Is Your Dryer Not Getting Hot? Here’s How To Fix It

How to Fix a Defective Dryer

Dryers, just like any other appliances, are prone to breakdown at some point. If the only dryer you depend on is not drying your clothes anymore, then you will need to take quick action to get things back up and running. Below are some of the common parts you need to check, any time your dryer is on the blink.

Heating Element

The heating element is a coil of wire inside a metal chamber and whose job is generating heat. There will be no heating if the element is faulty. To reach the element, remove the front or rear panel of the heater. You can then test it with a multi-meter.

High Limit Thermostat

This is a device attached to the heating chamber meant to prevent overheating when the exhaust vent is restricted. If this device is faulty, use a multi-meter to check on its continuity. Replacement of the thermostat will be needed if there is no continuity.

Cycling Thermostat

This as a device meant to control temperatures inside the dryer drum by putting the heating element on and off in cycles. The cycling thermostat can become faulty over time and here you will need to use a multi-meter to check for continuity.

Igniter

Igniters are used to ignite the gas from the gas valve. They are very fragile, hence breaking down is very likely. Check for continuity using a multi-meter and replace the device if there is no continuity.

Radiant Flame Sensor

If this device is defective, the gas valve won’t open or the igniter won’t glow. During testing, if the igniter glows constantly and the gas valve doesn’t open to light a flame, the sensor will need to be replaced.

Gas Control Valve

A control valve is faulty if it opens without lighting a flame after the igniter glows. Another symptom is when the valve functions correctly at the beginning, but then fails towards the end of the drying cycle.

Coils

Coils, just like the control valve, can be functional at the beginning of the cycle, then become defective towards the end due to internal heating. The gas valve won’t open if one of the coils is not working and therefore the whole system will come to a standstill.

More Repair Parts

Other parts that need attention whenever your dryer breaks down include the temperature sensor, the timer and the thermal fuse.