From a group home we service, extremely poor washing habits resulted in clogging the lint filter housing and causing the heating element to set fire to the lint in the shroud behind the drum, then clothing and plastic drum baffles.
3 YO GE Dryer Catches Fire
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3 YO GE Dryer Fire
I believe it caught fire as the belt broke and the over heated heater area [ from the clogged lint filter housing ] set fire to the lint in the rear of the drum and then the dry clothing.
GE uses the thinnest belt of any manufacturer I have seen, it is only 3 tiny ribs wide [ the only other dryer I ever saw with a thin belt like this were the 21" GE compact 120 Volt dryers from the 70s ] Even though when the belt broke and the belt switch shut off the motor and heater there was just too much heat and up in flames it went.
Picture of the thin belt
We replaced this piece of plastic dryer junk with a 1993 Kenmore 29” dryer.
John L.
I believe it caught fire as the belt broke and the over heated heater area [ from the clogged lint filter housing ] set fire to the lint in the rear of the drum and then the dry clothing.
GE uses the thinnest belt of any manufacturer I have seen, it is only 3 tiny ribs wide [ the only other dryer I ever saw with a thin belt like this were the 21" GE compact 120 Volt dryers from the 70s ] Even though when the belt broke and the belt switch shut off the motor and heater there was just too much heat and up in flames it went.
Picture of the thin belt
We replaced this piece of plastic dryer junk with a 1993 Kenmore 29” dryer.
John L.
Extremely poor washing habits:
Combined with a cheaply made and poorly designed machine could have killed many residents. Thank you for posting this as a warning John. I do believe that the shitty design and lack of build quality of this dryer was a contributing factor.
WK78
Combined with a cheaply made and poorly designed machine could have killed many residents. Thank you for posting this as a warning John. I do believe that the shitty design and lack of build quality of this dryer was a contributing factor.
WK78
repairguy
Well-known member
Did you call 800- GE CARES?
Wow, that melted and disfigured lint screen is haunting. You can just make out the "[clean] before each cycle" text in the charred and slumping plastic... right above the completely clogged filter mesh that obviously hasn't been cleaned in quite some time.
If there ever was a photo of dryer operator karma, that's it right there.
If there ever was a photo of dryer operator karma, that's it right there.
Apparently GE should have used a 2 ribbed belt so it'd break sooner thus requiring a deep cleaning of lint before becoming a fire hazard.
About 15 years ago, I remember an appliance tech making a comment about GE filter flo era dryers being a fire hazard. If memory serves me right, I think it had something to do with the baffle in the door but I can't recall the details now.
About 15 years ago, I remember an appliance tech making a comment about GE filter flo era dryers being a fire hazard. If memory serves me right, I think it had something to do with the baffle in the door but I can't recall the details now.
spinmon
Well-known member
Completely unimpressed by this plastic POS. 'G E'. What a shame.
Happened to me.....
.... at a hotel in northern Alabama about 15 years ago.
Was on a work-related road trip. Placed my clothes in the dryer and walked to the restaurant next door. When I exited, there were fire trucks all around the hotel.
They treated me very poorly; assuming I was lying about my clothes being in the dryer as a ploy to gain access to "gawk" at the aftermath of the fire. I was able to go in eventually. The damage was too extensive and of course I didn't do any dismantling of the remains of the dryer. But in this case I expect it was extreme neglect / lint buildup / poor laundry habits.
.... at a hotel in northern Alabama about 15 years ago.
Was on a work-related road trip. Placed my clothes in the dryer and walked to the restaurant next door. When I exited, there were fire trucks all around the hotel.
They treated me very poorly; assuming I was lying about my clothes being in the dryer as a ploy to gain access to "gawk" at the aftermath of the fire. I was able to go in eventually. The damage was too extensive and of course I didn't do any dismantling of the remains of the dryer. But in this case I expect it was extreme neglect / lint buildup / poor laundry habits.
gusherb
Well-known member
The heating elements are too close to the clothes in those GE dryers. I’ve taken them apart and it was remarkable how much lint was mere inches away from the heating element, not to mention the clothes.
The heating element on that particular one looks like the same cheap wire style ones you’d find in a space heater or hair dryer. They used to have coil style elements.
The heating element on that particular one looks like the same cheap wire style ones you’d find in a space heater or hair dryer. They used to have coil style elements.
vacerator
Well-known member
A group home
Is a heavy, and several user setting. I could see the line screens being neglected. Not the best dryer for that household.
Is a heavy, and several user setting. I could see the line screens being neglected. Not the best dryer for that household.
lotsosudz
Well-known member
Neglect
I realize that it was not a good, well built dryer. However neglect was the cause for the fire. People that are that stupid, should not operate any machine. I can only imagine what kind of care their cars get. I can only imagine what kind of drivers they are as well.
Hugs,
David
I realize that it was not a good, well built dryer. However neglect was the cause for the fire. People that are that stupid, should not operate any machine. I can only imagine what kind of care their cars get. I can only imagine what kind of drivers they are as well.
Hugs,
David
Teaches a lesson about cleaning your dryer's lint screen after each load, as well investing in those dryervent cleanout kits...
Let's also not forget the importance of rigid, solid metal dryer vent pipes, verses the hazardous, inferior plastic piping for your dryer's exhaust...
All that could have been much worse...
-- Dave
Let's also not forget the importance of rigid, solid metal dryer vent pipes, verses the hazardous, inferior plastic piping for your dryer's exhaust...
All that could have been much worse...
-- Dave
gusherb
Well-known member
Our Humane Society laundry room has two Speed Queen tumblers with the huge lint traps underneath and they’ve managed to have them catch on fire twice in 13 years. Not sure if they’re letting the lint traps go for weeks or if they’re putting things in them that they shouldn’t be.
The design on these dryers needs to change heating element wise. I've seen so many heating elements break and literally coil up inside around the rotating drum. The lint they produce is something else to.
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
Word choices
Since we are discussing a group home setting. Presumably housing individuals with mental, developmental, or intellectually delayed; I take offense to the reference that they are "stupid" .
Since we are discussing a group home setting. Presumably housing individuals with mental, developmental, or intellectually delayed; I take offense to the reference that they are "stupid" .
vacerator
Well-known member
"
Agreed I heart Maytag. Hopefully they are in a good place and only subjected to care and Love.
Agreed I heart Maytag. Hopefully they are in a good place and only subjected to care and Love.
3 YO GE Dryer Fire
Actually when I did the final autopsy I discovered the dryer was actually just 2 years old.
The group home is home to 5 very paid young people sharing a house in DCs expensive real estate market, how I will say that most or all of these young people are pretty clueless when it comes to using and maintaining appliances, we have had many appliance calls at this house, they simply can not load a DW or use a Disposer without constant problems.
On another note : Here is a MT dryer we had a call on this week where the motor was not starting, just growled.
The internal vent pipe came off the plastic blower housing and was run this way for years, the heavy lint acclamation in and around the motor shortened the motor life, we cleaned it up put in another motor and its running again.
John L.
Actually when I did the final autopsy I discovered the dryer was actually just 2 years old.
The group home is home to 5 very paid young people sharing a house in DCs expensive real estate market, how I will say that most or all of these young people are pretty clueless when it comes to using and maintaining appliances, we have had many appliance calls at this house, they simply can not load a DW or use a Disposer without constant problems.
On another note : Here is a MT dryer we had a call on this week where the motor was not starting, just growled.
The internal vent pipe came off the plastic blower housing and was run this way for years, the heavy lint acclamation in and around the motor shortened the motor life, we cleaned it up put in another motor and its running again.
John L.
Sounds like "group home" in this instance is a group of people (20s to 30s yo?) sharing a house.
"Group home" around here is a type of an assisted living care-facility for people (usually older, 50s to 60s+) with physical and mental challenges. Several group homes, local in a couple nearby towns, bring residents to a movie every Wednesday.
repairguy
Well-known member
Neglect! I guess it was outside so the exhaust inside the dryer went unnoticed.
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