WHAT IS THE LIFE SPAN OF THE AVERAGE DRYER?
I have a Maytag "atlantis" electric dryer which i bought in july 2001. So it will be 12 years old next month. We have been using it all that time 2 or 3 times a week ever since. It still runs, it still generates heat. But over the last year, my wife has been complaining that the dryer has been taking longer and longer time to dry the same basic load of stuff. Is there any test (heating elements, perhaps?) i can perform to find out if something is wearing out, or needs to be replaced? or is it nearing the end of its natural life span and is it simply time to buy another dryer? Thanks in advance.
p.s.: I have fully cleaned out the lint in the machine as well as all along the rigid pipe that goes to the outside of my house.

 

Dryer should work for several more years, Most likely cause for your problem is the vent to the outside is clogged and needs cleaning or to be replaced, Check behind dryer and make sure the vent tube is not crushed. Just reread your post and see that you have cleaned vent tube, Disconnect tube from back of dryer and feel air flow there (if you have a temp gauge read temperature, Should be around 165) Reconnect vent and go outside and feel air flow should be about same as inside.
Most dryer problem start with vent.