Dryer and washer repair in Orange County
At We Fix Dryer, we focus on one thing: getting your laundry back up and running. Since 2017, our Costa Mesa-based team has handled dryer and washer repair across Orange County, from compact stackables to large front-load machines.
We service 16 major brands and repair both gas and electric dryers, top-load and front-load washers. Most jobs are completed same-day or next-day, and every repair is backed by a 3-month warranty on parts and labor.
Tell us what’s happening, and we’ll handle the rest. The diagnostic visit is $50 for dryers and $65 for washers, waived in full when you move forward with the repair.
Common dryer problems
Dryers tend to fail gradually — longer cycles, cooler air, a faint burning smell. Here are the issues we see most often, with simple checks you can run yourself before calling a technician.
Dryer won’t heat
If your dryer tumbles but the air stays cool, the most likely culprits are a blown thermal fuse, a failed heating element (electric), or an issue with the gas valve coils (gas). Start by checking that the lint filter is clean and the vent isn’t blocked — a clogged vent can trip the thermal fuse repeatedly. If the fuse keeps blowing after a reset, there’s an underlying airflow or heating problem that needs diagnosis. Give us a call if it persists.
Dryer takes too long to dry
Long cycle times are almost always an airflow problem. Clean the lint filter after every load, then check the vent hose at the back of the dryer for kinks or lint buildup. Pull the dryer out and inspect the duct that runs to the exterior wall — if you can’t remember the last time it was cleaned, it’s probably the problem. If airflow is clear and clothes still come out damp, the heating element or moisture sensor may be failing. We can diagnose either.
Dryer is noisy or rumbling
A loud thumping, squealing, or grinding usually points to worn drum rollers, a failing idler pulley, or a stretched drive belt. These are wear-and-tear parts that eventually need replacement. A high-pitched squeal that gets worse over time often means the rollers are dry or flattened. If the noise is new and getting louder, stop using the dryer and call us — running it with a broken pulley can damage the drum.
Dryer won’t start
If the dryer is completely dead, check the power first: outlet, breaker, and door switch. The door switch is a common failure — if the dryer thinks the door is open, it won’t run. A failed start switch, broken thermal fuse (on some models, this kills the whole machine), or a bad control board are the next suspects. If the basics are fine and it still won’t start, we can pinpoint the issue.
Burning smell or scorched lint
This one isn’t a “wait and see” problem. A burning smell from a dryer almost always means lint has built up somewhere it’s getting hot — inside the cabinet, around the heating element, or in the vent duct. Stop using the dryer, unplug it (or shut off the gas), and call us. Dryer fires are real and largely preventable, but only if you act on the warning signs.
Common washer problems
Washers fail in messier ways than dryers — water on the floor, clothes still soapy, a drum that won’t spin. Here’s what we see most often.
Washer won’t drain
If the cycle finishes and your clothes are sitting in water, the drain pump or drain hose is the usual cause. Check the hose at the back for kinks, and if your washer has an accessible filter (most front-loaders do), clean it — coins, hair pins, and small socks end up there. If the hose is clear and the filter is clean, the drain pump itself is likely failed and needs replacement.
Washer won’t spin
A washer that drains but won’t spin can be a worn drive belt, a failed motor coupler (top-loaders), a lid switch problem, or an unbalanced load that’s triggering the safety stop. Redistribute the clothes evenly first and try again. If it still won’t spin, the mechanical parts inside need a look.
Washer leaks water
Leaks come from a lot of places: a cracked fill hose, a worn door gasket (front-load), a failed tub seal, or a clogged dispenser. Look for the source while a cycle is running — knowing whether the leak is at the back, the front door, or underneath narrows the diagnosis considerably. If you can’t find it, we can.
Washer is shaking or walking
Front-load washers are sensitive to level and balance. If yours is hopping across the floor on the spin cycle, first check that all four feet are firm against the ground and the machine is level. Then check for an unbalanced load. If the machine is still bouncing on a level floor with a balanced load, the shock absorbers or suspension springs may have worn out.
Washer smells musty
Front-loaders are prone to musty odors because water sits in the door gasket between cycles. Wipe the gasket dry after each load and leave the door cracked open. Run a hot cycle with a washer cleaner tab monthly. If the smell persists, the drain pump filter or sump may have trapped debris that needs cleaning out.
Why dryer maintenance matters
This isn’t a sales pitch — it’s a safety note. The National Fire Protection Association reports about 14,000 home dryer fires every year in the U.S. The single biggest cause is failure to clean the lint filter and vent system. Lint is highly flammable, and a dryer that has to work harder to push air through a clogged vent generates more heat than it was designed to.
A few habits that meaningfully reduce risk:
- Clean the lint filter before or after every load. Every single load.
- Have the vent duct (the run from the back of the dryer to the exterior wall) cleaned once a year. More often if you do heavy laundry volumes or have a long duct run.
- Don’t run the dryer overnight or when you’re out of the house. Most dryer fires that cause injuries start while no one is home or while occupants are asleep.
- If your cycles are taking longer than they used to, that’s the early warning. The dryer is fighting to move air, and heat is building up.
We can clean dryer vents as part of a service call, and we always check airflow when we diagnose a heating or cycle-length issue.
What our service includes
- Experienced technicians. Our team has been repairing dryers and washers in Orange County since 2017, across 16 major brands.
- Convenient appointments. Same-day and next-day slots, seven days a week. We work around your schedule.
- Free phone consultation. Call us, describe what’s happening, and we’ll tell you what we think it is and what the visit will cost. No pressure.
- 3-month warranty. Parts and labor, on every repair we perform.
- Diagnostic waived with repair. The diagnostic visit is $50 for dryers and $65 for washers. If you go ahead with the repair, the diagnostic fee comes off the total. A second unit at the same address adds $30 to the diagnostic.
Brands we service
We repair dryers and washers from these 16 manufacturers:
Amana, Bosch, Frigidaire, GE, Haier, Hotpoint, Kenmore, KitchenAid, LG, Maytag, Roper, Samsung, Sears, Speed Queen, Tappan, and Whirlpool.
If your brand isn’t listed, give us a call — we may still be able to help, or we’ll tell you straight if we can’t.
How quickly can you come out?
Most calls placed before noon are scheduled same-day. Calls later in the day are usually next-day. We’re open Monday through Sunday, 8am to 7pm, and we’ll give you a 2-3 hour arrival window when you book.
What does the diagnostic cost?
The diagnostic visit is $50 for dryers and $65 for washers, and it’s waived in full if you decide to go ahead with the repair — you pay $0 for the diagnostic when you book the fix. If you need both appliances looked at the same day, the second unit at the same address adds $30 to the diagnostic (so a washer + dryer combo visit is $95 if you don’t repair, $0 if you do).
How long does a typical repair take?
Most repairs are completed in a single visit, usually within 45-90 minutes once the technician has diagnosed the issue. If a part needs to be ordered, we’ll let you know up front and schedule a return visit, typically within a few business days.
What’s covered by your 3-month warranty?
Both parts and labor for the specific repair we performed. If the same issue recurs within 3 months, we come back and fix it at no charge. The warranty applies to the repair work itself — it doesn’t cover new, unrelated issues with the appliance.