Electric dryers may be a hassle to maintain, but one shouldn’t feel discouraged to stop using their dryer units. If your dryer is not heating, you may not be able to use the device at all. There are many reasons for your dryer not to heat up, but you can resolve the basic issues for your dryer unit as well. Below are the most common dryer problems a homemaker can encounter:
- The dryer is unplugged.
- The dryer door is not completely shut.
- The dryer is set to an “eco” or cool setting.
- A circuit breaker has tripped. – Depending on how the panel is wired, your breaker may suddenly trip upon starting the unit. A tripped breaker is the reason why the drum is spinning while the dryer is cold. If any breakers in your electrical panel have tripped, reset them.
- No gas flow – Check that the appliance gas line is the correct size (is it 3/4 inch?) and, if necessary, replace the gas line.
- The heating element is being suffocated by the dryer vent. – When the heating element becomes clogged, it overheats and causes the thermostat to shut down. To correct this, remove the lint screen and vacuum to clean the lint trap. Then, you can remove the vent hose from the dryer’s back and shake the debris out.
- Blockage in the ventilation – Is your dryer not heating because of a clog in the ventilation system? Check the ventilation hose, and lint screens attached to the ventilation hose on some models can also become clogged. If you have access to the outside vent, you can check for warm, consistent airflow to ensure that the ventilation is working. The problem can be solved by disconnecting the dryer hose and cleaning out this area. If you have a gas dryer, use caution when moving it to gain access.
- Problematic dryer flame sensor – If you have a gas dryer, it could be that the flame sensor is faulty. In order to dry your clothes, a gas dryer requires a flame to heat the air. A defective flame sensor prevents the flame from igniting.
If the reasons above don’t explain why your dryer is not working properly, your dryer may be encountering one of these bigger issues:
- A blown thermal fuse – The thermal fuse is one of the most common causes of a dryer, not heating. The thermal fuse keeps your dryer from catching fire. If the dryer temperature exceeds a certain threshold, the thermal fuse trips, and the dryer shuts down. The dryer may continue to operate on older models but without producing heat.
- A faulty heating element
- A faulty thermostat – Locate the thermostat leads and check for continuity with a multimeter. The thermistor should be located next to the thermostat. On the thermistor, repeat the multimeter test. If one of these components fails the multimeter test, replacing it should resolve the heating issue. Take photos before removing the part to help with a replacement. Contact a technician expert in Kenmore dryer repair services for a replacement for the thermostat.
- A defective timer motor – If your dryer has a mechanical timer, a faulty timer could be the cause of the dryer not heating up. If the timer is not moving to the next process, the heat may continue to run until it becomes too hot, which can trip the thermal fuse. A faulty timer in another model may prevent heat from being released. Unplug the
- Other complicated electrical or gas problems
If your dryer is exhibiting other symptoms in addition to unregulated temperature, use a dryer troubleshooting tool to determine which component is defective. If you attempt to replace these defective parts on your own, you may not incur more damage to the device. Kenmore Best Appliance Repair Pro provides professional services for a dryer not heating.
Is your dryer still not heating after repair?
If you’ve exhausted your troubleshooting options and your dryer is still not heating, you’ll most likely require expert diagnosis and assistance from a professional repair specialist. There are three possible routes:
- Allow our repair professionals to assist by servicing your dryer. Kenmore Best Appliance Repair Pro has a team of repair technicians who can handle various issues with your dryer unit.
- Are electrical problems really the reasons your dryer is not heating up? Professional electricians will quickly upgrade your electrical panel and resolve other electrical issues.
- However, if you suspect a gas line problem, get professional help to replace your gas lines. We also ensure that your current gas line is safe for your dryer model.
For more information or tips to maintain your device, refer to our other blog articles to learn more about your defective dryer unit. You can also consult our repair technicians for professional advice.