A recent post here reported having trouble with bunches of lint built-up in the filter area, requiring manual disassembly and cleaning by a service tech ... who also changed some part or other of the filter assembly to a new design that's supposed to help minimize the trouble.

My SmartLoad is just past two years old and I've not had any lint trouble. I'm considering disassembling the filter mechanism to check it out just in case there's some build-up happening.

I've also run across some service info related to squeaking noises either during start-up or while running (whichever). I don't have the full details, but it seems that lubrication of particular part of the drum mechanism is the fix. I suggest not trying to do that without confirming exactly where, and I'd certainly *not* put any oil or lube on the drive belt.

Perhaps you could call F&P customer service to inquire about the situation?

razl,
Read my post dated Nov. 21. I had the same problems you did and I called F&P customer service, and they sent out a repairman. The new design of the circular lint filter doesn't have those 1/4" notches on the inside of the little holes, which is catching and trapping the lint.

Hi there - dadoes and babla,

Thanks to both of your for your notes. Babla, I read your November 21 posting and it describes my problems exactly! The squeak went away, came back and then suddenly the heat went out. The repair folks are coming this week - not soon enough! I even called them back and told them about the lint problem to see if they have a new filter part - not sure they do, but he'll take a look and then order one if they don't have it. I'll keep you updated on the resolution.

Thanks again!

In case anyone is interested, here is the link to babla's original message with a description of the issue(s) he is having.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg1110534625328.html

razl,
Yes, please keep me updated. I am curious what your repairman says and does relative to the same problems. My dryer has been working great since the last repair, but it was a long month at the laundromat during all the repairs!

I'm having similar issues. This will be my third service call on this dryer in the two years I have had it. Mine quit heating and the dryer door cracked at the hinges. It took about a week to get someone to come out. Parts had to be ordered and it took about two weeks. Now the dryer is squeaking terribly. Black soot like deposits are getting on my laundry. I called Lowe's and they told me to unplug it and not use it. I dread seeing how long it will take if a part has to be ordered. My laundry is backed up from the last repair.

I did not think about how hard it would be to find a repairman or to get parts for this model. I did not expect to have so many problems in the first two years of owning it. I unscrewed the housing for the lint bucket and it was full of lint. On the right side there was black looking residue that looks like soot. I left the lint for the repairman to see and then put the housing back in.

Thanks.

Cindy

Cindy,
Yes, I forgot about the black marks on my laundry. That only happened with one load, then it stopped after the dryer was repaired.

When you need repairs, are you calling Lowe's or F&P Customer Service? I found that calling F&P was more helpful because they sent a repairman was was knowledgable about their machines.

I hope you have better luck getting your F&P Dryer fixed than I have had. The repair guy -- I know his name, and the repair facility phone number BY HEART -- is coming out for the 6th time since April 2005.

This time it's been non-working since Dec 6th. Between the delay in getting parts, F&P shipping the WRONG part, 3 days delays in getting an appointment, I'm getting progressively unhappier with this dryer.

My plain old Kenmore dryer cost 1/3 as much and went 16 years without a single repair or glitch. The F&P toploader is gorgeous and sexy, and doesn't get our king-sized sheets knotted up, but for the money, this machine needs to be more reliable.

I will never buy an F&P toploader dryer again.

We've had our F&P dryer since July and have been pleased with it overall. I must say I am concerned about the reliability but the top load solved numerous space issues for us.

The first one arrived DOA. The second has worked fine but is making some noises. It's difficult to tell if they are a natural noise of the dryer(which is known for some atypical sounds anyway) or if there is truly something wrong.

One is a high pitched sqeak that seems to appear when the dryer reverses direction. It eventually goes away but just doesn't make sense to me that it should squeak like that. The other is a grinding noise that occurs on occasion.....sounds like something is rubbing or scraping against something else and it's cyclical....meaning you hear it in rhythm with the tub turning.

Hi all,

Here is my latest update. The repairman came out before the holidays and found that it was a bearing that needed to be replaced. They didn't have one in stock so they ordered it and he said to go ahead and keep using the dryer since it would be a while - over the holidays. Kept using the dryer - the squeak would eventually fade after it started to warm up a bit. They also ordered the new lint filter part.

Repairman came back this week - installed the new lint filter part and so far so good, I can see an increase in lint in my bucket, but I still bet it will get caught behind the sensors at the bottom. Only time will tell.

Now back to the bearing. He brought a new bearing but found that while I was using the dryer this whole time, it was also wearing out the "roller" part, so he now has to get a new roller part and another new bearing. It isn't making the squeaking sound any longer, but now makes more of a "roaring" sound - which is the roller kind of "wobbling" because it has worn down somehow due to using it w/ a bad bearhing. I'm still using the dryer because he put it back together with the new bearing and said you might as well use it since I'm going to replace the two parts - and I cannot go without a dryer for weeks at a time. Apparently the parts are still under warranty, but I think I'll still have to pay for the labor - I don't know what it will end up being, but he has been very good about the whole thing.

Oh, and the soot, I saw plenty of soot when he opened up the dryer, but none of it has gotten on my clothes - I think the soot is the roller thingy and the bearing rubbing together.

I haven't had problems getting service - I purchased from a store we have purchased other things from before and they have been good about sending someone out quickly because they sold me the machine - it seems that F&P takes time to send the parts - they come from CA and we are on the east coast.

More to come when the machine is fixed for good (fingers crossed).

I'm really having problems getting service. They ordered bearings and another lint housing and said that the parts are backordered with no estimated time of arrival. My machine has not worked for weeks. They messed up the control panel sticker and repairman has the sticker finally but cannot get authorization to come and put it on my machine.

We have called Lowes and now Lowes is saying the machine is not repairable so they are refunding us the cost of the machine. I'm at a dilemma now wondering if I should try to find a f&p dryer to match my ecosmart washer or buy another brand. We are also trying to figure out if we should just wait on the parts and try to fix this one. Husband does not want non matching washer/dryer. Any suggestions? There is one company who services f&p in my area. It looks like the color of the control panel has changed on the topload dryer with the latest model.

I'm almost leaning toward selling the washer and buying a set that is easier to get service for and maybe more reliable.

Thanks,
Cindy

I have to chime in here. My F&P washer or top-load dryer put black spots on my husband's good shirt during my first load of laundry on Saturday. All the rest of the clothes washed were fine. The second load, was also fine. Is this something that is going to be hit or miss, never happen again, or is it the start of a problem that requires a service call?
Thanks for any advice.

I have only seen the black spots on my whites or very light colors. I have heard quite a few people having similar issues. f&p tech (over the phone) said new bearings should fix the squeaking but said I should not be getting this black stuff on my clothes. You may want to call fisher paykel and let them know about it. I used zout on the black spots and they came out easily.

I can't dry whites in the dryer until I get it repaired. Mine has been messed up for weeks now. Lowes told me they could not get the parts and the appliance repairman they sent out said they could not get parts. I called f&p with part numbers of what I needed and they are on the way to me right now.

I really like my dryer when it is working properly. I have had lots of problems though in the two years I've owned it. I may have just got a bad unit. Some people have had this dryer the same amount of time with no problems.

Cindy

Cindy

Hi Cindy and thanks. Actually there was one spot on the shoulder of my husband's olive green shirt and several black streaks on one arm of the same shirt. Absolutely nothing else had a spot on it. Nothing in the following washload had a spot on it. I know that these stains were not on his shirt when it went into the wash as I check every item for stains. These would have been very visible. I don't know if it occured in the washer or dryer but I suspect the dryer. No squeaking sound noticed but I will liasten when I do the next load. I tried scrubbing with Zout and washing by hand as soon as I saw these stains but they did not come out. Zout is my friend and removes almost every stain he gets. Thanks for the advice and I hope you get your problem resolved soon.

Well, the squeaking persisted so called for service. They came out this afternoon to look at it and seemed to think it was a belt. He ordered a belt and a pulley mechanism. I still think it's a bearing based on what others have posted here but we'll find out after the parts arrive.

The grinding noise wouldn't duplicate (of course) so that's still hanging out there.

I have no doubt there will be more service calls to come on this machine.

Well, the service company called last week to say the parts were in.......gee that was fast (NOT). So technician is back there now. First thing he does is call for assistance as the last training he's had on these machines was 3 YEARS AGO. That makes me feel good.

I'm still not convinced the pulley and belt are the problem, I think he pulled that diagnosis out of his rear, especially given the fact that his training on F&Ps is 3 years old.

I have a neighbor with this same dryer-so far no problems. Let us know if this fixes yours. Sure took a while to get the parts!

He didn't replace the belts afterall as he determined it was the pulley. It might be a little better but it didn't fix the problem. Still squeaks.