Is your dryer taking longer to heat than it used to? This is a common problem and can be an easy fix.

The first thing to check is to make sure your setting is on a heat setting, then feel the clothes to see if they are warm when the dryer stops. If the clothes are not warm, then I would check the heating element, sometimes you can see if it is bad. It might be broken right off, or it may look burnt.

If you can’t tell, use a multimeter to test for current.  Every model is a little different so to locate the heating element go to RepairClinic.com, click on Repair Help and put in your model number. Then look through the different topics until you find “heating element.”

If it’s not the heating element, see if the exhaust pipe is plugged. To do this take it off the back of the dryer and use a hose brush to clean out any lint that may be in in there. Also check where it blows the air out of the house, if the vent is blocked it stops the air flow, which will cause your high limit thermostat to shut off too soon.

The high limit thermostat can be found on the heating element. There is also a cycling thermostat that is located on the blower housing that cycles your heat on and off. If either one of these is bad your dryer won’t heat. These can both be checked with a multimeter to see if there is current running through them. If not, you will have to replace whichever one is bad.  Some dryers have a moisture sensor located inside the drum. If this fails, it will cause the cycle to stop too early as well.

Just a reminder: please make sure you clean your lint filter after every use and at least once a year you should check your vent pipe from the dryer to the exhaust opening to make sure it is free of lint.  Dryers can cause house fires if you don’t keep them free from lint.