Gas Dryer Conversion

[JCM 9,993]

Back 15 years ago I removed all the electric appliances,  combination electric and hydronic heat in the house  The heat was replaced with a new cast iron  boiler and baseboard keeping it hydronic and 2 kick space heaters. I didn't feel comfortable at all with electric everything living in the Maine woods because of the frequency of power outages. Three years ago I replaced the Gas dryer with a Speed Queen because of its reputation and simplicity. This is our second dryer since purchase of the house. The first gas dryer I had our Propane company do the conversion. Having a Gas License and some more time than I had back then I decided to convert this one myself. This was quite involved because of what had to be removed to access the gas burner. It seems to me a nice 12'' x 12'' removable panel at the lower left bottom  side could have been included in the build process ? The belt behind the drum was fun to get back on. Anyway, enjoy the pictures and comments suggested.

[oliver2-44 10,274]

Amazingly similar to my GE electric dryer. Yours just has a burner sticking into the tube where mine has an electric coil. Like you, I had to disassemble a lot just to replace a front roller. Replaced all of them since it was apart. 

[Pullstart 64,388]

I just recently did some LP to Natural gas conversions at two homes.  One dryer was a Speed Queen and one was an LG.  Both front loaders.  The LG was TERRIBLE to get apart and there are so many different variants, I could not find a good online tutorial.  The Speed Queen did have a front access panel and everything required was right there easily accessible.  Unfortunately, the dryer vent was not hooked up well and the entire case was lined with about a 1/4” lint insulation blanket that had caught fire and smoldered all morning in there.  I refused service and did not want to live with any repercussions of the stink, or any burnt panels or wires.  It did however grant me another return job, to rework the vent install and clean their vent duct.

[ri702bill 8,926]

43 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

and clean their vent duct.

I take my Natural Gas dryer down off the pedestal once a year (at least) to remove the drum & plenum to vacuum it out.

And then fire up the gas leaf blower to clean out the vent.

[squonk 42,368]

Speed Queen, Kenmore, Whirlpool GE are all similar. My dryer has been apart so many times I can almost do it in my sleep.

 

Fun fact: Getting a used dryer. We had a local used appliance store. It's gone now but we had bought like 4 dryers over the years. Taking the front off as soon as the warranty expired was like a treasure hunt. Usually would get a buck or 2 of change, some paper clips, earrings, screws ect.