10 common commercial and industrial laundry problems

No matter what business you’re in – hospitality, healthcare, sports and recreation, education, utilities or self-service laundries – your commercial or industrial laundry equipment needs to work perfectly.

It may turn out that your commercial laundry equipment is defective. Washer and dryer breakdowns are indeed very unfortunate events. When your machines stop working normally, it slows down your service and is costly for your establishment.

Maintenance and Repair Tips for commercial washers and dryers

In order for you to be able to quickly solve the problems you may encounter with your commercial and industrial laundry equipment, our team of experienced technician-repair specialists offers you some valuable advice.

Always make sure to disconnect the equipment from the power source before starting your inspection.

Then test the assumptions one by one.

Here are the top 10 possible problems with your washing machines and dryers :

Why does the washer or dryer vibrate?

To limit the vibrations caused by your laundry appliances, it is imperative to ensure that the washer or dryer is level. Your appliances must be installed on a solid and perfectly horizontal floor.

Also, unbalanced loads can cause more vibration. If in doubt, turn off the machine and redistribute the load.

Common problems with commercial and industrial washers

Why does the washer leak?

A leaking washer can quickly cause flooding and serious damage. When your washing machine leaks, it is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately, as soon as it is noticed.

Defective pump, clogged part, pierced seal, leaking bearings, several elements of your washing machine can be defective and cause the leak.

Here are some of the most common problems when your washing machine leaks:

  • Unscrewed water inlet pipe. Check and adjust the water inlet and outlet systems (siphon and pipes)
  • Clogged or pierced part.
  • Improperly connected service hoses.
  • Defective seal. If it is torn or cracked, it must be replaced
  • Defective bearings. One indication that the bearings are leaking is the rust you will find on the tank when you remove the back panel of your machine

Why doesn’t the washer fill up with water?

Sometimes the washer may not fill with water.

A few things can be at fault when the washing machine refuses to fill:

  • Make sure the water faucets are open. If the taps are not opened properly, the water cannot get to the washing machine.
  • Make sure the washer lid is closed properly. The start signal is not transmitted if the unit does not sense the lid closing and the washer does not start.
  • Inspect the condition of the connecting pipes. Make sure the water can flow through it. They must not be twisted, clogged or punctured.
  • The water inlet valve must be properly adjusted. The water volume selector must be set correctly for your washer to work properly.
  • Test the voltage of the water level switch. If there is none, you must call a technician.
  • Inspect the solenoid valve filters. Make sure they are not obstructed.

Why is the washer cycle very long?

Do you find that your washer takes longer than usual to complete its cycle?

  • Choose the appropriate wash cycle. Make sure you have selected the regular wash cycle. Some cycles are much longer than others.
  • Water pressure is too low. Sometimes the water pressure flow is defective. Make sure the water flow is normal.

Why is the washer door leaking?

If you notice a puddle of water on the floor at the end of the wash under the door of your front-loading washer, you should immediately determine what is causing the water leak:

  • The door seal is defective. Inspect the gasket carefully, it may be punctured, cracked or torn.
  • Your front-loading washer is overfilled. Make sure you don’t overfill your machine with clothes. The quality of washing will not be good, in addition to causing damage.

Why won’t the washer empty?

Unfortunately, there are times when the washer refuses to empty at the end of the wash cycle and the tub remains full of water.

  • The pump or control panel may be defective. In this case, you must call one of our technicians to measure the electrical resistance of these parts with an ohmmeter and change it if necessary.
  • Check the washer for dirt. The drain pipe and filters may be clogged and prevent the unit from draining.
  • The return pipe may be defective. Inspect the hose and make sure it is not kinked.

Why doesn’t the washer drum turn?

If your washer is running, but no longer “spins”, it may be a belt, motor or control board problem.

  • The motor is defective. If you do not hear the motor sound when you start the washer, it is because it is damaged.
  • The belt is broken. Try turning the drum manually. If it offers no resistance, the belt can be pulled off its axis or broken.
  • The bearings are damaged. They can be blocked or they can sink. If you notice any rust when removing the back panel, it means that the bearings are leaking.
  • The electronic card. To check the condition of this part, you must call in a specialist.

Common problems with commercial and industrial dryers

Why won’t the dryer start?

There are several possible diagnoses when your dryer does not work.

Here are some of the main reasons your dryer won’t start:

  • The power supply is not connected properly. First, make sure your dryer’s power cord is plugged into a working outlet.
  • The start switch is not receiving the signal. Make sure the appliance door is closed properly.
  • The drying belt is broken. If the dryer belt is damaged, the dryer will not operate.
  • The thermal fuse may have overheated. A safety device protects your appliance from overheating. Check the condition of the fuse and change it if necessary.
  • The drive motor is defective. Since its role is to make the drum and fan wheel, if it does not work properly, the dryer will not start.

Why is the dryer louder than usual?

Many components start up when a dryer is started, so it is normal for it not to be completely silent. However, if you hear abnormal sounds or your dryer is louder than usual, you need to find the cause of the malfunction.

It frequently happens that clothes are absorbed inside the turbine, causing an unusual noise.

Here are some other anomalies that can cause unusual noises:

  • The belt is damaged. If you hear a regular clicking sound with each turn of the drum, the belt is probably the cause
  • The rear bearing of the drum is blocked. If you hear a scraping sound on the iron or a squeaking noise, take the dryer apart to access the bearing and change it if its condition has deteriorated.
  • The motor is defective. If a rumbling sound is heard throughout the cycle, there is probably a problem with the engine.
  • The idler is damaged. If a scraping noise is heard throughout the rotation, the idler is probably to blame.
  • Felt pens are clogged. Because of clothing fibers and dust, felts can become clogged. They must be changed because when they are full, the dryer starts to vibrate.

Why doesn’t the dryer produce any heat?

When your dryer is running, but not giving off any heat, several parts may be defective and causing the problem: the timer, the heater or the metric sensor. To check the condition of these components, an ohmmeter is used to measure the electrical resistance.

Here are some other things that may be at fault when your dryer doesn’t heat up:

  • The duct is clogged. If the duct is flexible, make sure it is not bent.
  • The lint filter is full. Be sure to empty and clean the lint filter after each use.
  • Circuit breakers or fuses are defective. Sometimes only one of the two devices turns on, causing a drying cycle without heat. Make sure the fuses and circuit breakers are working.
  • The duct is clogged. If the duct is flexible, make sure it is not bent.
  • The lint filter is full. Be sure to empty and clean the lint filter after each use.
  • Circuit breakers or fuses are defective. Sometimes only one of the two devices turns on, causing a drying cycle without heat. Make sure the fuses and circuit breakers are working.

Dalex Jacar et Lavexco est une solution professionnelle et rapide pour vos problèmes d’équipement de buanderie

En plus d’être des fournisseurs d’équipements de buanderie commerciale et industrielle, Dalex Jacar et Lavexco offre un soutien technique haut de gamme pour l’entretien et la réparation des laveuses et sécheuses.

En cas de doute, faites confiance à l’un de nos professionnels pour évaluer l’origine de la défectuosité de votre équipement de buanderie industrielle ou commerciale.

Notre équipe de spécialistes techniciens-réparateurs d’expérience est en mesure d’effectuer rapidement la réparation nécessaire et adéquate.