Speed Queen Dryer -- No Heat

[rp2813]

Dave's daughter & son-in-law bought a pair of Speed Queens a couple of years ago.  Maybe three -- which means the warranty on the dryer could be history.  The washer is a 432, so the dryer is either its MOL counterpart or lower.

 

A couple of nights ago, a load went in to dry before they went to bed, and the next morning the dryer was still running and the clothes in it were cold, but apparently fairly dry from "air fluffing" all night.

 

I don't know who they called, but they were advised to unplug the dryer and clean the sensors, then plug it back in and see what happened.  They've misplaced the literature for the dryer and don't even know where the sensors are (I don't either).

 

They're turning to me for help.  I can see how if the sensors weren't functioning properly, they might not initiate a call for heat, but am also wondering if the actual heating element could be bad.

 

Any suggestions on how to zero in on where the problem lies?

 

Thanks,

 

Ralph

 

[yogitunes]

your going to want to check continuity with an OHMs tester across the heating element.....that would be the first....

next would be the thermal fuses....a simple 5 dollar part will not allow it to heat....or even the heat relay.....

oddly enough, check the fuse box, making sure both breakers are on.....stranger things have happened....

you will find sensors inside the drum, and both the air intake and exhaust pathways....

 

[DADoES]

 
Presumably the advisory was directed at moisture sensors for autodry functions but far as I'm aware SQ dryers had only thermostatic autodry (no moisture sensors) until the latest models with electronic control panels.  Access to "clean" or test thermostats for heat control requires disassembly.

Check if one of the breakers is tripped, which would provide 120v current to run the motor and timer but not 240v for the heating elements.

 

[rp2813]

I think she said there was no heat on both timed and auto dry settings.

 

I'll have them check the breaker box and if that's OK, I'll see about locating the thermostatic sensor(s).  I'd be really disappointed with SQ if the actual heating element has already failed.

 

[DADoES]

 
Could also be a timer problem (bad contacts or cam for the element circuit).

 

[rp2813]

I went over there today to take a look.  When they called the dealer, they were told that the machine was no longer under warranty, but my research shows it has 3 years parts & labor, and they have their own hard copy of the same warranty, which they received with their sales paperwork and product literature.  The washer and dryer were purchased in November of 2013, so whatever this is, it's covered.

 

Sort of reminds me of that guy David sometime back who was getting erroneous warranty information about his blown SQ FL washer.

 

I decided that since messing with anything could void the warranty, I'd not even open up the dryer to examine or test.  I did check the exhaust duct and it's clear, and exhaust out of the dryer is strong, if cold.  Breakers were not tripped.

 

Alliance/SQ customer support isn't open on weekends, so there won't be any further developments on this until Monday at the soonest.

 

[yogitunes]

keep us posted.....

but yeah, ALWAYS keep your hard copy of a bill of sale.....they pull this stuff all the time....

amazing how their computers lose your purchase history, but not your bill if you owe on it!....

 

[combo52]

Fairly New SQ Electric Dryer

Glad it is still under warranty, it will be covered unless you have a problem with the electrical circuit it is plugged into, usually one side of the 240 volt line is off.

 

The most likely problem is a bad temperature control switch in the console, SQ has had problems with these on electric dryers.

 

You could open it up and look at it if you wanted, but there is little point if it is under warranty, they CAN NOT void your warranty for looking inside unless you cause a problem, this is your dryer after all.

 

[rp2813]

Trouble Cleared

So, remember that guy David in the greater Portland area who had issues with his FL SQ washer but couldn't get an authorized servicer to repair it under warranty?  Pretty much the same thing happened with this dryer. 

 

With still a year left to go on its warranty, none of the authorized SQ service agents in the area were willing to send anyone out.  It took calling SQ directly, and they arranged for one of those same servicers to come out and make necessary repairs at no charge.

 

Today was the day.  I told them to call me when the tech was on his way so I could be present and make sure the guy didn't leave without fixing the thing.   They forgot to call me, but got in touch later and reported that the tech found and fixed a loose connection for the heating element. 

 

So I wonder.  What's up with SQ's warranty system and why don't any authorized repair people want to do warranty work?  Is SQ bad about reimbursing these authorized service providers?  Surely there are more people running into this sort of thing and resorting to SQ's customer service department in order to get a technician dispatched, so surely SQ is aware of this issue.

 

Just because they turn out an old-school washer doesn't mean they get a pass for not having a better system for warranty work.

 

 

 

[mrb627]

Warranty Service

I think warranty service should always go through SQ directly. They can make arrangements easier. And it is probably easier for the servicer to get paid if the se call is initiated by SQ.

Malcolm

 

[combo52]

Speed Queen Warranty Service

SQ actually pays pretty well { almost twice what WP paid us per call when we quit doing WP service 4-5 years ago ] I think that the bigger problem may be that SQ is not that popular [ yet at least ] and as a result there is very little service work to be done in warranty. As a result some servers may not know what to do when they get a call. If you bought your machine from a servicing dealer call them first, otherwise I would call SQ in Wisconsin for a referral.

 

We are only doing a dozen or so calls a year while selling over a hundred machines a year, and we are also supporting the sales of a few close dealers that are selling a couple thousand machines if they are in are service area.

 

Hi Ralph, when they repaired a bad wire near the heater what part [ if any ] did they replace? If a wire failed on the heater terminal or on one of the hi-limit thermostats the part MUST also be replaced to have a lasting repair because the terminal was likely damaged when the wire connection failed. SQ has a fair amount of problems with terminals failing in the heater circuits of electric dryers [ actually most brands of full sized electric dryers have had this problems for the last 50 years ] Only WP built dryers have seldom had this problem because they use silver plated terminals in the heater circuit of their electric dryers.

 

With SQ as with dryers in general if the dryer gets a lot of use you are far better off with a natural gas heated dryer in the long run.

 

John L.

 

[rp2813]

John, I have no idea how involved the repair was, and neither of those two is interested enough to care so they won't likely be able to provide details.  I draw the line at asking to see the repair paperwork. 

 

If I had been there, my first question after being told a wire detached itself would be, "What would cause that to happen?" and I'd request that any related suspect parts be replaced so the same problem wouldn't present itself again in another two years.

 

They do complain that the dryer gets too hot.  I had that same complaint about our '97 Amana.  When they expressed this to the tech, he simply told them that SQ dryers run hot.  I agree that gas is the better way to go, but they don't have gas service in their laundry room.   The only dryers I've ever dealt with that needed repairs were electric, and they both had issues with their heating elements. 

 

 

 

[davidblazor]

Speed Queen Dryer

Hello to all. I own a Speed Queen ADE40 model dryer. Our 1st Speed Queen dryer was the same model. We never had any troubles with the 1st dryer until it was 6 or 7 years old. We were told that with the large volume of laundry we did and using dryer sheets accompanied by bad venting the dryer went up the creek. We were told that dryer sheets are bad for dryers.

As far as Speed Queens running hot we have not encountered that as of yet. Our dryer vents out the exterior wall instead of being in a closet in the hall were it had to go up thru the celling and out to the vent as in our apartment. We use the 2 auto dry cycles and have never had scorched or super hot loads emerge from the dryer.

Since the incident with the washer we have had a new neighbor move in across the street from us and he works for Alliance in the industrial laundry division. He told us that if we ever had problems with our washer or dryer to let him know and he would fix what ever for the price of the parts.

Dave

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Just got my Kenmore reconditioned again...  It quit heating months ago & needed a new thermal fuse, while I thought it was the igniter...

 

But, this time there was no heat again & this time it WAS the igniter...  (Got told by the repairman a faulty timer could have easily been the cause, but not the case...)

 

At a repair cost of around $198, I believe I saved myself, once again, the cost of a new dryer, getting this promptly fixed...  Although I got drastically behind on laundry, while I could get everything washed, it was hard to get by on room-temperature air...  And taking the stuff to my dad's house for "finishing" didn't help, nor did my daughter throwing up on her bedding & that stuff lingering in the laundry area for too long, right down to to the repair man bearing w/ the smell while he thoroughly fixed, vacuumed, blown out and the cleaned the belly of the dryer, lubricating the rollers, and replacing the drive belt & even checking the gas components, burner & manifold and a few other details I probably didn't get done last time--and proof of that is my dryer heats up & dries a lot better!

 

 

-- Dave

 

 

[askolover]

Knock wood, my almost 18 year old GE still using the original ignitor as is Mom's 24 year old Maytag!  Now I'd better order spares from ebay since I just jinxed them both!

 

[combo52]

Hot Surface Dryer Ignitors

Seldom fail in the sometimes 30+ year life of the dryer, the ignitor is only one for around one minute each time the dryer calls for heat.

 

[ Gas ovens are an entirely different matter because the HSI is on the entire time the burner is on, on gas ovens that are used a lot it is common to replace the ignitor as often as every 3-5 years ]

 

Also no dryer Hot Surface Ignitors have become NLA and aren't very likely to go NLA because of how many models they fit, the MT SOH dryers use the same ignitor as all WP built gas dryers use.

 

[askolover]

Oven igniters

Mom's old '92 Caloric had 3 igniters in its 22 year life...about 7 years was her average.  I didn't think about that being a factor in the shorter life of the oven igniters.  I knew from watching her Maytag dryer that it didn't remain on and I knew the oven's did, but it didn't click in my overloaded brain.

 

[rp2813]

Clear as mud

We were at the kids' house on Saturday and were informed that a (loose?) wire leading to the heating element had burnt to a crisp and detached. 

 

I'm trying to imagine what they described, but whatever it may have been, it was instantly evident to the repair tech as soon as he removed the front panel. 

 

I would think the element would be attached to a ceramic or heat-proof terminal block of some kind.  Maybe there was a wire between the block and something else?   From what they described, it sounds like the element was OK, and that only a wire had to be replaced. 

 

[mrb627]

Heating Element

is behind the bulk head. Not sure how a tech would have seen it immediately after removing the kick plate.

Malcolm