Dryer troubleshooting

Dryer Not Heating

Safe first checks for a dryer that tumbles but produces little or no heat.

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A dryer that tumbles but stays cold is one of the most common appliance calls. On an electric dryer, the drum motor runs on 120 volts but the heater needs the full 240, so a half-tripped breaker can cause exactly this symptom. If power and airflow check out, the fault is usually in the heating circuit.

Safe first checks

Start here before scheduling service.

01Make sure the cycle isn't set to Air Dry, Air Fluff or another no-heat setting.
02Clean the lint screen.
03For an electric dryer, switch its double breaker fully off and then back on. One half of the breaker can trip and leave the drum turning with no heat.
04For a gas dryer, confirm the gas shut-off valve behind the dryer is open (the handle runs parallel to the pipe).
05With the dryer running, check outside that the vent flap opens and air is blowing out strongly.

Safety note

Stop using the dryer immediately if you smell gas, see smoke or notice a burning electrical odor.

What usually causes it

How to tell which part is failing.

Match what you see or hear to the most likely cause. A technician confirms the failed part with testing before recommending a repair.

Half-tripped breaker (electric)

The drum turns but there is no heat at all; one side of the double breaker may be off.

Failed heating element (electric)

No heat after the breaker is reset usually means an open element. Restricted airflow is the most common reason elements burn out.

Blown thermal fuse

A thermal fuse opens when the dryer overheats. If it has blown, the vent is often restricted and must be cleared, or the new fuse will fail too.

Igniter, flame sensor or gas valve coils (gas)

If the igniter glows but the burner doesn't light, or the flame goes out after a few seconds, the gas valve coils or flame sensor are likely.

Cycling thermostat or temperature sensor

Heat that comes and goes, or clothes that are only warm, can point to a thermostat or sensor fault.

South Florida note

Many South Florida dryers sit in closets, garages or stacked units with long vent runs, and humid air means longer cycles. A restricted vent is a common underlying cause of the heating-element and thermal-fuse failures we repair.

When to call for repair

Schedule professional diagnosis when the symptom persists.

✓ There is no heat after basic checks

✓ You smell gas, burning or scorched material

✓ The dryer stops mid-cycle

✓ The same breaker repeatedly trips

Need dryer repair?

MSA provides residential dryer repair for homes in Broward County from Davie north and throughout Palm Beach County, with a $79 diagnostic credited toward an approved repair.

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Questions & answers