GE GFDS255 (01) PDF Document

To reduce the risk of fire, explosion, electric shock, or injury when using your GE GFDS255, follow basic precautions, including the following:

• Read all instructions before using the appliance.

• DO NOT dry articles that have been previously cleaned in, washed in, soaked in or spotted with gasoline, dry-cleaning solvents, or other flammable or explosive substances, as they give off vapors that could ignite or explode.

• DO NOT allow children to play on or in this appliance. Close supervision of children is necessary when this appliance is used near children. Before the appliance is removed from service or discarded, remove the door to the drying compartment.

• DO NOT reach into the appliance if the drum is moving.

• DO NOT install or store this appliance where it will be exposed to the weather.

• DO NOT tamper with controls, repair or replace any part of this appliance or attempt any servicing unless specifically recommended in the user maintenance instructions or in published user repair instructions that you understand and have the skills to carry out.

• DO NOT use fabric softeners or products to eliminate static unless recommended by the manufacturer of the fabric softener or product.

• DO NOT use heat to dry articles containing foam rubber or similarly textured rubber-like materials.

• Clean lint screen before or after each load. DO NOT operate the dryer without the lint filter in place.

• Do not store combustible materials, gasoline or other flammable liquids near the dryer. Keep area around the exhaust opening and adjacent surrounding areas free from the accumulation of lint, dust and dirt. Keep the dryer area clear and free from items that would obstruct the flow of combustion and ventilation air.

• The interior of the appliance and exhaust duct should be cleaned periodically by qualified service personnel.

• DO NOT place items exposed to cooking oils in your dryer. Items contaminated with cooking oils may contribute to a chemical reaction that could cause a load to catch fire.

• Keep the floor around your appliances clean and dry to reduce the possibility of slipping.

• Unplug the appliance or turn off the circuit breaker before servicing. Pressing the Power or Start/Pause button DOES NOT disconnect power.

• DO NOT operate this appliance if it is damaged, malfunctioning, partially disassembled, or has missing or broken parts, including a damaged cord or plug.

• DO NOT spray any type of aerosol into, on or near the dryer at any time. Do not use any type of spray cleaner when cleaning the dryer interior. Hazardous fumes or electrical shock could occur.

• See “Electrical Connection” located in the Installation Instructions for grounding instructions.

Explosion Hazard:

• Keep flammable materials and vapors, such as gasoline, away from the dryer.

• DO NOT dry anything that has ever had anything flammable on it (even after washing).

• Failure to do so can result in death, explosion, or fire.

Fire Hazard:

• No washer can completely remove oil.

• Do not dry anything that has ever had any type of oil on it (including cooking oils).

• Items containing foam, rubber, or plastic must be dried on a clothesline or by using an air dry cycle.

• Failure to follow these instructions can result in death or fire.

Follow these steps for a quick start on your GE GFDS255 dryer:

1. Press the Power button. If the screen is dark, a press of the Power button will “wake up” the display.

2. Select a dry cycle. Defaults are set for each cycle, but these can be changed.

3. Press the Start/Pause button.

The dry cycle on your GE GFDS255 controls the length and tumble speed of the drying process. Here are the available cycles and their uses:

Normal/Mixed Loads: For loads consisting of cottons and poly-blends.

Cottons: For cottons and most linens.

Bulky/Bedding: For large coats, bed spreads, mattress covers, sleeping bags, blankets, comforters, jackets, small rugs, and similar large and bulky items.

Active Wear: Clothing worn for active sports, exercise, and some casual wear. Fabrics include new technology finishes and stretch fibers such as Spandex. Also for clothing labeled Easy Care or Perma Press for wrinkle-free and permanent press items.

Delicates: For lingerie and special-care fabrics.

Speed Dry: For small loads that are needed in a hurry, such as sports or school uniforms. Can also be used if the previous cycle left some items damp, such as collars or waistbands.

Towels/Sheets: Use for towels OR sheets. It is not recommended to mix towels and sheets in the same load.

Sanitize: Reduces certain types of bacteria by 99.8%, including: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The antibacterial process occurs when high heat is used during a portion of this drying cycle.

Steam Dewrinkle Full Loads: Ideal for loads left in the dryer for an extended time.

Warm Up: Provides 10 minutes of warming time to warm up clothes.

Air Fluff: Use to tumble items without heat.

Time Dry: Use to set your own dry time. This is also recommended for small loads. To use: 1. Turn the dry cycle dial to Time Dry. 2. Increase the drying time by pressing the Add Time button. Note: This button only increases the time. When max time is reached, pressing the button again will reset the counter to the lowest setting. 3. Select the Temp. 4. Close the door. 5. Press Start/Pause.

You can change the temperature of your dry cycle by pressing the Temp button. Here are the available options for your GE GFDS255:

On your GE GFDS255, the sensor continuously monitors the amount of moisture in the load. When the moisture reaches your selected dry level, the dryer will stop. Note that the sensor dry Level only works with Cottons, Normal, Active Wear, Delicates, Speed Dry, Bulky, Towels/Sheets, Sanitize, and Steam Dewrinkle cycles.

The My Cycle feature on your GE GFDS255 allows you to set up your favorite combination of settings and save them for one-touch recall.

To store a My Cycle combination of settings:

1. Select your drying cycle.

2. Change Temp and Level settings to fit your needs.

3. Select any drying options you want.

4. Press and hold the My Cycle button for 3 seconds to store your selection. A beep will sound and the button will light up.

To recall your stored My Cycle combination:

Press the MY CYCLE button before drying a load.

To change your stored My Cycle combination:

Repeat steps 1–4.

Your GE GFDS255 dryer includes several special options to enhance your drying cycles:

• eDry: Reduces the total energy consumption of specific dryer cycles by adjusting certain heat settings. Note that cycle times will change when e-Dry is selected. This can be used with Cottons, Normal, Active Wear, Delicates, Speed Dry, Bulky, Towels-Sheets, Sanitize, and Steam Dewrinkle cycles.

• Extended Tumble: Minimizes wrinkles by adding approximately 60 minutes of no-heat tumbling after clothes are dry. The beeper will sound every five minutes as a reminder to remove the clothes.

• Damp Alert: This option causes the dryer to beep when clothes have dried to a damp level. You can then remove items that you wish to hang dry. This can reduce the need to iron some items.

• Delay Dry: Use this to delay the start of your dryer.

1. Choose your dry cycle and any options.

2. Press Delay Dry. You can change the delay time in 1-hour increments using the Delay Dry button.

3. Press the Start/Pause button to start the countdown.

Note: If the door is opened while the dryer is in Delay Dry, the countdown time will not restart unless the door is closed and the Start/Pause button has been pressed again.

• Lock Control: You can lock the controls to prevent any selections from being made, or you can lock/unlock the controls after you have started a cycle. To lock or unlock the dryer controls, press and hold the Lock Control button for 3 seconds. The Power button can still be used when the machine is locked.

• Clean Filter Message: This message is a reminder and does not always appear when the filter needs cleaning. The filter should be cleaned after every drying cycle. This message will disappear after the Start/Pause button is pressed.

• Display Screen: The display shows the approximate time remaining until the end of the cycle. As the cycle begins, you will see an initial approximate total cycle time. Then, lights will “race” in the display, which means the dryer is continuously monitoring the moisture in the load. The lights will continue until the dryer senses a low level of moisture. At that point, the dryer will calculate and display the approximate time remaining.

Always follow the fabric manufacturer’s care label when laundering. Here are some hints for your GE GFDS255:

• As a general rule, if clothes are sorted properly for the washer, they are sorted properly for the dryer.

• Try to sort items according to size. For example, do not dry a sheet with socks or other small items.

• Do not add fabric softener sheets once the load has become warm. They may cause fabric softener stains.

• Do not overload. This wastes energy and causes wrinkling.

• The Exterior: Wipe or dust any spills or washing compounds with a damp cloth. Dryer control panel and finishes may be damaged by some laundry pretreatment soil and stain remover products. Apply these products away from the dryer.

• The Lint Filter: Clean the lint filter before each use. Pull out the lint filter. Moisten your fingers and remove the captured lint. Once clean, slide the filter back into position. Have a qualified technician vacuum the lint from the dryer once a year. NEVER OPERATE THE DRYER WITHOUT ITS FILTER IN PLACE.

• Stainless Steel: To clean stainless steel surfaces use a damp cloth with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner suitable for stainless steel surfaces. Remove the cleaner residue and then dry with a clean cloth. The stainless steel used to make the dryer drum provides the highest reliability. If the dryer drum should be scratched or dented during normal use, the drum will not rust or corrode.

• Dryer Interior and Duct: The interior of the appliance and exhaust duct should be cleaned once a year by qualified service personnel.

• The Exhaust Duct: Inspect and clean the exhaust ducting at least once a year to prevent clogging. A partially clogged exhaust can lengthen the drying time.

• The Exhaust Hood: Check with a mirror that the inside flaps of the hood move freely when operating. Make sure that there is no wildlife (birds, insects, etc.) nesting inside the duct or hood.

• Drum Lamp (on GFDS255 model): The drum lamp automatically turns on when the dryer door is open. Before replacing the light bulb, be sure to unplug the dryer power cord or disconnect the dryer at the household distribution panel. Reach above the dryer opening from inside the drum. Remove the bulb and replace with the same size bulb (appliance bulb 7C7 or part WE4M305).

Some shaking or noise is normal for the GE GFDS255. However, if it seems excessive, the dryer may be sitting unevenly. You should move the dryer to an even floor space, or adjust the leveling legs as necessary until it is even.

If your clothes are taking too long to dry in your GE GFDS255, it could be due to several reasons:

• Improper or obstructed ducting: Check the Installation Instructions to make sure the dryer venting is correct. Make sure the ducting is clean, free of kinks, and unobstructed. Also, check to see if the outside wall damper operates easily.

• Improper sorting: Separate heavy items from lightweight items. A well-sorted washer load is a well-sorted dryer load.

• Large loads of heavy fabrics: Large, heavy fabrics contain more moisture and take longer to dry. Separate them into smaller loads to speed up drying time.

• Controls improperly set: Match the control settings to the load you are drying.

• Lint filter is full: Clean the lint filter before every load.

• Blown fuses or tripped circuit breaker: Replace fuses or reset circuit breakers. Since most dryers use 2 fuses/breakers, make sure both are operating.

• Overloading/combining loads: Do not put more than one washer load in the dryer at a time.

• Underloading: If you are drying only one or two items, add a few items to ensure proper tumbling.

If your clothes are still damp in your GE GFDS255, consider the following:

• Load consists of a mixture of heavy and light fabrics: When combining heavy and light fabrics in a load, choose the More Dry setting.

• Exhaust system is blocked: Inspect and clean the exhaust system.

If the control buttons on your GE GFDS255 are unresponsive, check these possible causes:

• Controls accidentally put in service mode: Press Start/Pause.

• Controls accidentally put in lock mode: Hold the Lock Control button for 3 seconds to unlock the dryer.

• Controls performed an incorrect operation: Reset the in-house breaker.

If your GE GFDS255 dryer fails to start, here are some things to check:

• Control panel is “asleep”: This is normal. Press Power to activate the control panel.

• Dryer is unplugged: Make sure the dryer plug is pushed completely into the outlet.

• Fuse is blown/circuit breaker is tripped: Check the building’s fuse/circuit breaker box and replace the fuse or reset the breaker. Electric dryers use two fuses or breakers.

• Dryer was accidentally paused when starting Delay Dry: If the light on the Start/Pause button is flashing, the dryer is paused. Press Start/Pause to restart the countdown.

This is normal behavior for the GE GFDS255. The dryer is continuously monitoring the amount of moisture in the clothes. When the dryer senses a low level of moisture in the load, it will then display the dry time remaining.

This is normal. The estimated time on your GE GFDS255 may change when a smaller load than usual is drying.

This is normal. The dryness Level, Temp, or option that you are trying to select is incompatible with the chosen dry cycle on your GE GFDS255.

This is normal behavior for the GE GFDS255. The Ext Tumble (Extended Tumble) option was chosen. During extended tumbling, the time remaining is not displayed. This option lasts approximately 60 minutes.

If your GE GFDS255 tumbles but does not heat, the cause is likely a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. Check the building’s fuse/circuit breaker box and replace both fuses or reset both breakers. Your dryer may tumble if only one fuse is blown or one breaker is tripped.

If your clothes are wrinkled after a cycle in the GE GFDS255, it could be due to:

• Overdrying: Select a shorter drying time. Remove items while they still hold a slight amount of moisture by selecting a Less Dry or Damp setting.

• Letting items sit in dryer after cycle ends: Remove items when the cycle ends and fold or hang them immediately, or use the Ext Tumble option.

• Overloading: Separate large loads into smaller ones.

Some fabrics will naturally shrink when washed. Others can be safely washed, but will shrink in the dryer. To avoid shrinkage, follow garment care labels exactly. Some items may be pressed back into shape after drying. If you are concerned about shrinkage in a particular item, do not machine wash or tumble dry it.

Greasy spots can appear for several reasons:

• Improper use of fabric softener: Follow the directions on the fabric softener package.

• Drying dirty items with clean ones: Use your GE GFDS255 dryer to dry only clean items. Dirty items can stain clean items and the dryer.

• Clothes were not completely clean: Sometimes stains which cannot be seen when the clothes are wet appear after drying. Use proper washing procedures before drying.

If you are finding lint on your clothes after using the GE GFDS255, check the following:

• Lint filter is full: Clean the lint screen before each load.

• Improper sorting: Sort lint producers (like chenille) from lint collectors (like corduroy).

• Static electricity can attract lint: See suggestions for static issues.

• Overloading: Separate large loads into smaller ones.

• Paper, tissue, etc., left in pockets: Empty all pockets before laundering clothes.

Static can occur in your GE GFDS255 for these reasons:

• No fabric softener was used: Try using a fabric softener.

• Overdrying: Try a fabric softener. Adjust the setting to Less Dry or Damp.

• Synthetics, permanent press and blends can cause static: Try a fabric softener.

This happens because the dryness monitor on your GE GFDS255 senses that the body of the clothes is dry. To dry damp collars and waistbands, choose Speed Dry or Time Dry. In the future, when drying a load with collars and waistbands, choose More Dry.

Yes, this is normal. Due to the metallic properties of the paint used for this product, slight variations of color may occur due to viewing angles and lighting conditions.