A dryer works by forcing air past a heating element, through the drum where the clothes are, and out a vent. If there are any restrictions in the air flow, not enough hot air will move through the system.
Let's take this dryer for example
The motor rotates the drum, which tumbles the cloths. It also spins the blower, which draws air in through the intake, through a heater (which could be gas, electric, etc.), through the clothes filled drum, past the lint screen, and eventually out the exhaust.
Notice after the air leaves the drum, it takes moisture and lint with it. Some of the lint is caught by the lint screen, but not all of it. Over time, lint can build up inside the dryer beyond the screen. If this lint is not cleared out, and is allowed to accumulate. The air flow through the entire system will be restricted. Which means less hot air will move through the drum, and your clothes will not dry.
Another common problem, is flexible exhaust tubing.
This stuff doesn't have a smooth interior wall, which can often lead to lint accumulating in the pipe. This also leads to a restriction of air flow through the system, and again reduced drying.
Often times this flexible tubing is plastic, which is even worse since it's flammable. If for some reason the lint in the tube ignites, the tube itself will burn as well rather than containing the fire.
tl;dr
The easiest ways to insure proper drying are:
- Clean lint screen after every use.
- Remove lint from inside the dryer (see manufacturer documentation for schedule and procedure).
- Remove lint from exhaust plumbing.
Find the maintenance manual for your drier. (It may be online from the manufacturer, or there are services which will sell you a download for a few dollars). Unplug the drier, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for opening it up. You'll probably find yourself looking at the drum, with plenty of space to drive screws back in. (You may or may not find the lost screws in the bottom of the machine).
If you don't have sufficient space, follow the instructions for dismounting the drum. Re-affix the fin, then follow the instructions for reinstalling the drum.
Follow the instructions for closing the patient. Plug it back in and make sure it still runs. If not, take it apart again and figure out what you did wrong.
The nut is much bigger than the male part on the dryer. What part on Amazon or Home Depot would help me couple these? I'm not looking to buy a $30 new flexpipe if a coupler will suffice, unless you all think its unsafe. I have proper gas taping waiting for me.
Best Answer
The fitting your link leads to is likely NOT the fitting you need.
Your dryer has a male 3/8" NPT (commonly referred to as 3/8" pipe thread) inlet to which an adapter has been attached. The adapter changes the male 3/8" NPT to 3/8" male flare thread to fit a smaller flex supply tube than the one in your second picture. NOTE- NPT (pipe thread) and flare thread are distinctly and deliberately not compatible with each other, hence the use of an adapter.
To connect your flexible supply tube to the dryer you would need to remove the existing adapter from your dryer inlet and install a fitting that will fit your flex line. I suspect that the connection nuts on your flex line have 1/2" flare threads (I say "suspect" because your picture does not show the inside of the nut; disregard the size stamped on the nut because that is a reference to the nominal inside diameter of the flex tube itself, not the thread in the connector nut).
You will need this adapter: 3/8" FIP (female iron pipe; or "pipe thread") x 1/2" male flare. It will look like this:
NOTE- always ensure that your flex supply line is rated for use with the fuel supply (in your case propane/LPG). Also, the manufacturers of those flex supply lines generally consider them a "one time use" product and do not recommend re-using them.