Warning about Electrolux dryers with steam function

4 years ago

Our dryer caused a FLOOD in our laundry room. Yes, you read that correctly. Shortly after a small load of clothes on a normal dry cycle was complete, I walked by our laundry room and discovered the floor of our laundry room was completely covered in water. The dryer was finished its (normal) cycle but water was shooting out of the closed door. Turns out that the steam valve malfunctioned and was shooting water into the dryer vent which subsequently leaked onto the floor. We rarely use the steam function and it hadn't been used for the load that ended up leaking.

We disconnected the water valve to the dryer and will live without the steam function. It is not worth the potential damage that could have been done if that water had continued spewing.

Featured Answer

georgect

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

I understand (Decor Devotee) that you were actively using your dryer and no, this should not have happened and I'm sorry to hear that it did.

This is why, when I'm done doing laundry for the day I turn off the water supply lines.

This could happen to any appliance connected to a water supply line like dadoes pointed out.

I have an Electrolux washer and dryer (70 series WaveTouch) and did have to replace my dryer inlet valve mister three years into owning it. It stopped working, either it was clogged or the valve was not opening.

I always use it not really for the steam but to let the water flow out of the hose so it doesn't sit there in the hose and get funky.

If you want you can order a replacement online either from an appliance repair store or Amazon etc.

This could have been even worse if you didn't catch it.

This is why I always say, TURN OFF YOUR WATER SUPPLY LINES TO YOUR WASHER/DRYER when not in use.

NEVER leave a washer/dryer unattended (don't leave the house while machines are running).

You could return to a house burned down or flooded or worse.

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Comments (6)

dadoes
4 years ago
Any appliance connected to a water supply is subject to flooding if the inlet valve fails ... refrigerators with ice makers and/or water dispensers, dedicated ice makers, dishwashers, washing machines, and now clothes dryers.
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armjim
4 years ago
georgect, I always wonder about turning off the water supply to the washer when it is not in use. All the vintage owner's manuals routinely suggested doing just that. Mine is fairly accessible so I could do it, but I never have. 27 years ago I had a hose burst to my Kenmore washer, and what a nightmare that was. That incident is what made me always make certain my washer and that of family and friends has the braided/flexible steel inlet hoses. I would be interested in verifiable statistics about these incidents-they are probably available if we searched.
dadoes
4 years ago
Interesting that shutting off the water supply to appliances during periods of non-use (or extended absence) is always mentioned in regards to washing machines. Dishwashers, refrigerators ... toilets, sinks ... seemingly aren't considered a risk.

My grandmother once had one of the supply lines (I don't recall if hot or cold) to her kitchen faucet burst under the sink.

I was one morning years ago leaving for work after finishing a toilet call. Was a step away from out-the-door and heard an odd noise from the bathroom direction. I almost disregarded it for a one-off toilet fill oddity, but went back to look and found the fill tube inside the tank (feeding up to to float valve) had split and was spewing full-force flow into the tank, spraying upwards against the lid, and the tank was running over.
Patricia Peters
2 years ago
Same thing just happened to me!
HU-613650620
2 years ago
Same happened to me. The steamer valve malfunction. It' just never stop shooting water so I just disconnected the hose. Is this can cause any other problem , the fact that i didn't change the valve. Naturally i dont use the steam function.