Dryer Not Heating Up? Here’s What to Do

Maytag dyer with appliance doctor phone numbers

Maytag is one of the most well-known brands of large appliances in the world with a great reputation for making high-quality products but like any other appliance, they will break at some point. One of the most frequent complaints about a Maytag clothes dryer is that it doesn’t heat up.

Having your clothes come out of the dryer still wet is one of the most frustrating things that can happen. Don’t worry, as not all dryer problems require hiring a technician. Continue reading and learn the reasons why you’re dryer isn’t heating and follow the tips, Appliance Doctor Inc. has prepared, on how to fix the problem easily.

“Why Is My Dryer Not Heating?”

1. Your Incoming Electric Power Is Not Enough

If your dryer isn’t heating, try to check the following:

Is your Maytag dryer getting the right amount of electricity? If your Maytag dryer won’t heat up, it might not be getting the right amount of electricity. Most electric dryers need two 120-volt AC legs, which together add up to 240 volts.
Is your dryer plugged in? If you’ve already plugged in your power cord, but the problem persists, the first thing you should do is make sure the power cord isn’t broken. Next, make sure your circuit breaker isn’t tripped by resetting it. After you reset your circuit breaker, you can set your dryer to a time dry, high heat cycle to see if it heats up.
Did your close your dryer completely?
Did you check whether your dryer is in an “eco” mode or cool setting?
Did you check whether one of your circuit breakers has been tripped? If a tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse cuts off power to one leg of the dryer, the dryer may still be able to run, but it won’t heat up. Check the circuit breaker or use a multimeter to measure the voltage at the outlet. Keep in mind that the readings can be anywhere from 210 to 240 volts.

2. Dryer Settings

Make sure your settings and controls are set properly. If you want your dryer to heat up, don’t use the “Fluff Air” or “Wrinkle Prevent” settings.

“Fluff Air” cycle makes the drum spin and blows air at room temperature, without any heat.
“Wrinkle” Prevent setting can be used with any cycle and spins the drum without heating it after the cycle is done.

3. Exhaust Vent

Check your dryer exhaust vent. When the exhaust vent gets blocked, less air can get out, which can make the temperature inside rising. It could cause the thermostat’s high-limit switch to trip. So, the exhaust vent should be checked often and cleaned when necessary.

4. Thermal Fuse

Remember to check your dryer thermal fuse. The thermal fuse is a switch that turns off the dryer or its parts if the temperature of the dryer’s exhaust is too high. This one-time-use item is there for safety. It is either on the housing for the blower or at the heat source of the dryer.

Open the cabinet of your dryer to find the thermal fuse.
Use a multimeter to check for continuity. When you find that the thermal fuse has blown, it is no longer useful and should be replaced. It would be better to hire a professional to fix the appliance for you.

5. Heating Elements

If your heating element is defective, your Maytag dryer might not heat up. Your Maytag dryer might not heat up because the heating element is broken. To find out whether your dryer’s heating element has burned out, open the cabinet and use a multimeter to check if the element is still working. The heating element is a part that can’t be fixed, so if it doesn’t work, you should replace it.

6. High Limit Thermostat

If the high limit thermostat has stopped working, it could be the reason why your Maytag dryer isn’t heating. This safety feature checks the dryer’s temperature and turns off the burner if the dryer overheats because the exhaust vent is blocked. It’s attached to the heating chamber. Open the dryer’s cabinet and check the thermostat for continuity with a multimeter. If there is no continuity, it should be replaced and the restricted vent system should also be cleaned.

7. Cycling Thermostat

The air temperature is controlled by the cycling thermostat, which turns the heat on and off. It is usually on the housing for the blower. If the dryer’s cycling thermostat is broken, it won’t heat up. Use a multimeter to check for continuity in the thermostat. If the thermostat doesn’t work, you should get a new one.

8. Faulty Igniter

Modern gas dryers have something called an “igniter” that lights the gas that comes out of the gas valve. It is inside the dryer next to the tube that goes to the gas valve burner. If the starter doesn’t work, the dryer won’t heat up. You can use a multimeter to check the continuity of the igniter. If the igniter doesn’t work, it could be the problem and needs to be replaced.

9. Coils

Coils are used to open the gas valve and let gas flow into the burner assembly. If the igniter lights up and then goes out without making a flame, one or more of the gas valve coils is broken and needs to be replaced.

10. Clogged Dryer Vent

This happens most often when a dryer won’t heat up. Here’s what you need to do when your dryer vent is clogged:

Start a timed dry on high heat to see if your vents are clogged.
Go outside to the exhaust vent and use your hand to make sure the air coming out is very warm and moving at a good rate.
If not much air is coming out of your vents, they probably need to be cleaned or replaced.
If the temperature is too low, there may be a problem with how the dryer works. Please call a qualified appliance service technician to check it out.

If you’ve tried everything you can think of to fix your dryer and it still won’t dry, you’ll probably need help from experts to figure out what’s wrong and fix it.

Naples Most Trusted Appliance Repair Service Provider