Author Topic: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?  (Read 6785 times)

angelagrace

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Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« on: July 28, 2014, 10:25:03 PM »
Hi guys,

Haven't done laundry in weeks, maybe a month (we wear things a couple times a lot before washing) and finally went to dry a load (socks and underwear--other stuff hung to dry), and it ran but didn't get hot.

Where do I start to check out what's wrong without having to call a repairman? Any ideas from handy mustachians?

Thanks in advance!

deborah

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2014, 10:26:58 PM »
Make sure it is on the hot setting (I know you're not stupid, but I didn't think I was either).

DarinC

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2014, 10:36:32 PM »
You can check the dryer exhaust vent. If there's no airflow or very little air flow there's probably a clump of lint obstructing it.

Dicey

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2014, 10:50:28 PM »
DH can fix almost anything with the help of the internet. Just type something like "My XXX brand dryer, model YYYYY runs but is not getting hot" into your preferred search engine. You will be amazed. Someone, somewhere will have the same dryer with the same problem and will know how to fix it. You can order the necessary part online and learn how to install it via YouTube. Seriously, dryers are one of the easiest appliances to repair. You will be amazed when you open it up how little is inside that big metal box. While you have it open, vacuum out the lint from every nook and cranny. You can do it! Here's a link from someone who's been there and blogged to tell about it.

http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2012/05/i-fixed-my-dryer-all-by-myself/

greaper007

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2014, 11:06:47 PM »
This is a fantastically easy fix.    Go to the hardware store and buy a retractable clothesline.    Then hang it up in your yard or house.      You can dry your clothes for free and use zero fossil fuels in the meantime.
:)

Seriously though, you really don't need a dryer.    I used mine for the first time in about a year because I had to take my clothesline off the deck in order to paint it.    I have two lines stretched across the basement in the winter, just to the right of the tv.  Now might be a really good time to give line drying a go.

Goldielocks

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2014, 01:49:23 AM »
If it does not have a fancy control panel, I.e. is an older style, it is likely a heating coil, which you can get the replacement part for and pull out the old and put in the new one in about a half hour.  Very common initial fail point and easily solved.  We did this our first time and were surprised at how easy it was.

Harder to fix is a separated drum that pinches your clothes....

Hvillian

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2014, 10:48:07 AM »
DH can fix almost anything with the help of the internet. Just type something like "My XXX brand dryer, model YYYYY runs but is not getting hot" into your preferred search engine. You will be amazed. Someone, somewhere will have the same dryer with the same problem and will know how to fix it. You can order the necessary part online and learn how to install it via YouTube. Seriously, dryers are one of the easiest appliances to repair. You will be amazed when you open it up how little is inside that big metal box. While you have it open, vacuum out the lint from every nook and cranny. You can do it! Here's a link from someone who's been there and blogged to tell about it.

http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2012/05/i-fixed-my-dryer-all-by-myself/
+1

I had never given the internal workings of our electric dryer a thought, but with the help of the internet it was pretty easy to figure out.  I checked the heating coil (was fine), and found out that the dryer has several fuses that blow if it gets too hot.  They could wear out over time, but usually have a problem if the airflow is insufficient (clogged with clothes or lint, outflow blocked, fan motor not working properly, etc.).   The fuses themselves are pretty cheap and easy to replace.

gomike

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2014, 10:54:11 AM »
If it is gas replace the thermocouple

angelagrace

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2014, 10:58:57 AM »
This is a fantastically easy fix.    Go to the hardware store and buy a retractable clothesline.    Then hang it up in your yard or house.      You can dry your clothes for free and use zero fossil fuels in the meantime.
:)

Seriously though, you really don't need a dryer.    I used mine for the first time in about a year because I had to take my clothesline off the deck in order to paint it.    I have two lines stretched across the basement in the winter, just to the right of the tv.  Now might be a really good time to give line drying a go.

While I appreciate that, we would like to have our dryer fixed :) towels just do NOT come out soft if I line dry them (I don't use fabric softener). I also don't want to hang up our underwear for the neighbors to see haha :) if we were out in the country, no problem. Plus I'd prefer the hunk of metal in our laundry room to actually work!

angelagrace

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2014, 11:01:08 AM »
If it does not have a fancy control panel, I.e. is an older style, it is likely a heating coil, which you can get the replacement part for and pull out the old and put in the new one in about a half hour.  Very common initial fail point and easily solved.  We did this our first time and were surprised at how easy it was.

Harder to fix is a separated drum that pinches your clothes....

It is a few years old (older style--not fancy :) ) so we will try those things, thank you all for the replies! Feeling much more confident now!

greaper007

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2014, 11:19:04 AM »
This is a fantastically easy fix.    Go to the hardware store and buy a retractable clothesline.    Then hang it up in your yard or house.      You can dry your clothes for free and use zero fossil fuels in the meantime.
:)

Seriously though, you really don't need a dryer.    I used mine for the first time in about a year because I had to take my clothesline off the deck in order to paint it.    I have two lines stretched across the basement in the winter, just to the right of the tv.  Now might be a really good time to give line drying a go.

While I appreciate that, we would like to have our dryer fixed :) towels just do NOT come out soft if I line dry them (I don't use fabric softener). I also don't want to hang up our underwear for the neighbors to see haha :) if we were out in the country, no problem. Plus I'd prefer the hunk of metal in our laundry room to actually work!

Towels will soften after you use them once, plus the roughness is kind of nice sometimes.    I just hang my wife's underwear out of sight in the house or stuck through the holes of the laundry basket, and I don't really care that the neighbors know that I wear boxer briefs.    I'm smack dab in the middle of suburbia.

Seriously, give it a go and watch your electric bill plummet while you save the planet.

Good Luck

angelagrace

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2014, 12:21:09 PM »
This is a fantastically easy fix.    Go to the hardware store and buy a retractable clothesline.    Then hang it up in your yard or house.      You can dry your clothes for free and use zero fossil fuels in the meantime.
:)

Seriously though, you really don't need a dryer.    I used mine for the first time in about a year because I had to take my clothesline off the deck in order to paint it.    I have two lines stretched across the basement in the winter, just to the right of the tv.  Now might be a really good time to give line drying a go.

While I appreciate that, we would like to have our dryer fixed :) towels just do NOT come out soft if I line dry them (I don't use fabric softener). I also don't want to hang up our underwear for the neighbors to see haha :) if we were out in the country, no problem. Plus I'd prefer the hunk of metal in our laundry room to actually work!

Towels will soften after you use them once, plus the roughness is kind of nice sometimes.    I just hang my wife's underwear out of sight in the house or stuck through the holes of the laundry basket, and I don't really care that the neighbors know that I wear boxer briefs.    I'm smack dab in the middle of suburbia.

Seriously, give it a go and watch your electric bill plummet while you save the planet.

Good Luck

You have definitely inspired me to hang up more! I will try to utilize the basement while we still have it unfinished. I'd just like to fix the dryer for the odd times we do need it. Thanks!

SisterX

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2014, 12:35:23 PM »
This is a fantastically easy fix.    Go to the hardware store and buy a retractable clothesline.    Then hang it up in your yard or house.      You can dry your clothes for free and use zero fossil fuels in the meantime.
:)

Seriously though, you really don't need a dryer.    I used mine for the first time in about a year because I had to take my clothesline off the deck in order to paint it.    I have two lines stretched across the basement in the winter, just to the right of the tv.  Now might be a really good time to give line drying a go.

While I appreciate that, we would like to have our dryer fixed :) towels just do NOT come out soft if I line dry them (I don't use fabric softener). I also don't want to hang up our underwear for the neighbors to see haha :) if we were out in the country, no problem. Plus I'd prefer the hunk of metal in our laundry room to actually work!

I use hangers inside my apartment to hang dry our clothes, especially underwear.  The elastic dies much faster if you put them in the dryer.  No one's going to be looking in my closet at the hangers full of underwear I have there, and it's super easy to pull them off the hangers and drop into our underwear baskets, since we don't have a proper dresser.
No advice on the towels though.  Have you tried vinegar as a fabric softener?  I understand your pain, since we not only have terrible conditions for line-drying but also super, super hard water that makes the towels not just stiff but rather crunchy.  NOT ok.

1967mama

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2014, 12:59:48 PM »
Sounds like a fuse to me. We've had that happen before. Don't bother with a repairman. You can do this one yourself. My non-handy husband was able to fix ours. Saved big $$$.

FuturePrimitive

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #14 on: July 29, 2014, 05:00:12 PM »
Gas or electric? We had the same thing not a few weeks ago. Turned out to be just a fuse, quick easy fix. Gas and electric both have internal fuses so the question is kind of moot I guess.

southern granny

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #15 on: July 29, 2014, 05:05:16 PM »
I used to work in the office of a repair shop.  I saw a lot of tickets for dryers that won't heat when it was only a fuse.  Sometimes, it was a circuit breaker in the house panel.  Good luck.

mikefixac

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #16 on: July 29, 2014, 07:46:01 PM »
Above commenter is correct. Usually it's a fuse in the dryer (usually located behind the dryer, requiring 1/4 socket to remove one screw).

Just Youtube "dryer not working" and will get a ton a how to videos and maybe a few of mine.

Here's the order of what to look for:
1. make sure setting is on "heat" not "fluff".
2. check continuity on fuse (youtube video will show you how to do that).
3. one of the coils above the burner is open, not allowing gas to go through. Also YT that.
4. igniter itself is bad (YT that too)

All these repairs are easy and will fix around 99% of all "not drying" problems.

Nords

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #17 on: July 29, 2014, 11:39:07 PM »
Here's a 10-second troubleshooting/repair tip:

If it's an electric dryer, then the motor runs on 120v and the heater coils run on 240v.  The dryer's circuit breaker is usually two circuit breakers connected together with a metal bar across the two breaker operating levers.

Sometimes one of the two breakers trips.  This allows the motor to run, but the heaters won't heat.  The tripped breaker is very hard to detect because its operating lever is held in nearly the same position as the untripped breaker.

So open both breakers (firmly grasp the operating bar and move both levers to the "OFF" position) and then shut them again.  Run a load in the dryer to see whether it heats.

guitar_stitch

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #18 on: July 30, 2014, 11:45:03 AM »
I was going to be a smart ass and tell you to stop drying clothes at night....  but....

Common causes I have seen:

1) Heating Element
2) Thermister
3) Timer Circuit
4) Bad/Corroded/Burned Plug
5) Tripped Breaker

Dryers are simple devices that really haven't changed much.

livingthedream

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #19 on: July 30, 2014, 12:02:57 PM »
Check Youtube for your specific model. I did this for my washer last year and got great professional troubleshooting tips including how to get a diagnostics codes from the machine the helped me fix it without calling a repairman.

billybaht

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Re: Dryer Not Heating--MMMs with ideas?
« Reply #20 on: July 30, 2014, 10:26:25 PM »
^ Agreed. Youtube is your friend :)

 

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