Dryer Not Drying or Heating? Start With These Checks

The cycle has finished, but the towels are still damp. Is the dryer staying cold, or is it getting warm without drying the load? Tell us which you have noticed. Also check whether the clothes came out of the washer wetter than usual. These are useful clues before we inspect the dryer.

Stop if there are signs of overheating

Do not keep running a dryer that smells scorched, becomes unusually hot or repeatedly trips a breaker. For smoke or fire, leave and contact emergency services. If you smell gas, leave without operating switches and contact your gas utility or emergency services from outside. Internal wiring, gas components and thermal safety devices are not owner troubleshooting tasks.

Check the selected cycle and load

• Read the display and the selected program. An air-only setting is different from a heated drying cycle.
• Record whether the issue happens on every load or only on bulky items.
• Check whether clothes are unusually wet when they leave the washer.
• Identify the dryer type: gas, conventional electric or heat pump. Give the model number if you are unsure.

Whirlpool identifies load wetness, load size and restricted airflow among factors that can lengthen drying. Clean the lint screen as directed by the manual and return it before operation. A clean screen does not rule out an obstruction elsewhere in a vented system.

Vented and ventless models need different care

For a vented dryer, mention any visibly crushed duct and when the exhaust was last serviced. Do not disconnect the exhaust and run the dryer into the room. Arrange help for inaccessible ducts or installations that require moving heavy equipment.

For a heat-pump or condenser model, use its own maintenance instructions. Some have owner-cleanable filters or tanks; other components must not be removed or rinsed. Do not rinse a heat exchanger unless your manual says to.

What to tell the repair company

Provide the model, cycle name, displayed code and whether the drum turns. Note whether the problem started suddenly or gradually. If service or installation was recently performed, say what changed. Leave electrical testing to a technician.

Tell us whether the drum turns, whether you noticed heat and how long the last load took. Include any error code and let us know if the dryer is stacked or in a tight closet. Diagnosis is $85, waived if you proceed with repair. We will explain what we find before you decide about the work.