We've independently reviewed this article to make sure it's as accurate as we can make it.
To find out more about our article creation and review process, check out our editorial guidelines.
Are you stuck with a pile of wet clothes, and a dryer that refuses to heat up?
You’re not alone – lots of people can get stuck with a dud of a dryer from time to time. Thankfully, a dryer not heating up can often be caused by an easily fixable issue.
If your dryer isn’t heating up, you need to check that it’s not a clogged dryer vent, a wrongly set timer, or a software issue. If those aren’t the cause, then it could be a heating element – like the dryer’s thermal fuse, solenoid, or igniter.
Read on to learn how to fix the issue today!
7 Reasons Why Your Dryer Won’t Heat
In my experience, there are several reasons why your dryer is not getting hot and drying your clothes.
Some of the most common are:
#1 The Dryer Vent Is Clogged
A clogged dryer vent is one of the most common reasons why your dryer is not heating properly. Your dryer vent is responsible for making sure that dust, debris, and other particles are caught in a filter before they land on your clothes.
If your dryer vent is not working properly, then air will not flow properly through the dryer.
If air is not blowing properly to the dryer, your dryer is going to have a difficult time cooling off. Therefore, your dryer is probably not going to heat up because it does not want to overheat.
If your dryer is not heating, the first thing you should do is take a look at the lint trap. Make sure you remove all of the lint from the trap after every load. If you do not clean out the lint trap, this increases the chances of your dryer vent getting clogged.
After this, you should make sure you clean your dryer vent at least once per year. This might be something you can do on your own if you can access the vent cover and dryer hose relatively easily. If not, you may want to reach out to a professional who can help you.
Doing this is crucial, as it can help you prevent fire hazards.
#2 There Is a Problem with the Thermal Fuse
The thermal fuse is responsible for detecting the temperature inside your dryer. If it’s not operating properly, then your dryer might have a difficult time figuring out how warm it is inside.
If your dryer is unable to detect the right temperature, that may not heat up to prevent a fire from starting. Again, your dryer is doing everything possible to prevent from catching fire.
If the thermal fuse is not working properly, then the thermostat is probably not working properly either. Therefore, your dryer is not going to heat up because of an issue with the thermostat.
If you would like to take a closer look at the thermal fuse, the first thing you should do is take a look at your manual. Then, figure out where the thermal fuse is located. You may be able to test a thermal fuse by using a tool called a multimeter.
If you can’t find your manual, don’t worry! Please check out our detailed guide on how to find any product’s manual online.
If you are getting an absent resistance reading from the thermal fuse, this is a sign that the thermal fuse is not working properly.
Even though you may feel like you can change this on your own, it is usually better to call a professional who can help you. If you tinker with the dryer on your own, you also risk voiding the warranty associated with the dryer.
#3 The Heating Element Is Busted
It should come as no surprise that a busted heating element is another possible reason why the dryer is not heating properly. As the name suggests, the heating element is responsible for generating heat inside the dryer. Even though a heating element is usually relatively durable, it can fail like other parts of the machine.
If you are concerned that the heating element is not working properly, you will need to take a look at the manual of your dryer to figure out where the heating element is located. You may need a special set of tools to access the heating element.
After you find the heating element, you should use a multimeter to test it. If it does not have a lot of current flowing through it, then it may need to be replaced.
Unless you are a dryer specialist, you will not be able to replace the heating element on your own. In this situation, you will need to reach out to a professional who can help you.
Remember that you should compare the cost of the heating element to the cost of replacing the dryer. That way, you can figure out if this is worth it.
#4 The Timer Is Not Working Properly
Today, the vast majority of dryers use a timer that tells them when they should heat up, when they should cool off, and when they should turn off completely.
If your dryer is not heating up, you need to take a closer look at the timer. If it is not advancing properly, then your dryer is not going to run to cycle properly.
Importantly, if there is something wrong with your timer, there could be a wide variety of problems associated with your dryer. Therefore, a busted timer can present in multiple ways. One common way this commonly presents is that the dryer will not heat properly.
It can be difficult to fix an issue with the timer because you need to figure out what is wrong with it. For example, there could be an issue with the internal wiring up a timer.
Or, there could be a small part of the timer that is not working properly. Because of this, it is usually better for you to rely on a professional who can take a look at the timer and figure out exactly what is wrong.
#5 There Is a Problem with the Gas Valve Solenoid
There are multiple types of dryers out there, and some of them rely on a gas heating source. If you have a gas dryer that is not heating up properly, there is a chance that there’s an issue with something called the gas valve solenoid.
The gas valve solenoid is a small coil that is responsible for opening and closing the gas valve.
If there is a problem with this component, this could prevent the gas from flowing to the dryer. As a result, the dryer won’t heat up properly.
If you want to take a closer look at the gas valve solenoid, you will need to look at the manual to figure out where it is located. Even if you can find a gas valve solenoid, this is probably not something you will be able to address on your own. If you want to fix or replace the solenoid, you will need to reach out to a professional who can help you.
#6 The Igniter Is Not Working Correctly
Sticking with the theme of gas dryers, another possible reason why your dryer might not be heating up at that something is wrong with the igniter.
As the name suggests, the igniter is responsible for igniting gas when it flows to the dryer. In order for your dryer to generate heat, the gas has to be ignited.
If the igniter is not working properly, then the gas flowing to the dryer is not going to be combusted. Without this combustive force, the dryer will not be able to generate any heat. As a result, your clothes are not going to dry.
Please note that you need to address this as quickly as possible. If the igniter is not working properly, there is a chance that you may have gas leaking into your home. Because gas is incredibly flammable, this represents a significant fire hazard.
You should call the gas company to come out and disconnect your gas line if you think something is wrong with your igniter.
While you might be able to test your igniter on your own using a multimeter, it is usually better to rely on a professional who can help you. Gas is flammable, and you always need to place safety first.
#7 There is a Problem with the Main Control Board
The main control board is responsible for collecting information for the rest of the dryer. Then, it is also responsible for making sure the rest of the dryer behaves properly. If the main control board is not functioning, then the dryer is not going to heat up.
Sadly, it can be very expensive to fix or replace the main control board. Because there are so many possible reasons why your main control board is not working properly, you should call a professional who can take a look at it for you.
Then, a professional will let you know whether the main control board can be fixed or not. If the main control board cannot be fixed, then you will probably have to replace the entire dryer. Because it is so expensive to replace the main control board, this is probably not going to be worth it.
If you need to replace your appliance, take a look at our dryer’s brand comparison guide. It will help you choose the right brand for your needs!
Conclusion
Ultimately, there are countless reasons why your dryer might not be heating properly. There could be an electrical issue present, there could be a clog somewhere in the dryer, or there could be an issue with the gas supply. The sooner you can figure out what is wrong with the dryer, the faster you can decide what to do.
Even though you may be confident in your ability to fix these problems on your own, there are other situations where you should trust a professional to help you. That way, you can make sure your dryer works properly.
Thank you so much for reading! If you found this guide helpful, please check out our other related posts below.
Good luck!
Designing Modern Living Rooms from Iconic Movies
7 Tips for Heating a Room with High Ceilings (On A Budget)
