©HomeTipsAlways make sure the dryer’s timer and controls are set properly before moving on to other measures.With an electric clothes dryer, no heat often means that the circuit breaker or fuse that controls the power has blown; reset or replace it. Be aware that a dryer may have two breakers or fuses. The motor will run when one works, but the heating element requires both. In some cases, an electric dryer doesn’t work because of a broken heating element—call an for this fix.With a gas dryer, if you think someone may have turned off the gas supply, check the gas valve behind the dryer to be sure it is turned on and also make sure the house’s main gas valve is turned on. Most modern gas dryers have electronic ignition instead of a pilot light. If yours has electronic ignition and isn’t heating at all, call an appliance repair person.
With an older dryer, make sure the pilot light is burning. If it isn’t, relight it; instructions are typically in the owner’s manual and may be mounted next to the burner. Dryer Doesn’t Get Hot or Gets Too Hot and Shuts OffFor a dryer that produces heat but not enough of it—or shuts off because it gets too hot—first check and clean the lint trap, and then take the following steps.
©HomeTipsRemove the clothes dryer lint trap and clean off the lint.1 Be sure the dryer isn’t pushed so close to the wall that it pinches off the airflow through the vent’s air duct hose. A gas dryer must be properly vented or the moisture can’t be carried away.2 Check the point where the dryer’s air duct vents away from the house. Be sure plants, accumulated lint, or other objects have not blocked it. If the duct vents out the roof or more than 15 feet away from the dryer, it could easily be blocked with lint; consult a duct-cleaning service about clearing the vent. If cleaning the vent doesn’t do the job, talk to an about installing a booster fan or moving the vent to exit through a closer exterior wall.
©Don Vandervort, HomeTipsDryer vent–cleaning services use a long spinning brush to remove lint.3 Disconnect the air duct from the back of the gas dryer and clean out built-up lint. For safety, first turn off the gas to the dryer, and then unplug it; this means you will have to relight the pilot light (if the dryer has one); read your owner’s manual for the proper relighting method.4 If necessary, hire a to clean out the ductwork from the dryer to the exterior wall where it vents; this may involve disconnecting sections. One trick that sometimes makes this job easier (but only if the dryer duct is fastened firmly at all connection points) is to blow lint and debris through the duct and out the exterior wall vent using an electric leaf blower.5 Check for internal clogs. If the dryer still is taking too long to dry clothes, remove the lint filter and use a flashlight to check for internal clogs.
Clothes dryers are pretty simple machines that use a fuel source to heat air and a motor and fan to blow it around. Here are some tips to help you troubleshoot when your dryer isn't working properly, no matter what brand it is, and make some simple repairs. These may save you the expense of a service call or eliminate some issues so the problem is easier for the technician to solve.
Use a vacuum to suction out any blockages. 6 In some cases, an electric dryer’s heating element can break or become grounded to the chassis by a bobby pin or bra wire. Run the dryer on Air Fluff or No Heat and check to be sure there is no heat. If there is no heat, the problem may be a faulty High-Limit Thermostat or Cycling Thermostat. This is something you should get fixed sooner than later.a dryer that overheats isn’t safe, wastes energy, and ruins your clothes.7 If the above steps don’t solve the problem, you may have a problem with your dryer’s heating element, igniter, or thermostat. Call an appliance repair person.
I have a Kenmore Elite HE3 gas dryer. Have similar problem. After removeing the toe-kick(bottom) panel I can see the flame come on. Sometimes the flame stay on for awhile, sometimes it goes out after 5 minutes.
The airways do not look blocked. I tried to remove more parts to the dryer as I actually bought a replacement thermistor thinking this was the problem. However, I am stuck at not able to disconnect all the electrical wires that are hooked together with the plastic ends (tried unsuccessfully to use a screwdriver to pry them apart ). Any advice is greatly appreciated!by. Air Flow ProblemIf the dryer won't stop, check the venting.
A clogged or partially clogged vent will reduce the air flow through the dryer and greatly increase the drying time.Blower WheelIf the dryer is slow, the blower wheel might be broken or plugged. The blower wheel is attached to the drive motor and draws the air through the dryer drum. Remove the vent from the back of the dryer and see if the air flow is strong. If not, check the blower wheel.Heating ElementElectric dryers have a heating element which warms the air as it passes over. If the dryer is slow, this element may be burned out.
The element can be checked for continuity. If it is burned out, the element must be replaced, it is not repairable.Heating Element AssemblyIf the dryer is slow, the heating element assembly may need to be replaced. The heating element assembly warms the air as it passes over. If the heating element is burned out, or any other part of the assembly is defective, it may not heat. If the dryer is slow, and the vent is clear, this is a common next item to test.Lint FilterAlthough not common, if the dryer is slow check the lint filter. The lint filter can get clogged with fabric softener and not allow enough air to pass through. Clean the filter of any residue that might prevent proper air flow.Moisture SensorThe moisture sensor sends a signal back to the control board as it senses moisture in the clothing.
If the dryer is slow, this sensor may not be working properly and may be inaccurately sending signals back to the main circuit board.High Limit ThermostatAll dryers have a high-limit thermostat to help prevent fires and damage to the dryer. If the dryer is slow, it can be caused by a defective high limit thermostat turning off the burner prematurely.
This is not common.Cycling ThermostatAll dryers have a thermostat to regulate the temperature of the air. If the dryer is slow it can be caused by a defective cycling thermostat. This is not common. Check the venting first before replacing a cycling thermostat. A cycling thermostat has normally closed contacts that open on temperature rise.
Some thermostats have a bias or 'cheater heater' built into the thermostat to add heat so the thermostat will cycle sooner to get the lower temperatures. This heater if applicable will be the smaller terminals in the center.
The thermostat and heater can be checked with a meter.ThermistorThe thermistor senses the temperature of the air in the dryer and cycles the heat on and off. If the dryer won't stop, the thermistor may be defective. This is not common.
I had the same problem with my Kenmore Elite HE3 gas dryer. Went through the troubleshooting guide and the solenoids tested fine. However, after more research I chose to replace them.
Here's the link to the ones I installed:It's a ten minute fix, take off the toe panel after shutting off the gas and electricity. There are two philips head screws that hold the solenoids in place. You'll need a stubby screwdriver to get them off because there's not much room to work. The slide out easily and have keying holes to align them correctly.Remember to shopvac the inside of lint while the toe panel is off and to clean the vent pipe.Dryer is back in action and working.