A garage is a hard room for laundry machines. It swings from very hot afternoons to cooler nights, collects dust and sometimes floods during a storm. Maytag washers and dryers handle it, but the conditions shorten the life of certain parts.
What Heat and Humidity Do
- Rubber hoses, seals and belts harden and crack faster.
- Electronic boards can fail when heat and moisture get at the connections.
- Damp air feeds mildew in a washer with a closed lid or door.
Simple Changes That Help
- Keep the lid or door open between loads so the drum dries.
- Raise the machines on a platform or pedestal if the floor ever collects water.
- Replace fill hoses on a regular schedule.
- Vacuum dust from the back panel and the dryer cabinet vents a couple of times a year.
Dryer Vent in a Garage
Garage dryers often have a short vent straight through the wall, which is good. Check that the flap opens fully and is not blocked by shelves, stored boxes or a nest. Never vent a dryer into the garage itself.
After a Storm
If water ever reached the bottom of either machine, do not run it until it has dried completely and has been checked. Water inside a control or wiring area can cause a short that does not show itself right away.
Ants, roaches and spiders also move into warm laundry cabinets. Insects chewing on wiring or nesting in a control area are a real cause of odd behavior, so keep the area around both machines clean and sealed against gaps.
We service machines in garages and utility rooms through Maytag washer repair, and can look at the setup in the same visit. Our service area page lists the counties we cover.