You can keep your boots in top condition by investing in a quality boot dryer. A boot dryer allows you to dry your shoes immediately after use, making it the perfect equipment for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. This dryer can also eliminate foul smells from your shoes and prevent mold and bacteria growth.
Can a Boot Dryer Overheat?
A high-quality boot dryer isn’t supposed to overheat with proper use and regular maintenance. But overheating can occur if there are issues with your dryer’s heating element, ventilation, or thermostat. Here’s what to do if you detect overheating:
Assess Your Dryer’s Heating Element
Some dryers have heating coils, which dry boots by turning the trapped moisture into water vapor. These dryers can overheat when the coils are faulty. Overheating may result from the coils dislodging or buckling and coming into contact with other components.
You can check whether your dryer’s heating coil is faulty using a multimeter. Switch your dryer off, locate its heating coil, remove all connector wires, and then check for continuity. Your coil may need a replacement if there’s continuity on either terminal. Call a professional to handle the replacement, as you may cause further damage if you don’t know how to fix dryers.
Check Your Dryer’s Fan
The fan is a key component in a boot dryer, as it triggers air movement, removing humid air from your boots and into the atmosphere. It must be clean and in good condition to facilitate air movement. Otherwise, it can make your dryer overheat.
To resolve this issue, you need to check your fan to confirm nothing is clogging it. If dirty, call a professional to clean it to prevent future overheating.
Check Your Dryer’s Thermostat
Some dryers have thermostats, which turn the machines off when they overheat. When faulty, the thermostat can’t detect overheating and shut off the heating element. This may be the reason for your dryer’s overheating.
Check your thermostat only after assessing your heating element and ventilation and confirming they’re not the problem. You can resolve overheating problems resulting from a faulty thermostat by getting a new one. A professional should install the new thermostat to keep your dryer in optimal working condition.
How Do You Maintain Your Boot Dryer’s Efficiency?
You can prevent overheating and keep your dryer operating at optimal efficiency by using it appropriately. Here are some tips to help you:
Remove Debris From Your Boots
You should clean your boots before drying them to lower the risk of debris blocking your dryer’s ventilation. If you can’t clean them, remove solid debris by hand before placing boots on your dryer. This can help you prevent ventilation blockages when you’re on the move or if you don’t have water to clean your boots.
Soak Up Excess Moisture
Some boot dryers are designed to handle everything from soaking wet shoes to damp ones, whereas others can only dry damp boots. Confirm whether your dryer falls in the former or latter category before using it to prevent damage. If yours can only dry damp items, remove excess moisture from your boots before drying them to prevent them from overworking. You can remove the excess moisture using towels or newspapers.
Store Your Dryer Appropriately
You can prevent damage to your dryer’s components by storing them properly after use. Disconnect your dryer from your power source whenever it’s not in use and store it in a safe place. You can store it in its original packaging for guaranteed safety.
Do You Need a Boot Dryer?
A boot dryer is a must-have if you’re an outdoorsy person who enjoys activities like hiking, fishing, hunting, or skiing. It’s also useful for utility and construction professionals as their work requires being outside despite the weather conditions. A dryer allows you to partake in your hobbies and do your job even on rainy days, as you don’t need to wait hours for your boots to dry.
Keep Your Shoes Dry
A boot dryer can help you enjoy spending time outdoors, as it can dry your shoes quickly despite weather conditions. High-quality boot dryers are built to last with proper care, so you don't need to worry about overheating if you use your equipment appropriately. Remove debris and excess moisture from your boots before drying them, and store your dryer in a safe place after use. If yours overheats, chances are, there’s a problem with its heating coil, fan, or thermostat. These components are easy to replace — you only need to call a professional for the replacements to restore your dryer to optimal working condition.