How to Troubleshoot a Dryer That Won't Heat: 9 DIY Fixes

Causes, solutions & DIY tricks to fix your non-heating dryer

Co-authored by Homer Flores and Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: December 25, 2024 Fact Checked

Is your dryer not drying your clothes? Follow the troubleshooting steps in this guide to diagnose and fix a Samsung, LG, Maytag, Whirlpool, or any other brand of dryer that isn't heating.

Common Causes of a Dryer Not Heating

The most common cause for a dryer not heating during a cycle is if Eco Mode or Wrinkle Protect is on. If that's not the case, the other common causes are a clogged dryer vent or filter, bad or low power from the outlet, or little to no gas for gas dryers.

1

Eco Dry might be on.

Download Article

Eco Dry spins some cycles without heat. This feature is designed to save energy, but if you open the dryer door and find that it’s cooler than you expected, it might be a bit surprising. Additionally, since Eco Dry is activated on many new dryers, you may not realize it is turned on and could mistakenly think your dryer is not functioning properly.
- To see if Eco Dry is causing your dryer not to heat, start a drying cycle and look for a light on the "Eco Dry" button. If Eco Dry is on, press the button to turn it off.
- On most newer Eco Dry-enabled Samsung Dryers, you will need to turn off Eco Dry manually every time if you don't want any heat-free dry cycles.^{[1]
  X
  Research source} Just be aware that this will use more energy.
- Similarly, Wrinkle Prevent mode adds a heat-free cycle to minimize wrinkles.^{[2]
  X
  Research source} If you notice that your dryer continues tumbling without heat at the end of your drying cycle, it's likely because Wrinkle Protect is enabled.

2

The dryer vent is clogged.

Download Article

Most modern dryers stop heating if the airflow is restricted to prevent fires. This safety feature might be awesome, but finding a load of wet clothes after drying them for an hour is definitely a hassle that no one wants to deal with.
- To see if your vent is clogged, turn on the dryer to what should be a heated cycle. Go outside your house and locate the dryer vent (it's just a hole in the wall) and feel the exiting air from your dryer.
- A weak, not-hot airflow indicates that the vent may be clogged. Follow our vent-cleaning guide to resolve the problem or contact a professional.

3

The dryer may not be getting enough power.

Download Article

Check that the outlet is working and wasn't tripped. Your dryer requires a 240V outlet to heat the drum. If the circuit breaker was tripped earlier, your dryer may not be getting the 240V it needs and spin without heat.
- If you're unsure, it's best to call an electrician to test the voltage and make sure your outlet is powerful enough for your dryer. You also want to reset any tripped circuits.

4

There could be a gas problem (gas dryers).

Download Article

Make sure the gas line is properly connected and that the gas is turned on. If the gas switch is horizontal, the gas is off—rotate it to the vertical position to turn it on. For good measure, check other gas elements in your home, such as your heating system and stove, or check your meter to see if you can use gas. If your home gas supply isn't working, the problem isn't your dryer, but your main gas line.

5

The lint filter could be clogged.

Download Article

A clogged lint filter (lint trap) can prevent your dryer from heating. If the dryer is spinning but not heating, whether there's a little bit of heat or no heat at all, cleaning lint from the filter will often fix the problem.
- To clean the lint filter, open the dryer door, lift the filter from the front of the dryer drum, and use your hands to remove the lint and fuzz. You can also use a pipe cleaner or a vacuum to clean excess lint out of the vent from which you pulled out the filter.
- If the filter screen is still dirty, clean it with water by holding the filter under your sink faucet and rubbing the dirt away. Let the filter dry completely before placing it back into your dryer.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
- Remember to clean the lint tray before or after every load.

6

The load is too big or uneven.

Download Article

Dryers need a little bit of space inside the drum to circulate hot air. If the drum is completely full, the clothes inside can't move and the hot air cannot circulate to dry clothes properly.
- To solve this issue, take out any dry items and aim to fill the dryer only ¾ of the way.

7

The thermal fuse or thermostat burned out.

Download Article

The dryer won't heat if the thermal fuse or thermostat is burnt out. Most newer dryers won't even spin if the thermal fuse is the problem, but for older non-digital models, a dead thermal fuse could cause your dryer to spin without heat. If you're comfortable disassembling your dryer and using a multimeter, you can usually diagnose the problem by performing a continuity test and replace the fuse yourself.
- First, check your dryer's manual to learn the location of the thermal cutoff fuse and high-limit thermostat.
- Before opening your dryer, unplug it from the wall. If it's a gas dryer, disconnect the gas as well.
- Remove the thermal fuse and thermostat from your dryer.
- Set your multimeter to Continuity mode.
- Place the probes on both of the fuse's terminals at the same time. If you hear a beep, the thermal fuse works, and you can check the thermostat. If there is no beep, you should replace the fuse and the thermostat.
- Perform the same test on the thermostat. If the thermostat is dead, replace both the thermostat and the thermal fuse.

8

The heating element could have burned out.

Download Article

If the heating element fails, the dryer will stop heating. The heating element in your dryer may stop working after you've had the dryer for a long time, especially if you haven't done regular maintenance to keep the ventilation clear. If you feel comfortable disassembling your dryer, you can use a multimeter to check the heating element for continuity. If the heating element has burned out, you can purchase a replacement heating element from an authorized reseller.
- Unplug the dryer, and disconnect the gas if you have a gas dryer.
- Check your dryer manual for the location of the heating element. It's usually just below or beside the drum.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
- Remove the heating element assembly, a silver box surrounding the heating element itself. Don't remove the heating element from its metal assembly, as you can check for continuity without opening the box.
- With your multimeter in Continuity mode, place the probes onto each of the heating element's terminals. If you hear a beep, the heating element has continuity. If not, it needs to be replaced.
- To check for shorts, put one probe on one of the terminals, and the other on the metal housing. Then, repeat for the second terminal. If there is continuity between either of the terminals and the metal housing, the heating element has shorted and needs to be replaced.
EXPERT TIP

Homer Flores
Appliance Repair Specialist
Homer Flores is an Appliance Repair Specialist and Training Manager at PreFix, a home maintenance company out of Austin, Texas. With over 15 years of experience, Homer specializes in home improvement, remodeling, and construction. Homer’s dedication to the PreFix mission of providing hassle-free one-stop-shop service for home care, in addition to their completion of the Capital Factory and Techstars Accelerators, has contributed to their growth of service to over 50 zip codes throughout the greater Austin area.

Homer Flores
Appliance Repair Specialist

With a multimeter, set the meter to measure continuity and test both leads on the heating element. If no continuity is present, then replace the part.

9

Check for error codes or blinking lights.

Download Article

On some dryers that don't have digital displays, you'll see flashing light patterns instead of error codes. Look for any of these common error codes or blink patterns that might pop up if your dryer is spinning but not heating:

Common Samsung Dryer Error Codes
9C1, 9E, 2E, 9E1, FC, FE, 1 FC	If you see one of these errors, the dryer is not getting enough power. Make sure the dryer is plugged directly into a 240V outlet and not an extension cord.
tS, t5, tC, tO, t0, tE, tE3, tC5, tCS, 1 tC, 1tC5, 1tCS	These errors are all temperature errors. These dryer error codes often indicate that the lint filter or exhaust vent is clogged.
HC, HC4, 1 HC	While you'll usually only see these codes when the dryer gets too hot, some may pop up if the dryer can't get hot enough due to a lack of power.^{[5] X Research source}
HC2	If your dryer uses gas to heat, this error will appear if the gas ignition is not working. Sometimes turning off the dryer for 3 minutes and turning it back on will resolve the problem.
oD or hE	You'll see these codes if the internal heat sensor is faulty. Contact a licensed repair professional if you see one of these errors.
"Extra Low" and "20 min" lights are blinking	These lights indicate a power source frequency error, which you may be able to resolve by stopping and restarting the cycle. If that doesn't work, your dryer may not be not getting enough power.
"80 min" light is blinking	The dryer may not be plugged into a 240V outlet or may be plugged into an extension cord.

Common Whirlpool Dryer Error Codes
PF	Power Failure. Make sure the dryer is getting enough power.
F:23	The outlet thermistor failed.
F:25	The inlet thermistor failed.
F:28	Moisture sensor failure.

Common LG Dryer Error Codes
PF	Power Failure. Make sure the dryer is getting enough power.
FO	Filter issues.
D80	Broken thermostat.
D90, D95	Exhaust duct clogged.

Common Kenmore Dryer Error Codes
PF	Power Failure. Make sure the dryer is getting enough power.
F:01	Electronic control unit malfunction.
F:20	Heater relay malfunction.
F:29	Faulty moisture sensor.
F:70, F:71	Inlet thermal sensor malfunction.