DBLR333ET
DBLR333GT
GE Appliances
GE Answer Center®800.626.2000
Owner’s Manual
Part No. 175D1807P184 Pub. No. 49-9926
Dryers
Safety InformationOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting T ipsCustomer Service
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.
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GASOLINE & FLAMMABLE VAPORS
■ Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and
liquids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance.
■ Installation and service must be performed by a qualified
installer, service agency or the gas supplier.
IF YOU THINK YOU SMELL GAS:
Do not try to light a match, or cigarette, or turn
on any gas or electrical appliance.
Do not touch any electrical switch; do not use
any phone in your building.
Clear the room, building or area of all
occupants.
Immediately call your gas supplier from a
neighbor’s phone. Follow the gas supplier’s
instructions carefully.
If you cannot reach your gas supplier, call the
fire department.
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California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act
This act requires the governor of California to publish a list of
substances known to the state to cause cancer, birth defects or other
reproductive harm and requires businesses to warn customers of
potential exposure to such substances.
Gas appliances can cause minor exposure to four of these substances,
namely benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and soot, caused
primarily by the incomplete combustion of natural gas or LP fuels.
Properly adjusted dryers will minimize incomplete combustion.
Exposure to these substances can be minimized further by properly
venting the dryer to the outdoors.
For your safety, the information in this manual must be
followed to minimize the risk of fire or explosion, electric
shock, or to prevent property damage, personal injury,
or loss of life.
WARNING!
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Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Information
This dryer must be properly installed and located in
accordance with the Installation Instructions before it is
used. If you did not receive an Installation Instructions
sheet, you can receive one by calling us toll-free at the
GE Answer Center
®
, 800.626.2000.
PROPER INSTALLATION
■ Properly ground dryer to
conform with all governing
codes and ordinances. Follow
details in Installation
Instructions.
■ Install or store where it
will not be exposed to
temperatures below freezing
or exposed to the weather.
■ Connect to a properly rated,
protected and sized power
supply circuit to avoid
electrical overload.
■ Remove all sharp packing
items and dispose of all
shipping materials properly.
Exhaust/Ducting:
Gas dryers
MUST
be
exhausted to the outside.
Exhausting electric dryers
to the outside is
strongly
recommended
to prevent
large amounts of moisture
and lint from being blown
into the room.
Use only rigid metal or
flexible metal 4
″diameter
ductwork inside the dryer
cabinet or for exhausting to
the outside.
USE OF PLASTIC
OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE
DUCTWORK CAN CAUSE A
FIRE. PUNCTURED
DUCTWORK CAN CAUSE A
FIRE IF IT COLLAPSES OR
BECOMES OTHERWISE
RESTRICTED IN USE OR
DURING INSTALLATION.
For complete details, follow the
Installation Instructions.
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Safety InformationOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.
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YOUR LAUNDRY AREA
■Keep the area underneath
and around your appliances
free of combustible materials,
such as lint, paper, rags,
chemicals, etc.
■Keep the floor around your
appliances clean and dry
to reduce the possibility
of slipping.
■Close supervision is necessary
if this appliance is used by or
near children. Do not allow
children to play on, with, or
inside this or any other
appliance.
■Keep all laundry aids (such as
detergents, bleaches, etc.)
out of the reach of children,
preferably in a locked
cabinet. Observe all warnings
on container labels to
avoid injury.
■Never climb on or stand on
the dryer top.
WHEN USING YOUR DRYER
■Never reach into the dryer
while the drum is moving.
Before loading, unloading or
adding clothes, wait until the
drum has completely
stopped.
■Clean the lint filter before
each load to prevent lint
accumulation inside the
dryer or in the room.
DO NOT
OPERATE THE DRYER WITHOUT
THE LINT FILTER IN PLACE.
■Do not wash or dry articles
that have been cleaned in,
washed in, soaked in, or
spotted with combustible or
explosive substances (such as
wax, oil, paint, gasoline,
degreasers, dry-cleaning
solvents, kerosene, etc.)
which may ignite or explode.
Do not add these substances
to the wash water. Do not use
or place these substances
around your washer or dryer
during operation.
WARNING!
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Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Information
Use this appliance only for its intended purpose as
described in this Owner’s Manual.
■Any article on which you have
used a cleaning solvent or
that contains flammable
materials (such as cleaning
cloths, mops, towels used in
beauty salons, restaurants, or
barber shops, etc.) must not
be placed in or near the dryer
until solvents or flammable
materials have been
removed. There are many
highly flammable items used
in homes such as acetone,
denatured alcohol, gasoline,
kerosene, some household
cleaners, some spot
removers, turpentines, waxes,
wax removers and products
containing petroleum
distillates.
■The laundry process can
reduce the flame retardancy
of fabrics. To avoid such a
result, carefully follow the
garment manufacturer’s
care instructions.
■Do not dry articles containing
rubber, plastic, or similar
materials such as padded
bras, tennis shoes, galoshes,
bath mats, rugs, bibs, baby
pants, plastic bags, pillows,
etc. that may melt or burn.
Some rubber materials, when
heated, can under certain
circumstances produce fire
by spontaneous combustion.
■Do not store plastic, paper or
clothing that may burn or
melt on top of the dryer
during operation.
■Garments labeled
Dry Away
from Heat
or
Do Not Tumble
Dry
(such as life jackets
containing Kapok) must
not be put in your dryer.
■Do not dry fiberglass articles
in your dryer. Skin irritation
could result from the
remaining particles that
may be picked up by clothing
during subsequent dryer
uses.
■To minimize the possibility
of electric shock, unplug this
appliance from the power
supply or disconnect the
dryer at the household
distribution panel by
removing the fuse or
switching off the circuit
breaker before attempting
any maintenance or cleaning
(except the removal and
cleaning of the lint filter).
NOTE:
Turning the Cycle
Selector knob to an
OFF
position does
NOT
disconnect
the appliance from the power
supply.
Safety InformationOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.
6
WHEN USING YOUR DRYER
■Never attempt to operate this
appliance if it is damaged,
malfunctioning, partially
disassembled, or has missing
or broken parts, including a
damaged cord or plug.
■The interior of the machine
and the exhaust duct
connection inside the dryer
should be cleaned at least
once a year by a qualified
technician. See the
Loading
and Using the Dryer
section.
■If yours is a gas dryer,
it is equipped with an
automatic electric ignition
and does not have a pilot
light.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
LIGHT WITH A MATCH.
Burns
may result from having your
hand in the vicinity of the
burner when the automatic
ignition turns off.
■You may wish to soften your
laundered fabrics or reduce
the static electricity in them,
by using a dryer-applied
fabric softener or an antistatic conditioner. We
recommend you use either a
fabric softener in the wash
cycle, according to the
manufacturer’s instructions
for those products, or try a
dryer-added product for
which the manufacturer gives
written assurance on the
package that their product
can be safely used in your
dryer. Service or
performance problems
caused by use of these
products are the
responsibility of the
manufacturers of those
products and are not covered
under the warranty to this
appliance.
WARNING!
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Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Information
WHEN NOT IN USE
■Grasp the plug firmly when
disconnecting this appliance
to avoid damage to the cord
while pulling. Place the cord
away from traffic areas so it
will not be stepped on,
tripped over or subjected to
damage.
■Do not attempt to repair
or replace any part of this
appliance or attempt any
servicing unless specifically
recommended in this
Owner’s Manual or in
published user-repair
instructions that you
understand and have the
skills to carry out.
■Before discarding a dryer, or
removing it from service,
remove the dryer door to
prevent children from hiding
inside.
■Do not tamper with controls.
REMEMBER…
Your continued health and safety are important to us.
Please read and follow this Safety Information carefully.
We want you to remain a happy and healthy part of our
GE family.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Congratulations!
You Are Now Part of the GE Family.
Welcome to the GE family.
We’re proud of our quality
products and we are
committed to providing
dependable service. You’ll
see it in this easy-to-use
Owner’s Manual and you’ll
hear it in the friendly voices
of our customer service
department.
Best of all, you’ll experience
these values each time you
do the laundry. That’s
important, because your
new dryer will be part of your
family for many years. And
we hope you will be part of
ours for a long time to come.
We thank you for buying
GE. We appreciate your
purchase, and hope you
will continue to rely on us
whenever you need quality
appliances for your home.
Important!
Staple sales slip or cancelled
check here.
Proof of the original purchase date
is needed to obtain service under
the warranty.
Write the model and serial
numbers here.
#
#
You can find them on the front of the
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dryer behind the door.
GE&You,
AService Partnership.
Ask any GEappliance owner and they will
tell you we stand behind our products with
unmatched quality service. However, did
you know that most questions result from
simple problems that you can easily fix
yourself in just a few minutes? This
Owner’s Manual can tell you how.
Read this Manual
Inside you will find many
helpful hints on how to use and
maintain your dryer properly.
Just a little preventive care on
your part can save you a great
deal of time and money over the
life of your dryer.
Review the Section on
Troubleshooting Tips
You’ll find many answers to
common problems here.
If you review our chart of
Troubleshooting Tips first,
you may not need to call for
service at all.
Safety Information . . . . . . .2–7
Operating Instructions
Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Control Settings . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Dryer Features . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Loading and Using
the Dryer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Troubleshooting Tips
Before You
Call For Service . . . . . . . . .13–16
Venting the Dryer . . . . . . . . . . .17
If You Need Service
If you do need service, you can
relax knowing help is only a
phone call away. A list of toll-free
customer service numbers is
included in the back section.
Or you can always call the
GE Answer Center
800.626.2000, 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
® at
Customer Service
Warranty Information . . . . . . .19
Service Telephone
Numbers . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Information
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Safety InformationOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service
About the dryer control panel.
LESS DRY
80 MIN.
70
60
50
40
30
20
COOL
DOWN
MORE DRY
LESS DRY
MORE DRY
AUTOMATIC
COTTONS
AUTOMATIC
PERMANENT
PRESS
START
MEDIUM
START
TEMPERATURE
FLUFF
HIGH
TIMED DRY
*
10
1 2 3
Control Settings
Start
Close the dryer door. Select
START.
Opening the door
during operation will stop the dryer. To restart the dryer,
close the door and select
START
to complete the cycle.
Temperature
HIGHHEAT For regular to heavy cottons.
MEDIUMHEAT For synthetics, blends, delicates and items
labeled
permanent press.
FLUFF/NOHEAT For
fluffing
items without heat.
Use the
TIMED DRY
cycle.
Drying Cycles
Automatic cycles automatically sense fabric dryness.
Select
MORE DRY
for heavier fabrics,
LESS DRY
for lighter fabrics. Timed cycles run for a selected time.
AUTOMATIC For synthetic blends and delicates.
PERMANENT
PRESS
AUTOMATIC For cottons and most linens. For most loads
COTTONS select the Preferred Regular Setting marked
with an *.
TIMEDDRY Set the Cycle Selector at the desired drying time.
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About the reversing the door.
Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Information
Reversing the Door
T ools needed:
■
Standard #2
■
Tape-tipped
■
Needle-nosed
Phillips screwdriver putty knife pliers
Open the door and remove the filler plugs opposite
the hinges. With the door completely open, remove
the bottom screw from each hinge on the dryer face.
Insert these screws about half way into the
TOP
holes, for each hinge, on the opposite side (where
you removed the filler plugs). Apply firm pressure
to get the screw started in untapped holes.
Loosen top screw from each hinge on the dryer face
half way. With one hand holding the top of the door
and the other hand holding the bottom, remove the
door from the dryer by lifting it
UP
and
OUT.
Rotate the door 180°. Insert it on the opposite side
of the opening by moving the door
IN
and
DOWN
until the top hinge and the bottom hinge are resting
on the top screws inserted in step 1.
Remove the remaining screws from the side of the
opening from which the door was removed. With
these screws secure each hinge at the bottom.
Tighten the two top screws of each hinge. Reinsert
the plastic plugs on the side from which the door
was removed.
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3
2
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Safety InformationOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service
Loading and using the dryer.
Always follow fabric manufacturer’s care label when laundering.
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Care and Cleaning of the Dryer
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 fabric may then be washed
and dried normally. Damage to
your dryer caused by these
products is not covered by your
warranty.
The Lint Filter:
Clean the lint
filter before each use. Moisten
your fingers and reach into the
filter opening. Run your fingers
across the filter. Have a qualified
technician vacuum the lint from
the dryer every three years.
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.
Follow these steps:
Turn off electrical supply by
disconnecting the plug
from the wall socket.
Disconnect the duct from
the dryer.
Vacuum the duct with the
hose attachment and
reconnect the duct.
The Exhaust Hood:
Check with
a mirror that the inside flaps
of the hood move freely when
operating. Make sure that there
is not wildlife (birds, insects,
etc.) nesting inside the duct
or hood.
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Sorting and Loading Hints
As a general rule, if clothes are sorted properly for the washer, they
are sorted properly for the dryer.
Do not add fabric softener sheets once the load has become warm.
Do not overload. This wastes energy and causes wrinkling.
Do not dry the following items: fiberglass items, woolens, rubber-coated
items, plastics, items with plastic trim and foam-filled items.
Before you call for service…
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Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Information
Save time and money!
Review the charts on the following pages first and you may not
need to call for service.
Problem Possible Causes What To Do
Dryer doesn’t start
Dryer is unplugged • Make sure the dryer plug is
pushed completely into
the outlet.
Fuse is blown/circuit • Check the house fuse/
breaker is tripped circuit breaker box and
replace fuse or reset
breaker.
NOTE:
Most
electric dryers use two
fuses/breakers.
Dryer doesn’t heat
Fuse is blown/circuit • Check the house fuse/
breaker is tripped, circuit breaker box and
the dryer may tumble replace fuse or reset
but not heat breaker.
Gas service is off • Make sure gas shutoff at
dryer and main shutoff
are fully open.
Dryer shakes or makes
Some shaking/noise • Move dryer to an even
noise
is normal. Dryer may floor space, or adjust
be sitting unevenly leveling legs as necessary
until even.
Greasy spots on clothes
Improper use of • Follow directions on fabric
fabric softener softener package.
Drying dirty items with • Use your dryer to dry only
clean ones clean items. Dirty items can
stain clean items and the
dryer.
Clothes were not • Sometimes stains which
completely clean cannot be seen when the
clothes are wet
appear
after drying. Use proper
washing procedures before
drying.
Safety InformationOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service
Before you call for service…
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Troubleshooting T ips
Problem Possible Causes What To Do
Lint on clothes
Lint filter is full • Clean lint screen before
each load.
Improper sorting • Sort lint producers
(like chenille) from lint
collectors (like corduroy).
Static electricity can • See suggestions in this
attract lint section under
STATIC.
Overloading • Separate large loads into
smaller ones.
Paper, tissue, etc. • Empty all pockets before
left in pockets laundering clothes.
Static occurs
Overdrying • Try a fabric softener.
• Adjust controls for less
drying.
No fabric softener • Try a fabric softener.
was used
Synthetics, permanent • Try a fabric softener.
press and blends can
cause static
Inconsistent drying times
Type of heat • Automatic drying times
will vary according to the
type of heat used (electric,
natural or LP gas), size of
load, types of fabrics,
wetness of clothes and
condition of exhaust ducts.
Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Information
Problem Possible Causes What To Do
Clothes take too long
Improper sorting • Separate heavy items from
to dry
lightweight items
(generally, a well-sorted
washer load is a wellsorted dryer load).
Large loads of heavy • Large, heavy fabrics
fabrics (like beach towels) contain more moisture
and take longer to dry.
Separate large, heavy
fabrics into smaller loads
to speed drying time.
Controls improperly set • Match control settings to
the load you are drying.
Lint filter is full • Clean lint filter before
every load.
Improper or • Check installation
obstructed ducting instructions for proper
ducting/venting.
• Make sure ducting is
clean, free of kinks and
unobstructed.
• Check to see if outside
wall damper operates
easily.
• Check the Installation
Instructions to make sure
the dryer venting is correct.
Blown fuses or tripped • Replace fuses or reset
circuit breaker circuit breakers. Since
most dryers use 2 fuses/
breakers, make sure both
are operating.
Overloading/ • Do not put more than one
combining loads 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.
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Safety InformationOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service
Before you call for service…
16
Troubleshooting T ips
Problem Possible Causes What To Do
Clothes are wrinkled
Overdrying • Select a shorter
drying time.
• Remove items while they
still hold a slight amount
of moisture.
Letting items sit in dryer • Remove items when cycle
after cycle ends ends and fold or hang
immediately.
Clothes shrink
Some fabrics will naturally • To avoid shrinkage,
shrink when washed. follow garment care
Others can be safely labels exactly.
washed, but will shrink
• Some items may be
in the dryer
pressed back into shape
after drying.
• If you are concerned
about shrinkage in a
particular item, do not
machine wash or tumble
dry it.
The dryer needs to be properly vented.
Carefully follow the details
on Exhausting in the Installation Instructions.
■ Use only rigid metal or flexible metal 4″diameter ductwork
inside the dryer cabinet or for exhausting to the outside.
■ Do not use plastic or other combustible ductwork.
■ Use the shortest length possible.
■ Do not crush or collapse.
■ Avoid resting the duct on sharp objects.
■
Venting must conform to local building codes
.
Venting the dryer.
17
Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Information
Follow the below for the best drying performance.
Correct Venting
Incorrect Venting
Safety InformationOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service
Notes
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Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Information
GE Dryer Warranty
All warranty service provided by our Factory Service Centers,
or an authorized Customer Care
®
technician. For service,
call 800-GE-CARES.
This warranty is extended to the original purchaser and any succeeding owner for products purchased
for home use within the USA. In Alaska, the warranty excludes the cost of shipping or service calls to
your home.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages. This
warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to
state. To know what your legal rights are, consult your local or state consumer affairs office or your
state’s Attorney General.
For The Period Of: GE Will Replace, At No Charge To You:
One Year Any part
of the dryer which fails due to a defect
From the date of the
in materials or workmanship. During this
full one-year
original purchase warranty,
GE will also provide,
free of charge,
all labor
and in-home service to replace the defective part.
■Service trips to your home to teach you
how to use the product.
■Improper installation.
■Failure of the product if it is
abused, misused, or used for other
than the intended purpose or used
commercially.
■ Replacement of house fuses or
resetting of circuit breakers.
■ Damage to the product caused by
accident, fire, floods or acts of God.
■ Incidental or consequential damage to
personal property caused by possible
defects with this appliance.
What GE Will Not Cover:
Service Telephone Numbers.
The GE Answer Center® is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
GE Answer Center
®
800.626.2000
Expert GE repair service is only a phone call away.
In-Home Repair Service
800-GE-CARES (800-432-2737)
TDD 800-TDD-GEAC (800-833-4322)
GE offers, free of charge, Braille controls for a variety of GE
appliances and a brochure to assist in planning a barrier-free
kitchen for persons with limited mobility.
Special Needs Service
800.626.2000
Purchase a GE service contract while your warranty is still in effect
and you’ll receive a substantial discount. GE Consumer Service will
still be there after your warranty expires.
Service Contracts
800-626-2224
Individuals qualified to service their own appliances can have parts
or accessories sent directly to their homes (VISA, MasterCard and
Discover cards are accepted).
Instructions contained in this manual cover procedures to be performed
by any user. Other servicing generally should be referred to qualified
service personnel. Caution must be exercised, since improper servicing
may cause unsafe operation.
Parts and Accessories
800-626-2002
If you are not satisfied with the service you receive from GE, follow
these three steps.
First,
contact the people who serviced your
appliance.
Next,
if you are still not pleased, write all the details—
including your phone number—to: Manager, Consumer Relations,
GE Appliances, Appliance Park, Louisville, KY 40225.
Finally,
if your
problem is still not resolved, write:
Major Appliance Consumer Action Program
20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606.
Service Satisfaction
Printed in Louisville, KY
12-96 CG
Safety InformationOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting TipsCustomer Service
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