TLDNR: 27yr old gas dryer cloths suddenly smell like charcoal/gas. Recent high VOC paint work in the kitchen (next to laundry), took apart dryer and cleaned everything, lint, soot, vent line, etc. but no change, still stinks. No blockages in vent. Is it worth ~$150 for a tech visit + parts (Burner is $75 online) or just bite the bullet and spend $600 on a new gas dryer?
Just this weekend our 27yr old Kenmore, which I think I've replaced the high limit switch on about 8 years ago, and that's it, the clothes came out smelling like gas/charcoal.
I took the whole think apart this morning and cleaned every surface, including the gas burner, the burner tube, the snorkel burner thing that dumps heat into the dryer, the vent line and exterior flapper, etc. b/c online told me it was likely lint in the burner section scorching and giving me the smell. After I reassembled everything, I turned it on with the lower panel off, confirmed the flame was working (mostly blue with some yellow) but when I threw a damp towel into to dry, came out smelling gas/charcoal again.
One other big note, we are remodeling our kitchen and they sprayed a lot of high VOC paint/stain on our new cabinets last week, finishing with latex roller/brush not the walls. I had the doors and window open when they were working and the laundry, which is next to the kitchen, door was closed and plastic over the door all week (although my wife and I went in/out b/c the laundry has our fridge and dishes while the kitchen is remodeled).
What are the chances my burner assembly is coated with VOC particles and it will eventually go away vs. anything else? Online searching the line in the burner was the most likely culprit but that was not it.
Next step is a visit from tech going to be ~$150 + whatever parts he decides might need to be replaced. So looking at maybe $250 for the repair.
New gas dryer from Costco is $500. Again, the thing has done laundry for 6 people (4 sons - LOTS of dirty athletic clothes) so it's been a workhorse for 27 years.
Just this weekend our 27yr old Kenmore, which I think I've replaced the high limit switch on about 8 years ago, and that's it, the clothes came out smelling like gas/charcoal.
I took the whole think apart this morning and cleaned every surface, including the gas burner, the burner tube, the snorkel burner thing that dumps heat into the dryer, the vent line and exterior flapper, etc. b/c online told me it was likely lint in the burner section scorching and giving me the smell. After I reassembled everything, I turned it on with the lower panel off, confirmed the flame was working (mostly blue with some yellow) but when I threw a damp towel into to dry, came out smelling gas/charcoal again.
One other big note, we are remodeling our kitchen and they sprayed a lot of high VOC paint/stain on our new cabinets last week, finishing with latex roller/brush not the walls. I had the doors and window open when they were working and the laundry, which is next to the kitchen, door was closed and plastic over the door all week (although my wife and I went in/out b/c the laundry has our fridge and dishes while the kitchen is remodeled).
What are the chances my burner assembly is coated with VOC particles and it will eventually go away vs. anything else? Online searching the line in the burner was the most likely culprit but that was not it.
Next step is a visit from tech going to be ~$150 + whatever parts he decides might need to be replaced. So looking at maybe $250 for the repair.
New gas dryer from Costco is $500. Again, the thing has done laundry for 6 people (4 sons - LOTS of dirty athletic clothes) so it's been a workhorse for 27 years.
