A dryer that is not drying clothes can instantly wreak havoc to your laundry routine. Before you know it, you may find yourself wearing the same shirt to work multiple times a week. Fortunately, we can show you how to repair a dryer that is not drying clothes.
Clothes dryers have proven themselves to be an essential asset to the home. Let’s face it, who has time to hang out clothes to dry anymore. This is why when your dryer stops getting hot, it can easily send you scrambling. Thankfully, dryers are relatively simple appliances. With the right tips, you can get yours back in good working condition. But first, you must ask yourself – ‘why is my dryer not working?’.
Several possibilities may be responsible for your dryer not working as it should. So, it is crucial to figure out the exact reasons your dryer is not drying clothes. Now, this may seem like an impossible task, especially if you’ve not dealt with such an issue before. Not to worry, we will walk you through how to diagnose and repair your dryer that is not drying clothes.
Why Is My Dryer Not Working?
Few people have time to fiddle with a faulty dryer until they deduce what is wrong. Most people cannot. However, before you learn how to repair a dryer that is not drying clothes, you must first pinpoint the problem.
To help you, we have made a list of possible reasons your dryer is not getting hot again. Here are a couple of possibilities as to why your dryer is not working.
- A dirty lint screen
- Blocked or bent dryer air vent
- Broken drum drive belt
- Overheated motor
- Tripped circuit breaker
- Blown fuse or thermostat
- Burnt out heating element
- Faulty electrical plug or socket
Thankfully, the average homeowner can fix most of these problems. With the right tips and enthusiastic hands, you can have your dryer back in no time. Keep reading to find out how to repair a dryer that isn’t drying clothes.
Dryer Not Drying Clothes: How to Fix It
Now that you know the possible reasons your dryer is not working, let us show you how to rectify it. In the next few paragraphs, you will find a comprehensive troubleshooting guide for faulty dryers. Here is how to repair your dryer and get it to start drying clothes again.
Dirty lint screen
An accumulation of lint is one of the most common problems with dryers that stop heating. If you have already formed the habit of regularly wiping your lint screen, you are walking the right path.
Sadly, this screen is not 100% proof. Some lint may get into your dryer vent hose and housing, which will negatively impact your appliance’s efficiency. To rectify this, remove the hose and shake out the lint. For better results, a vacuum may help clear out the fluff.
Blocked dryer air vent
One of the tips on how to repair your dryer that is not drying clothes is to free up the air vent. When your dryer is working, it should have a clear and unhindered flow of air through the vent exit. Otherwise, your dryer may not get as hot as it should. The trick to this is to clear out whatever has blocked your dryer vent. Also, if your air vent is bent, you should straighten it out.
Your dryer air vents should be as straight as possible. If it must bend, we find that 45-degree angles are better than 90 degrees. This is to help keep airflow as steady as possible. Also, to increase efficiency try to keep your dryer vent length as short as possible.
Overheated motor
The motor of your dryer has a built-in safety mechanism that shuts it off when the temperature is too high. This mechanism is a thermal protector. When this mechanism engages, your dryer will seem to be running, but the motor will not turn the drum. If your drum does not spin, your clothes cannot get dry.
The only way around this problem is to turn off the dryer and wait for it to cool. Once the motor cools down, your dryer should run again. However, try reducing the load you put into your dryer as overloading is what overheats the motor.
Blown fuse
Next on how to repair your dryer that is not drying clothes — a faulty fuse. Just like every other appliance, your dryer’s fuse can go bad. When this happens, the only solution is to change it.
Check your user’s manual to find out where the fuses are and then remove it. You can test it with a multimeter to confirm. If it is defective, you have to change it.
Broken drive belt
Another reason your dryer is not drying clothes may be a defective drive belt. To confirm, depress the button on your dryer door to make your dryer ‘assume’ you’ve shut the door. Then, run a cycle.
If your drum does not turn, there may be something wrong with your drum belt. Either that or your motor is overheating. To confirm if it is your drive belt, you have to open your dryer housing.
Once the housing is open, find a slender rubber belt. It is always around the drum. If it is broken or dislodged, it cannot pull the drum. The only solution to a damaged, broken drive belt is to replace it. However, if it is displaced, all you have to do is put it back in place.
Burnt out heating element
Finally, on how to repair your dryer that is not drying clothes – the heating element. Clothes dryers require a functioning heating element to get hot. So, if your dryer is not getting hot, it may be a problem with your heating element.
To confirm if the element is the problem, you must take it out of the dryer house and check it with a multimeter. If it is faulty, the only way out is to replace it. However, we recommend that you contact professional dryer repair services for this as mistakes can be dangerous.
In conclusion
We understand that a malfunctioning dryer can be quite a hassle to deal with. Hopefully, this article has helped to learn how to repair your dryer if it is not drying clothes.
However, if you are not comfortable carrying out any of the above procedures, do not attempt them. Instead of risking further damage to your dryer or even injury, use our appliance repair services. We have trained experts who are waiting to help you.
