How a Dryer Is Supposed to Work

• As is apparent from the typical design of most electric dryers on the market today, clothes are placed inside a cylinder that spins. This allows the clothes to rotate as the dryer system blows hot air into the cylinder to dry the wetness. The rolling effect causes a tumbling, thereby drying the clothes entirely rather than just one exposed side. The speed of the cylinder has to be regulated. Too fast and the clothes react like the spin cycle in a washer and stick to the walls, not drying out. Too slow and the wet clothes bunch up, causing an unbalanced cylinder as it spins.
  
  

Speed Factors

• There are several factors that will affect the speed of a dryer; the system has to regulate itself to keep the speed constant. These factors include the amount of clothing, the level of their wetness, the normal rotation of the cylinder size inside the dryer, the cleanliness of the air exhausts and the temperature of the hot air blown in.
  
  

Is It Really Broken?

• Sometimes folks get a new dryer and are not familiar with the improved systems on the market today. They may have owned their previous dryer for up 15 years before replacing it, and technology can change significantly in that time period.
  
  Make sure that the speed involved is not the normal operating procedure. If you purchased a fast-dry system, it could very well have an aggressive spin to dry clothes out quickly. Speeds in systems today can range from 800 rounds per minute (rpm) to 1,800 rpm.
  
  

Check the Speed Regulator and Sensors

• The speed in a dryer is regulated by the system. So when it's not working properly, it should be noticeable. Excessive spinning very likely means that the regulator in the system has failed or is failing. The frequent culprit tends to be a bad sensor, although it could be a loose physical restriction as well. Most sensors and fail-safes are designed to shut off power to your dryer when something doesn't work right or fails. However, this safety feature doesn't always work as designed, and if it fails to cut power, speed could build up beyond normal limits.
  
  

A Failing Motor

• Both washers and dryers are spun by motors deep in the systems. When these motors fail, one of the symptoms can be unregulated, excessive speed. The engine will overwork or start behaving erratically prior to complete burnout. The best solution is to have your appliance mechanic check the motor rather than trying to guess the problem yourself. It is common for motors to burnout, in some cases as frequently as every two years.