Model: BWXR473 Dryer Owner’s Manual Important Safety Information 3 Operating Instructions 8 The Controls on Your Dryer Other Dryer Features Helpful Information 12 Specialized Fabric Guide Loading Suggestions Care of Product If Something Goes Wrong Before You Call For Service Venting the Dryer RCA Service Numbers Warranty, Back Cover 16
Welcome Welcome to the RCA family. We’re proud of our quality products and we believe in dependable service. You’ll see it in this easy-to-use 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 a long time. Start Here! Staple your receipt to the inside back cover of this manual. Write down the model and serial numbers here.
Important Safety Information Read all safety information before using WARNING: For your safety the information in this manual must be followed to minimize the risk of fire or explosion or to prevent property damage, personal injury or loss of life. 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.
Important Safety Information Read all safety information before using Warning To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons when using your appliance, follow basic precautions, including the following sections. Safety Precautions • Use this appliance only for its intended purpose as described in this Owner’s Manual. • This dryer must be properly installed and located in accordance with the Installation Instructions before it is used.
• Exhaust Duct—See Installation Instructions. 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.
Important Safety Information Read all safety information before using • 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. • Keep the area around and underneath your appliances free from the accumulation of combustible materials, such as lint, paper, rags, chemicals, etc.
• Do not tamper with the controls. • Do not operate this appliance if it is damaged, malfunctioning, partially disassembled, or has missing or broken parts, including a damaged cord or plug. • Never climb on or stand on the dryer top. • 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 may turn on.
Operating Instructions Cycle Descriptions Automatic Drying Cycles Timed Dry Cycles Cycles automatically sense fabric dryness Cycles run for a selected time Automatic Permanent Press For synthetic blends and delicates. Select More Dry for heavier loads, Less Dry for lighter loads. The controls on your dryer FABRIC CARE START START COTTONS HIGH HEAT PERM. PRESS MED. HEAT SIGNAL PRESS GUARD AUTOMATIC COTTONS MEDIUM OFF SET OFF LOUD Automatic Cottons For cottons and most linens.
Operating Instructions Other dryer features your model has Press Guard OFF SET Use this option to minimize the wrinkles in clothes. The option provides approximately 15 minutes of no-heat tumbling after the clothes are dry. This option can only be used with the Automatic cycles. Signal The signal control can be set at OFF, MEDIUM or LOUD. MEDIUM OFF LOUD This signal will sound just before the end of the cycle to remind you to remove the clothes.
Reversing the Door Tools Needed: • Standard # 2 Phillips screwdriver • Tape-tipped putty knife • Needle-nosed pliers 1 Open the door and remove the filler plugs opposite the hinges. 2 With the door completely open, remove the bottom screw from each hinge on the dryer face. 3 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. 6 Rotate the door 180°.
Helpful Information Specialty Care Guide Always follow Fabric Manufacturer’s Care Label or instructions when laundering. Otherwise use the information below as a general guide. Item Suggested Care Pillows Mend any holes or weak seams where feather or filling could escape. Dry only one pillow at a time. Stop dryer occasionally and shake pillow, redistributing filling for even drying. Check pillow at the end of drying time. If it is not completely dry, reset dryer for more drying time.
Loading Sorting As general rule, if clothes are sorted properly for the washer, they are sorted properly for the dryer. Sort by color (Separate colorfast from non-colorfast fabrics*) • Whites • Lights • Darks Separate by fabric type • Cottons and linens • Permanent press cottons and blends • Synthetic and poly knits • Delicates Loading Hints • Avoid drying very small loads. • Sort clothes by weight so you won’t have to run an extra cycle for one or two heavier, slower drying items.
Helpful Information Care & Cleaning Interior Exterior Lint Filter The drum is rust-resistant. However, colored fabrics which lose color or bleed in the washer may cause discoloration of the dryer drum. We recommend that the dryer drum be cleaned with a cloth using a detergent and water paste or a mild abrasive, such as Soft Scrub™. Rinse thoroughly. Then tumbledry several wet rags or old towels for 20 to 30 minutes before using the dryer normally. Wipe off any spills or washing compounds.
Exhaust Duct Inspect and clean the dryer exhaust ducting at least once a year to prevent clogging. A partially clogged exhaust can lengthen the drying time. To clean the exhaust duct follow these steps: 1 Turn off electrical supply by disconnecting the plug from the wall socket. 2 Disconnect exhaust duct from the dryer. 3 Vacuum the exhaust duct with the hose attachment. 4 Reconnect the exhaust duct to the dryer.
If Something Goes Wrong Before you call for service Problem Dryer Doesn’t Start Dryer Doesn’t Heat Dryer Shakes or Makes Excessive Noise Greasy Spots on Clothes Lint on Clothes 16 Possible Causes What to Do Dryer is unplugged • Make sure the dryer plug is pushed completely into the outlet. Fuse is blown/circuit breaker is tripped • Check the house fuse/circuit breaker box and replace fuse or reset breaker. NOTE: Most electric dryers use two breakers.
Problem Static Occurs Possible Causes What to Do Overdrying • Try a fabric softener. • Adjust controls for less drying. Clothes Take Too Long to Dry No fabric softener was used • Try a fabric softener. Synthetics, permanent press and blends can cause static • Try a fabric softener. Improper sorting • Separate heavy items from light weight items (generally, a well-sorted washer load is a well-sorted dryer load).
If Something Goes Wrong Problem Clothes are Wrinkled Possible Causes Overdrying What to Do • Select a shorter drying time. • Remove items while they still hold a slight amount of moisture. Clothes Shrink Letting items sit in dryer after cycle ends • Remove items when cycle ends and fold or hang immediately. 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.
Venting the Dryer For the best drying performance 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.
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RCA Service Numbers We’ll be there! In-Home Repair Service 800-GE-CARES (800-432-2737) For Customers With Impaired Hearing 800-833-4322 Service Contracts 800-626-2224 22 A GE consumer service professional will provide expert repair service, scheduled at a time that’s convenient for you. Many GE Consumer Service company-operated locations offer you service today or tomorrow, or at your convenience (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturdays).
Parts and Accessories 800-626-2002 Further Service Individuals qualified to service their own appliances can have parts or accessories sent directly to their home. The GE parts system provides access to over 47,000 parts…and all GE Genuine Renewal Parts are fully warranted. VISA, MasterCard and Discover cards are accepted. Care and cleaning instructions contained in this manual cover procedures to be performed by any user. Other servicing generally should be referred to qualified service personnel.
DRYER WARRANTY What is Covered What is Not Covered Staple sales slip or cancelled check here. Proof of original purchase date is needed to obtain service under warranty. FULL ONE-YEAR WARRANTY For one year from date of original purchase, we will provide, free of charge, parts and service labor in your home to repair or replace any part of the dryer that fails because of a manufacturing defect.