Why is My Dryer Not Heating?

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It's frustrating to be faced with wet clothes after you've run them through the dryer. Your dryer not heating up is likely the problem. But what could the source of the problem be? That can depend on whether you have a gas dryer or an electric dryer. It could be a problem with the heating element that's causing you to have heating issues. But what can you do to solve the problem?

Don't worry. Mr. Appliance of Wichita has some ideas. With our troubleshooting guide, you can try to pinpoint the cause. Your dryer not heating is a serious problem and, when it's time for you to book a Wichita appliance repair, Mr. Appliance has the expert advice and knowledge you need to get your dryer working properly once more.

There are a range of common issues that can lead to a dryer not heating, which might be because of a tripped circuit breaker, clogged vents, or even no gas flow (if you have a gas dryer). However, other causes could be a little trickier to fix, such as a malfunctioning thermal fuse or a broken heating element.

Thanks to our expert team at your local Wichita appliance repair service, we've put together the following troubleshooting tips when dealing with your dryer not heating up. Check out our expert tips below to get to the bottom of why you might have a problem with your dryer not heating!

Simple Tips for Troubleshooting Your Dryer Not Heating Up

The fix for why you're having problems with a dryer not heating might be simple. That is, you might have changed the settings. Check to make sure that you haven't inputted the incorrect settings on your dryer. If you have, then this might be the cause! However, if the settings are correct, and you still have the issue of your dryer not heating up, then it's time to do a little investigating.

Some of the examples of why your dryer might not heat up include:

  • You've accidentally set it to "eco" or "cool" mode.
  • Your dryer has tripped a circuit breaker.

These are relatively common problems to have that can lead to your dryer not heating. They're also easy to fix since you can easily just flip your dryer to the right settings and fix the problem. However, other common problems can lead to a dryer not heating. These include the following problems.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Your circuit breakers are important safety devices in your home. But sometimes they can be tripped by accident. If you have an electric dryer, it's important to know that it requires a power supply of 240 volts to properly function. After you check the settings on your dryer and there's no issue there, check to make sure that a circuit breaker hasn't been tripped. The circuit breaker is located in your home's electrical panel. If it has been tripped, try to reset it.

Blocked Dryer Vent

Before you begin this step, you should ensure that you have properly unplugged your dryer from its power source.

If your dryer's exhaust vent is blocked, it causes the dryer to overheat. This turns off the thermostat. If you want to try and fix this yourself, you will need to check and clean the lint screen in your dryer. You can also use a vacuum to clean out the lint trap. Once you've done that, it's time to tackle the vent hose at the back of your dryer.

Once you've disconnected the exhaust hose, you can take the time to clean and shake out any debris or lint buildup inside of it. You're likely to be surprised about what you find within your dryer vent hose. This is when you need to consider if it's time to book an appointment for professional dryer vent cleaning in Wichita. If you're struggling with a dryer not heating, it might be time to make sure your dryer vents have been cleaned out properly.

TIP: You should have your dryer vent cleaned on an annual basis at minimum. This is because a dirty lint trap and clogged dryer vent pose a significant fire hazard.

No Gas Flow

If you have a gas-powered dryer, rather than an electric one, checking the gas flow is our next troubleshooting step. First, check to make sure that you have been staying on top of your gas bill. Then, check to ensure that the gas valve that feeds your dryer is open and hasn't accidentally been turned off. If it has been, you might have found the reason why you have a problem with your dryer not heating.

It Might Not Be Your Dryer

Lastly, it could be a more complex issue at play. Your dryer performance is also influenced by how well your washing machine functions. The spin cycle on your washing machine might not be wringing enough water out of your clothes. Even if your dryer temperature is correct, your clothes dryer might not have enough time during its cycle to completely dry your clothes if they're sopping wet. Wet laundry can also cause humidity to build up within your dryer, which further slows down the drying process.

It could also be a mechanical issue or an electrical issue. For which you're likely going to need appliance experts to diagnose and repair the problem properly. When it's time to book a service for your laundry appliances—including your dryer—turn to the appliance repair professionals from Mr. Appliance of Wichita.

Dryer Not Heating? Time to Call Mr. Appliance of Wichita

If our above troubleshooting steps don't help with your dryer not heating, then it's time to make the call to a professional Wichita appliance repair company. You might be dealing with one of the following problems:

  • Faulty thermal fuse
  • Bad heating element
  • Faulty thermostat
  • Defective timer motor or control board
  • Electrical or gas issue

If you're dealing with any of the above problems, it's time to make the call for an appliance repair for your major appliances. A dryer not heating is a serious problem. It could be because of faulty internal components that need replacement. The answer to your problem is professional dryer repair in Wichita. For that, you need the expert team at Mr. Appliance of Wichita. Give us a call or contact us online today to book your dryer repair!