen, always install a smoke alarm in the room. House fires caused by tumble dryers will not always be preceded by a burning smell, conversely, a burning smell is not always an indication of a pending fire incident. It should go without saying though that any burning smell should never be ignored.

A smell of burning could be electrical, or it could be caused by fluff inside scourching or even catching fire. Some tumble dryers have their heating element at the back (Many Hotpoint and Indesit dryers for example) and it's accessible from behind the back panel. if so, excess fluff can be vacuumed out. Some fluff can be vacuumed out by taking the lid off but care must be taken not to damage anything or knock any wires off with the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner - Always unplug the dryer before looking inside!

Build up of fluff and lint inside a tumble dryer can cause a fire hazard

Make sure you always regularly clean any filters - after each use if possible - and replace any filters that are torn or warped. A worn or damaged filter allows fluff inside the dryer, which accumulates inside the motor and around the heating elements. I've seen many cases where there is an inch deep blanket of dry fluff in the bottom of dryers and fluff stuffed in every part of the dryer. This is a fire hazard (see picture below)

With vented tumble dryers, always make sure the vent hose is not kinked, and make sure the vent hose goes is as straight as possible. It's important that one doesn't just vent outside to an open hole. It should be fitted to a grill with one way flaps that prevent air and fluff being blown back inside the dryer. If you are just hanging the hose out of a window then let the end hang down from the window pointing to the ground. This will lessen the chance of any strong winds hindering the venting of the humid air or blowing fluff back into the dryer.

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I get electric shocks from the tumble dryer

Obviously this should never be ignored and is another very serious fault . The reason you get shocks from a tumble dryer is because it is not earthed. If the plug is moulded on you won't be able to physically check the plug, if not, check the plug to make sure the green and yellow earth wire is connected securely. If it is OK, then either the mains cable could have a break in the earth lead and needs replacing, or it may not be earthed inside the dryer at the other end of the yellow and green lead. The latter of these is very unlikely though and both can be checked with a continuity test meter. However, the most common explanation for getting shocks from a tumble dryer is a faulty earth in the wall socket or a fault in an extension cable. I have even come across machines plugged into extension cables that are using 2 core cable (only a live and neutral) instead of 13 Amp 3 core cable

Getting shocks from a tumble dryer is obviously very serious but I have known many people ignore them. The shocks are often mild or just tingles because they are caused by small amounts of electricity leaking through to the disconnected earth wire and running through the casing. This is probably why they aren't taken too seriously, but the shocks indicate that the tumble dryer is not earthed. This means that if a component inside the machine's insulation breaks down, or a live wire comes adrift and touches the metal parts inside, then the low voltage current will be replaced by the full mains voltage and can kill. Without a path to earth, the tumble dryer cannot blow the fuse and instead will just work as normal - but be lethal.

Obviously call an engineer if the fault is not found in the plug. Try another socket though first because if it turns out to be the wall socket at fault, then you need an electrician - not a tumble dryer engineer and in my experience, the fault is often found in the wall socket.