Maytag maxima XL electric dryer — steam won’t turn off

[sgt10]

The dryer has a steam function, which I was NOT using, but it turned itself on and now won’t turn off. It just keeps pumping out steam even when the dryer is turned off. Here’s what I have tried so far:

1) turning dryer off — but steam still spewing into machine

2) turned off dryer at circuit breaker so no power to dryer (and confirmed by trying to turn on dryer, which it did not with the breaker tripped ) . The steam STILL won’t stop.

I am not sure how the water to produce the steam is plumbed, as I can’t view behind the machine and I did not install it. Does it come from the washing machine? I have a small in-wall cubby behind my washer with two water turn offs, but these would seemingly be for the washer.

Any help or thoughts appreciated.

 

[henene4]

I think they were supplied with a T-piece that connected to the washer and dryer.

Turn off the cold feed and check if that helps.

If anything the dryer should run perfectly fine with a broken valve.

Just can't use the steam function.

 

[DADoES]

 
Steam without power ... there's no way the machine can generate steam with the circuit breaker turned off, although water could drip from the steam port if the inlet valve is failed.

As per the reply above, a Y-connector is supplied with steam dryers to feed the dryer off one of the washer supply faucets.  The connector may or may not have separate on/off taps for the washer and dryer.  If so, the dryer water supply can be turned off there separately from the washer.  If not, then the main supply tap to which it's connected (presumably cold) will have to be turned off, which will also turn off that supply to the washer.

 

[henene4]

These don't technically produce steam, it's just a very fine mist.

So it's just a valve and nozzle.
If the valve fails open then yeah water would be spraying all the time.

Dunno why somebody would design a valve to fail open.

Such stuff should fail safe aka closed.

 

[appnut]

Well, this "problem" cures my wish for a dryer with steam feature.  If I got one with the feature, I won't have it connect4eed.    

 

[frigilux]

Bob- I wouldn't let this unfortunate instance stop you from getting a dryer with a steam function. The Steam/Refresh cycle certainly got a lot of use on my 2015 Maytag Maxima. I wore black Dockers at work and gigs, and would toss a pair or two in for a steam refresh nearly every day. Although I'd change shirts every day--sometimes more than once--I found pants simply needed a little refreshing/de-wrinkling rather than washing or....shudder...ironing. They stayed black longer, too.

Don't recall many other instances of this issue popping up here at AW.

Now, having said all that, I keep a big spray bottle of water in the cupboard above my Speed Queen dryer to spray the pants, then toss them in on the refresh cycle (or whatever it's called). It provides 15 minutes of high heat which takes care of wrinkles very well.

 

[combo52]

Stuck Open Inlet Valve

This type of problem can happen with any inlet valve connected to constant water pressure.

 

It is not possible to design a valve that could never stick open, I have even seen European DWs where the electric valve at the inlet of the water line start to seep water and make quite a mess.

 

John L.

 

[DADoES]

 
The whole thing is marketing?  There's no steam generator device on any dryer equipped with the feature?

 

[frigilux]

Older LGs actually had a steam generator, but if I recall correctly, they had problems with mineral buildup.

The Steam Refresh cycle on my 2015 Maytag would first heat the interior of the drum and the clothing in it to a rather high temp; then a very fine mist of cold water would be sprayed in at intervals. I suppose the idea was that the hot air and clothing in the dryer would create "steam" with the mist. The manual suggested adding only 1 or 2 items to the dryer for the Steam Refresh cycle.

You could also add a steam option to Perm Press and a couple of other cycles.

 

[henene4]

With 5kW heating, the quantity of steam created just in the hot air can be quite sufficent.

I think LGs dryers with a steam generator were called TurboSteam.

Over here many dryers do not have a steam generator though some actually do.

 

[sgt10]

Finally have it temporarily turned off

Yes, there must be a Y connector to the cold water turn off that then feeds both the washer and dryer. As soon as my washer finished its cycle, I turned off the water that I previously thought ran only to the washer, and the water going into the dryer immediately turned off. Then I had the fun of removing the 3 inches of standing water in the dryer.

And it makes sense that it is not steam, but instead a fine mist because otherwise it would have shut off when I powered it down via circuit breakers.

If the valve is a trouble point, perhaps I should just take away the Y connector and not feed the dryer with water. It doesn’t seem like”steam” is such a valuable function anyway.

 

[combo52]

Reply #10

Yes just disconnect the water supply to the dryer unless you want to replace the inlet valve.

 

[sgt10]

Thanks for the help. I think that’s what I will do. The “steam” seems more trouble than it’s worth.

 

[golittlesport]

My LG steam dryer (model 3571) has a water reservoir drawer, that you manually fill when you want to use steam, on the control panel where the dispenser drawer is on the washer. I like this system much better than having a cold water line plumbed into the dryer.

 

[whatsername]

water reservoir drawer

It’s nice but it absolutely sucks when the machines are stacked!

 

[appnut]

Rich, I agree with you.  I noticed that was a feature on LG dryers several years ago.  Sorry they went along with everyone else with plumbed line.  

 

[yogitunes]

does anyone remember Kenmore dryers, I think from the 60's, offered clothes sprinkling, you filled a reservoir in the hamper door, and when you closed the door, it would squirt water from the bottom as the clothes tumbled, cycle selected was usually Air Only....

who knew you already had a steam option back then?

 

[DADoES]

 
Several brands had sprinklers in vintage times -- Maytag, WP/KM, Frigidaire, GE come to mind.  Possibly others.

 

[frigilux]

Martin- I remember seeing an early 1960s (or thereabouts) Lady K dryer with the reservoir in the door. Our 1960 Model 80 came with a pink sprinkling ball--had a screw top and a bunch of small holes punched in it. Water was added to the ball (a little smaller than a volleyball, if memory serves) and it would dampen the clothes for ironing. The cycle on our Model 80 was called 'Air or Dampen.'