Tag: repair

My Samsung dryer now spins

Idler pulley assembly installed
Installed idler pulley assembly
Replaced parts

A couple of days ago my dryer quit working. Thanks to the innerwebs, I was able to debug the issue and get a replacement part on order. Today, the part arrived.

Because my laundry room is so shallow, I had to get behind the dryer, then pull the bottom toward me and tilt the top away so I could see into and work through the access port near the bottom of the dryer. Once I’d done that, removing the old idler pulley arm, installing the new one, and threading the drive belt was easy to do. Because the dryer was tilted, I needed to move the drive belt back into the correct position on the drum.

Many of my home repairs require three trips to the home supply store:

  1. A trip to get the parts I need,
  2. A trip to get the parts I missed because I haven’t done this repair recently (or ever), and
  3. A trip to get the parts to replace those I broke in the repair process.

This time, I needed only the first trip, and it was virtual! Better yet, the only leftover parts were those that I replaced.

My Samsung dryer doesn’t spin

My dryer just quit working tonight. Its drum doesn’t spin. So, off to YouTube I went for repair advice. I immediately found a couple of helpful videos.

Huh, look at that: the idler pulley is missing! Oh there it is, hiding in the dust bunny in the lower right.

A missing idler pulley hiding in the dust bunnies
Screen capture from a repair video

After another online search, I ordered the replacement part. It should arrive in a couple of days. With a little luck I’ll be able to do the repair without having to move the dryer any farther.

In the meantime, I’m going to round up some dust bunnies.

HVAC Debug Update: I’m Making Progress

Determined to debug my HVAC problems, I created a list of steps to follow. I planned to verify the presence of power and control signals at the furnace control circuit and the condenser.1Essentially, this is rule #1 of debugging electrical devices: is it plugged in?

Not feeling comfortable about my knowledge of how my HVAC is wired, I searched and found Thermostat Wire Color Codes and a thermostat wiring schematic.2Ya gotta love the Transonics wiki’s disclaimer/warning/license: “The following information may have errors; It is not permissible to be read by anyone who has ever met a lawyer. Use is confined to Engineers with more than 370 course hours of electronic engineering for theoretical studies.” I’m still trying to figure out how this applies to me.

First, I verified the 24V transformer’s primary is getting line voltage.3Yes, this means the breaker was ON and the furnace cover was off. If you’re thinking of using my post as a guide to debugging your HVAC system, you should read the preceding footnote. Then, checking the secondary, I found no voltage. I tried again. I pulled it out of the furnace and tried again. Still no dice. I guess I could have just measured the impedance across the secondary and discovered the transformer was bad4 and needed replaced.

Unfortunately, by the time I discovered this, the local appliance parts and electrical supply stores were closed for the week. Home Depot and Lowe’s were still open but neither has a matching transformer. Looks like it will be next week before our HVAC is working.4It was shorted.

I’m concerned: if I replace the transformer, is something else wrong that will kill the new one? Or did the transformer just die of old age? I guess I’ll find out.

Fortunately, the weather is getting cooler.

  • 1
    Essentially, this is rule #1 of debugging electrical devices: is it plugged in?
  • 2
    Ya gotta love the Transonics wiki’s disclaimer/warning/license: “The following information may have errors; It is not permissible to be read by anyone who has ever met a lawyer. Use is confined to Engineers with more than 370 course hours of electronic engineering for theoretical studies.” I’m still trying to figure out how this applies to me.
  • 3
    Yes, this means the breaker was ON and the furnace cover was off. If you’re thinking of using my post as a guide to debugging your HVAC system, you should read the preceding footnote.
  • 4
    It was shorted.

Hot Weather Means the AC Dies

Our HVAC stopped working in the hottest week of the summer (so far…). Rather than call an HVAC tech, I’m trying to fix it myself.1After all, what could go wrong? ;-)

Symptoms: no fans start running even though the thermostat is correctly set (and for that matter, fan set to “on”).

Checks so far:

  1. Breakers
  2. Thermostat batteries
  3. Short yellow to red and wait two minutes
  4. Interrupter by condensor
  5. Look for fuses in furnace control circuit and interrupter (there were none)

At this point, I think it’s time to verify voltages and signals, starting with the transformer and furnace control circuit, then moving outside to the condensor.

Wish me luck!

  • 1
    After all, what could go wrong? ;-)