Kitchen Gas Appliances - Older Matag dryer pilot orifice blockage

Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.



PDA
phil2246
04-04-05, 03:27 PM
I have a 30 year old Matag gas dryer. Yesterday I was going to dry cloths and I noticed that the pilot wasn't on. I tryed to light it several times but I was unsuccesful. So, I decieded to take the dryer apart and see what was the trouble. Well it turned out to be the orifice for the pilot was blocked completly. I took a small strand of copper wire and cleaned it out. I put things back together and the dryer is working fine.
I just want to know what caused the blockage and is their something I can do to stop it from happening again. Can I clean the orifice in some type of liquid. It seems to be made of aluminum. Should I get a new part, if they have them.

Phil

mbk3
04-04-05, 05:43 PM
Sounds like you did a great job. There is nothing you can do to prevent an orifice from becoming plugged. The gas may have a little junk in it or the gas moving thru the pipes dislodge a little dirt or whatever. When you clean an orifice that means cleaning not enlarging. Be very careful.