dryerelectrical
Opened my Whirlpool electric dryer to clean out the lint vent and found this. Is this supposed to be here? If so, should it be burnt. I also found a few loose screws on the floor of the dryer so am wondering if this was something that was supposed to be removed during manufacturing that was forgotten.
They make Dryer Vent Cleaning Kits for this very purpose:
As to why there is water in there - hopefully it's just condensation.
Pop open the front panel under the door and vacuum out the lint. It collects inside the housing and pieces get drawn into the air heating elements and blown into the drum. Having nothing to do with the lint trap, this stuff accumulates because it slowly migrates through the felt drum seal.
You may have a potentially dangerous situation here. Any other type of materials that get into the cabinet will also get vacuumed up and blown through the heating elements (glowing coils) which essentially turns them into glowing embers.
The air heater has a thermal limit switch that is supposed to break power to the elements if they're overheating. This kind of overheating will brown large areas, not pinpoints.
Make this cleaning task a six month or yearly scheduled event.
Best Answer
That looks like a heat barrier pad that has fallen out of some strategic Location. Would be wise to do a little research to find out where it belongs.