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Troubleshooting

Dryer Not Heating: Causes and What to Check

A dryer that tumbles but does not heat usually has a tripped breaker leg, a blown thermal fuse or a broken heating element on electric models, or a failed igniter or gas valve coils on gas models. A clogged vent is behind many of these failures, because overheating is what blows the thermal fuse. If the dryer heats but clothes stay damp, the vent itself is the problem.
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Do this first

Safe checks before you call

None of these involve opening the appliance. Unplug it before cleaning anything.

  1. 1

    Check the breaker (electric dryers)

    Electric dryers use a double breaker. If one half trips, the drum turns but the heater gets no power. Switch it fully off and back on.

  2. 2

    Check the gas supply (gas dryers)

    The shutoff valve behind the dryer should be parallel to the pipe. If you smell gas, stop, leave the home and call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200.

  3. 3

    Clean the lint screen

    Wash it with soap and water if fabric softener has left a film that water beads on.

  4. 4

    Check the vent outside

    With the dryer running, the outside flap should open fully with strong warm airflow. Weak flow means the vent is restricted.

  5. 5

    Check the cycle

    Air fluff and some eco settings run with little or no heat.

If the checks did not help

What a technician usually finds

  1. Thermal fuse

    A one-time safety part. When it blows, the vent should be cleaned or it will blow again.

  2. Heating element (electric)

    The coil breaks with age. It is tested for continuity and replaced.

  3. Igniter or gas valve coils (gas)

    The igniter glows and nothing lights, or the dryer heats for the first few minutes and then runs cold.

  4. Cycling thermostat or thermistor

    The dryer overheats or cuts the heat too early.

  5. Restricted vent

    Not a part, but the root cause behind most repeat failures.

Questions and answers

Why does my dryer heat for a few minutes and then go cold?

On a gas dryer that pattern points to weak gas valve coils. On an electric dryer it usually means the dryer is overheating from a restricted vent and cycling off on its safety thermostat.

Is it safe to keep using a dryer that takes two cycles?

No. Long dry times mean lint is restricting the vent, and lint is flammable. Have the vent cleaned before the thermal fuse or something worse fails.

What does d80 or d90 mean on an LG dryer?

It is LG's flow sense warning: the dryer estimates the vent is 80 or 90 percent blocked. The fix is a vent cleaning, not a dryer repair.

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