Dryer Not Heating? Here are 5 Easy Fixes

If your dryer is no longer heating as it should and is failing to do its job as a result, know that this doesn’t always indicate a major issue with your appliance. Often, some simple fixes that don’t require the help of a professional can get your dryer working properly again.

This article will go over five easy fixes for a dryer not heating that you can perform yourself. Save the money you’d spend hiring an expert and try these tips first instead.

Quick summary

Here’s a quick look at the 5 common causes of a dryer not heating, all of which have easy solutions that we’ll be covering today:

1. Power or gas supply issues
2. Cycle settings
3. Clogged lint trap
4. Clogged vent
5. Wet laundry

Continue reading to learn how to fix these issues.

5 easy fixes for common dryer heating issues

Here are five reasons your dryer isn’t heating and how to easily fix them.

1. Check for power and gas supply issues

If you have an electric dryer, it’s vital that it receives the proper voltage to function properly. Likewise, gas dryers need a steady, unrestricted supply of gas to heat correctly. If your dryer isn’t heating due to a power or gas supply issue, it can often be resolved with simple solutions.

Here are some steps to check the power supply:

• Ensure that your electric dryer is plugged into a 240V outlet, not a standard 120V wall outlet.
• Make sure the plug is pushed all the way into the outlet.
• Check that the circuit breaker for the dryer hasn’t tripped.
• Reset the breaker by flipping it to the “Off” position, then back to “On.”
• Use a multimeter set to AC voltage to verify that the outlet is providing the proper voltage.

Here are some steps to check the gas supply:

• Check that the gas supply valve is fully open, not partially open or shut off.
• Ensure that the gas supply line isn’t kinked or pinched, which could restrict the flow.
• If you smell gas, there might be a leak. Shut off the gas and call an expert, as this can be dangerous to fix yourself.

2. Check the cycle settings

Most modern dryers offer no or low heat cycles for various purposes. The most common are “Air Fluff,” which doesn’t use heat and allows you to dry delicate items or fluff pillows, and “Eco Dry,” which uses minimal heat and longer cycles to conserve energy for a more economical, environmentally friendly drying process that can also be gentler on your clothes.

If you accidentally activate either of these cycles, you may notice your laundry coming out much cooler than expected. It’s worth checking your user manual to see which no or low-heat cycles your dryer offers and how to activate or deactivate them.

3. Clean the lint trap

The lint trap catches the lint that comes from your laundry during a cycle, preventing it from entering the vent and causing a blockage. The lint trap should be cleaned after every cycle to ensure it doesn’t become clogged. When clogged, the lint trap can restrict airflow, causing clothes to not dry efficiently.

A clogged lint trap may also cause the dryer to overheat as it prevents hot air from being expelled, which triggers safety mechanisms such as the high-limit thermostat or thermal fuse. These safety mechanisms then cause the dryer to stop heating altogether.

You can clean the lint trap by removing it from the dryer, using your hands or a soft brush to remove any lint, and then reinserting it. Occasionally, you can give it a more thorough cleaning by soaking it in warm, soapy water or using a vacuum with a hose attachment.

4. Clean the dryer vent

While the dryer vent doesn’t need to be cleaned as regularly as the lint trap, it should still be cleaned at least once per year. Failing to do so can lead to blockages, which reduce airflow, causing the dryer to dry inefficiently and potentially triggering safety mechanisms to prevent overheating, resulting in the dryer not heating at all.

If you have a vented dryer, here’s how to clean it:

1. Unplug your dryer and, if applicable, shut off the gas supply.
2. Gently pull your dryer away from the wall and disconnect the vent from the dryer.
3. Locate the vent hood on the exterior of your home and remove it.
4. Use a dryer vent cleaning kit, which includes a brush head and extension rods that can be attached to an electric drill to clean the vent.
5. Ensure you clean the entire length of the venting.
6. Sweep or vacuum up any lint and debris extracted from the vent.
7. Reconnect your dryer to the vent, push the dryer back in position, reattach the vent hood, and turn the power and gas supply back on.

5. Ensure laundry isn’t soaking wet

The final easy fix is to ensure you’re not putting soaking wet laundry in the dryer. Dryers aren’t designed to handle soaking wet items, and doing so can result in extended drying times and excessive strain on the dryer’s components.

Soaking wet clothes will likely come out still wet or damp, creating the false assumption that the dryer isn’t heating properly. You may need to check if your washer has an issue, such as a drainage problem, or if it’s not spin-drying clothes properly at the end of the cycle.

Still not heating? Investigate these more complex issues

If your dryer still isn’t heating properly after trying the above simple fixes, there may be a more complex issue at hand. It’s worth investigating the following problems if that’s the case. Many of these may require professional assistance, though if you have advanced DIY skills, you may be able to fix them yourself:

• Door issues – The latch or lock mechanism is damaged, or items are caught in the door, preventing it from closing properly.
• Blown thermal fuse – The dryer overheated and blew the thermal fuse. The fuse must be replaced to get the dryer heating again.
• Faulty heating element – This is the main heat-producing component in a dryer. If it becomes faulty, it will need replacing.
• Faulty thermostat – Dryers have several thermostats. If one is faulty, it will need replacing to get the dryer working properly.
• Faulty ignition – Gas dryers won’t heat if any part of the ignition system is faulty. Have a gas-certified professional inspect and fix your dryer.