Twisted metal strap in drum

[KevinH]

Hi there. I found a stainless steel strap (see attached photo) approx 10mm wide and 150 mm long buried in a load of dried clothes within our Hotpoint tumble dryer. It may have come from the dryer or alternatively was wrapped  up in the clothes from the wash in our Indesit washing machine. There was also a very small screw in there. There is a screw hole in one end, and the strap is twisted like a corkscrew at the other end and has sheared off at the other screw hole end suggesting it's been twisted then torn off during a spin cycle. I've looked in the drums of both machines and can see where it could of come from inside, but can't see how it would have got inside the drum. Any ideas? Could I still run either machine without the strap or attempting a repair? Many thanks. 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

I was wondering if it could be a heater bracket holding the element in place. It doesn't look like the thickness of metal normally used in washing machines though. But it seems unlikely someone would have had this in their pocket so it must have come form the washing machine or dryer. Do not leave the washing machine running until you are happy it isn't going to leak. Test it with a normal load of washing inside and listen out for knocking or tapping noises. If it were me I would disconnect from the mains, take off the top and back panel and have a good look inside first to see if you can see anything.

[Kal402]

I have had exactly the same thing happen this evening. 

Found a twisted metal strap, very similar to the one pictured. There was no screw at one end and it was sheared at the other. It was twisted up a lot more than yours. 

I found it in the drying pulled out of my relatively new Hotpoint dryer. 

I use a Bosch washing machine, rather than Indesit. 

Would be interested to know what on earth it is. 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Both found inside Hotpoint tumble dryers? 

[KevinH]

Yes appears to be a Hotpoint issue. I haven't taken mine apart yet. Thinking of running it and seeing what happens 

[Kal402]

I did a basic strip down this morning 

There was also a tear in one of the mesh panels in the filter. Understandable if a piece of metal was whizzing around inside. 

I took out the condenser unit underneath and it looked to be ok. There are screws on the side walls, near the front. One looks to be slightly out of place and a little sign of rust on it already. I wonder if anyone has an image of a new condenser unit? Does it have any metal strap screwed onto it?

[Kal402]

I ran a damp old tea towel through it also and it sounded fine. There was no damage to the fabric either 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

I can’t imagine how anything from inside a dryer could get into the drum. The only entrance into it is where the hot air is blown into the drum. 

If the filter is damaged btw. Get it replaced ASAP as fluff can build up on the element and the whole thing can catch fire. 

[KevinH]

Hi there. Yes very strange how it got in. The machine runs but doesn't dry anything so will have to get it fixed. Thanks for the advice. 

 

[Kal402]

Just an update

I had Hotpoint visit to inspect my machine as it was still under guarantee. I had noticed that any program other than the 30 or 60 minute cycles would stop after about 15-20 minutes. 

Their engineer identified that a sensor was missing that told the machine if the clothes were dry or not. He said it was a strip of metal and asked if I had found one in the dryer recently. 

Problem solved. Parts ordered and now awaiting them to come back and fit them. 

[KevinH]

Hi Kal402, thanks so much for the info. We've booked a dryer repairman to come in a week or so. He didn't know what the metal strip was. I think we're experiencing similar problems as you with the different cycles so we'll double check and also send him this post. Thanks again and I'll update this post once we know for definite. Best wishes. 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Thanks for the updates. Well that doesn't remotely look like a sensor. It just looks like a long metal strip. Surely a sensor needs electrical connections. I also cannot 
imagine how a sensor that should be fitted to the outside of the drum could get inside the drum. Even if it was fitted on top of the drum on a washer-dryer close to the heating element, if it somehow fell into the machine it would fall into the gap between the inner drum and outer drum and I cannot imagine I could possibly get inside the drum.

Very weird. Any further details or photos would be very useful and interesting thanks.

[Emma]

I woke up to find the exact same thing in my tumble dryer with all the clothes all twisted around it . Managed to free the clothes.its exactly like that but sticking out of the back of the front  wall of the dryer. I can't seem to add pics. It works but the drum won't soon unless you push by hand. 

[Dantm]

I have just had to ring an engineer for the same problem it's a hotpoint aquarius dryer the twisted metal strip is still attached to the front inner wall of my dryer and had all the clothes wrapped around it. Did anyone find a answer as to what this strip is? 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Good question. Hopefully if not then you can supply an answer after your engineer has been? It still looks like a part of the main drum to me.

[Hitch]

Same thing here- this is the second time it’s happened in a year to us, each time with a relatively new machine

Edited December 4, 2019 by Hitch
Added photo

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Very weird. It still looks like part of the stainless inner drum to me.

[Charlie]

It's a sensor strip which is screwed to the inside of the front air duct, the electrical terminal at the end of the strip fits through the duct and attaches to a spade connector

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

So if found it needs an engineer to fix.

[Erin]

Seems to be an issue with hotppint dryers..mine is just under 2 years old..had to have a new belt on recently and now this exact same thing..the sensor strip..it's still screwed in but the other end has just come off..it twisted around the washing ripping some of the clothes attached to it..it was a mangled mess..and pushed on the door that much it popped open from the force of the mangled clothes pushing against it..

I wish I'd kept my old hotpoint dryer and had the fix on it when they were being recalled for fire hazard..my old 1 was 6 years old and not a problem with it..I just feel these new ones aren't built to last!!

[andyr12345]

does indeed look like the moisture sensor bar , at the bottom of the drum , inside the drum itself - imaging that tearing off like that. Pretty bad. All i can think is that a bit of clothing catches on the metal strip sensor and then must 'pull' it out of the sensor bar housing cover . pretty poor design in that respect . I have just bought a new BEKO vented tumble dryer with sensor drying and I have noticed on these new ones they have removed the moisture bars totally from inside the drum altogether and have now put a sensor for detecting the moisture right underneath the lint/fluff filter now. Harder to get to, to clean, but no change of it getting ripped off and caught up in your washing though! 

 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Many thanks Andy.

[Rubysapphire]

I’ve had this happen yesterday with hotpoint year old not great especially for a year old dryer