# Velocity's bad, bad, bad dryer machine situation **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314 "2019-05-21T20:10:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/1 "2019-05-21T20:10:38Z")
No, not that “bad” necessarily, but I’m baffled. This morning, there is a loud rustling in the area right behind my dryer machine, like some animal is moving around and rustling a big sheet of plastic in the dryer vent tubing in the walls (although that would be rather absurd.) Sound was intermittent. The whole time, the dryer was lying quiet and dormant, unused. This afternoon, I try to run a load of wet laundry, and there is a Bang! sound and then a burnt odor. I immediately shut the dryer off, but still have no clue what happened. Sent messages to the appliance company, but wonder if anyone has any clues? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/2 "2019-05-21T20:13:34Z")
Pull the…uh…dryer machine away from the wall and look. Also, sorry, but who says “dryer machine”? ---
**Author:** ![Severian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Severian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Severian)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/3 "2019-05-21T20:17:51Z")
Animals can get into dryer vents. Since you were hearing unusual noises before starting the dryer I’d start the investigation there. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/4 "2019-05-21T20:18:38Z")
Is there a reason you don’t think it was an animal? If it was making noise while not being used (assuming it wasn’t really windy out), it sounds reasonable. Is it still making noise? Are you comfortable taking the outer cover off? Are you comfortable disconnecting the exhaust duct and pulling it away from the wall? Actually, popping the top off (they usually have a few clips and then flip up like a car hood), will likely give you enough access to see inside while preventing anything still living, from getting out. Also, keep in mind, if it is still living, if it came in through the vent from outside, it’s going to be (likely) somewhere between that vent and the lint trap. If it’s still alive you can either drop a chain (or something it can climb) down the vent and hope for the best. The other option is to get a few pieces of cardboard, separate the dryer from the wall and put the two pieces of cardboard in between them. Then you can move them away from each other and figure out which side it’s on. However, you’re going to have the next few steps planned out for containing and dealing with it. If it was in your house, it likely just found a way in…and it can get itself back out. Having said all that, if you smelled burning, it’s probably dead (electrocuted or burned). If you haven’t heard any movement, just pop the top off and I’ll bet you can figure out exactly what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/5 "2019-05-21T20:37:23Z")
Thanks, having apartment maintenance come by to look. I doubt it was an animal since there are gratings/grill things that ought to keep the animals and birds out, but can’t think of what else it could have been; let’s see in an hour. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/6 "2019-05-21T20:58:20Z")
I do hope the bang doesn’t mean some animal clogged up the air intake. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/7 "2019-05-21T21:02:58Z")
Mouse and nest. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/8 "2019-05-21T22:29:47Z")
Is it a gas dryer? If so it’s a good idea to turn off the gas line behind your Automated Clothes Drying Apparatus while waiting for the maintenance guy. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/9 "2019-05-21T22:43:23Z")
**Beck** , I hope you’re pleased with yourself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/10 "2019-05-21T22:44:50Z")
I knew I’d get blamed.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/11 "2019-05-21T22:54:22Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Thanks, having apartment maintenance come by to look. I doubt it was an animal since there are gratings/grill things that ought to keep the animals and birds out, but can’t think of what else it could have been; let’s see in an hour. You’re funny. Ask any exterminator how small of a hole a rat, mouse, or snake can get into. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/12 "2019-05-22T00:54:59Z")
actually its the transmission on the dryer … ours has been replaced every year in a half since 2004 via sears warranty ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/13 "2019-05-22T03:59:03Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I knew I’d get blamed.🙂 Will the badness never end? ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/14 "2019-05-22T05:39:30Z")
Bang and a burnt odor? OMG Becky, did you waste another piggy? Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/15 "2019-05-22T05:53:47Z")
How did this happen? OMG Beck ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velocitys-bad-bad-bad-dryer-machine-situation/834314/16 "2019-05-22T05:57:47Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Mouse and nest. Moose and squirrel.