A dryer that is not drying properly has one of two problems: it is not making heat, or it cannot move hot, moist air out of the drum. Most slow-drying dryers have the second problem, and a clogged lint screen, a crushed duct, or a blocked outside vent is the usual cause.
This guide shows how to tell which problem your dryer has, the 13 most common causes, which ones you can fix yourself, and when to call a technician. Bonita Appliance Repair repairs electric and gas dryers in Bonita, Chula Vista, National City, and across San Diego County.
Start here: the 5-minute checklist
Quick checklist
- Clean the lint screen, and wash it if water beads on the mesh.
- Go outside while the dryer runs. The vent flap should open and you should feel strong, warm air.
- Pull the dryer out and check the duct behind it for kinks or crushing.
- Dry a smaller load on a timed high-heat cycle.
- Check that clothes come out of the washer damp, not dripping.
Still damp after one cycle? Run the heat test below to see whether the dryer is heating.
Is your dryer heating? Run this test
Start an empty dryer on a timed, high-heat cycle. After five minutes, open the door and feel the inside of the drum and the air coming in.
- Hot air and a hot drum: the dryer heats. The problem is airflow, load size, or a sensor. See causes 1–7.
- Cool or barely warm: the dryer is not making heat. See causes 8–13.
Electric dryers heat with a heating element on a 240-volt circuit. Gas dryers heat with a gas burner lit by an igniter. The airflow causes apply to both.
Match the symptom to the cause
| What you notice | Most likely causes |
|---|---|
| Hot, but clothes take two or three cycles | Lint screen, clogged or crushed duct, blocked outside vent, overloading (causes 1–4) |
| Clothes very wet when they go in | Washer not spinning out (cause 5) |
| Auto-dry cycle ends early with damp clothes | Dirty moisture sensor bars, wrong cycle (cause 6) |
| Laundry room or closet gets hot and humid | Restricted vent, closet without make-up air (causes 2, 7) |
| Tumbles with no heat at all | Tripped breaker, thermal fuse, heating element, igniter (causes 8–12) |
| Heats, but airflow from the vent is weak | Clogged or loose blower wheel (cause 13) |
Dryer heats but clothes stay damp
1. The lint screen is clogged or coated
A full lint screen blocks the airflow the dryer needs to carry moisture out. Dryer sheets and fabric softener also leave an invisible film on the mesh that blocks air even when the screen looks clean.
- Clean the lint screen before every load.
- Run water over the screen. If the water beads up instead of passing through, scrub the mesh with warm water, dish soap, and a soft brush, then let it dry.
- Vacuum lint from the screen housing with a narrow attachment.
2. The vent duct is clogged, crushed, or too long
The duct carries hot, moist air from the dryer to the outside. Lint builds up inside it over time. Thin foil or plastic accordion duct crushes easily when the dryer is pushed back against the wall. A long run with several elbows slows the air even when it is clean.
- Disconnect the duct from the back of the dryer and look inside both ends.
- Clean the duct with a dryer vent brush kit, or replace it.
- Replace foil or plastic accordion duct with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct.
- Keep the run as short and straight as the installation instructions allow, and leave a few inches behind the dryer so the duct is not crushed.
3. The outside vent hood is blocked
The vent hood on the outside wall or roof has a flap or louvers that should open when the dryer runs. Lint, paint, a stuck flap, or a bird or rodent nest can block it.
- With the dryer running, check that the flap opens fully and air flows out strongly.
- Clear lint from the hood. Do not add a screen over the opening, since screens trap lint.
- Have a roof vent cleaned by a professional if you cannot reach it safely.
4. The drum is overloaded
Clothes need room to tumble so hot air can pass through them. An overfilled drum, or a load that mixes heavy towels with light shirts, dries unevenly.
- Fill the drum no more than about three-quarters full.
- Dry heavy items such as towels, jeans, and bedding separately from light items.
5. The washer is not spinning the water out
If clothes come out of the washer dripping, the dryer has to remove water the washer should have removed. The problem is in the washer, not the dryer.
- Check that the washer finishes its final spin. Clothes should feel damp, not soaked.
- Redistribute an unbalanced load and run a drain-and-spin cycle.
If the washer will not spin, see why is my washing machine not spinning and why is my washing machine not draining.
6. The moisture sensor is dirty or the cycle is wrong
Auto-dry cycles use two metal sensor bars inside the drum, usually near the lint screen. Wet clothes touching the bars tell the control the load is still damp. A film of dryer-sheet residue on the bars makes the control think the load is dry, so the cycle ends early.
- Wipe the sensor bars with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol.
- Use a timed high-heat cycle to confirm the dryer heats and dries.
- Choose a heavier auto-dry setting, or a higher dryness level, for thick loads.
7. The dryer is in a closet without enough make-up air
A dryer pulls room air in as it pushes hot air out. A dryer in a closet with a solid door can run short of air, overheat, and dry slowly.
- Run the dryer with the closet door open. If drying improves, the closet needs more air.
- Check the installation instructions for the minimum closet openings, such as a louvered door.
Dryer runs but does not heat
Safety note: Unplug the dryer or turn off its breaker before you remove any panel. Electric dryers run on 240 volts. Gas dryers also have a gas supply line; leave gas valve and line work to a technician.
8. One breaker is tripped (electric) or the gas is off (gas)
An electric dryer uses a double-pole 240-volt breaker. If one half trips, the drum still turns on 120 volts but the heating element gets no power. A gas dryer will tumble without heat if the gas shut-off valve behind it is closed.
- Switch the dryer breaker fully off, then on.
- For a gas dryer, check that the valve handle on the gas line is in line with the pipe.
9. The thermal fuse has blown
The thermal fuse is a one-time safety fuse on the blower housing or heater. It blows when the dryer overheats, which usually happens because the vent is clogged. On many dryers a blown fuse cuts the heat; on others it stops the dryer from running at all.
A technician confirms the fuse with a multimeter and replaces it. The vent has to be cleared at the same time, or the new fuse will blow again.
10. The heating element has failed (electric)
The heating element is a coil of resistance wire inside a metal housing. Over time the coil breaks, often after years of restricted airflow. A broken coil gives no heat; a coil that is grounded to the housing can trip the breaker.
A technician tests the element for continuity and replaces it if it fails. How to replace a dryer heating element explains the repair in detail.
11. A thermostat has failed
The cycling thermostat turns the heat on and off to hold the drum temperature. The high-limit thermostat cuts the heat if the dryer overheats. A failed cycling thermostat can leave the dryer with no heat or too little heat.
Thermostats are tested for continuity at room temperature and replaced if they fail.
12. The igniter, gas valve coils, or flame sensor has failed (gas)
A gas dryer lights its burner with a glowing igniter. The flame sensor tells the gas valve to stay open. A weak igniter that glows but does not light the burner, or worn gas valve coils that open and then close, leave a gas dryer with little or no heat.
Gas valve work should be done by a technician. If you smell gas, leave the house and call SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343 from outside.
13. The blower wheel is clogged or loose
The blower wheel is the fan that pulls air through the drum and pushes it out the vent. Lint packed into its blades, or a wheel that has come loose on the motor shaft, moves much less air. The dryer heats, but the air from the outside vent is weak.
A technician opens the cabinet, cleans the blower housing, and tightens or replaces the wheel.
Dryer vent safety
Failure to clean the dryer is the leading factor in home clothes dryer fires (U.S. Fire Administration, Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings, 2012). A dryer that takes longer and longer to dry is often the first sign of a restricted vent.
- Clean the lint screen before every load.
- Clean the vent duct from the dryer to the outside at least once a year, and more often for large families.
- Use rigid or semi-rigid metal duct, not foil or plastic accordion duct.
- Do not run the dryer while you are away from home or asleep.
20 dryer safety tips and dryer maintenance in San Diego cover dryer care in more detail.
How much does dryer repair cost in San Diego?
These are typical dryer repair prices at Bonita Appliance Repair. The final price depends on your model, the failed part, and the time the repair takes.
| Dryer repair | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Minor repairs: belts, idler pulleys | $150–$300 |
| Major repairs: drive motors, timers | $565–$625 |
A technician diagnoses the dryer and explains the repair and its price before any work begins. See washer and dryer repair in San Diego for more repair prices.
Repair or replace your dryer?
The National Association of Home Builders puts the average life expectancy of a clothes dryer at about 13 years (Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components, NAHB, 2007). Thermal fuses, heating elements, thermostats, and igniters are usually worth repairing at any age. Many slow-drying dryers need only a vent cleaning.
A common rule of thumb: consider replacing the dryer if the repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new model and the dryer is past half its expected life. Read is it better to repair or replace an appliance for more detail.
When to call a dryer repair technician
Call a dryer repair technician when:
- The dryer tumbles with no heat after you reset the breaker or check the gas valve
- The vent is clear but clothes still take more than one cycle
- The breaker trips when the dryer heats
- The dryer or the clothes smell hot or scorched
- Air from the outside vent is weak even with a clean duct
Bonita Appliance Repair offers dryer repair in San Diego and dryer repair in Chula Vista. We repair Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, Kenmore, Maytag, GE, and Speed Queen dryers. A technician diagnoses the fault and explains the repair and its price before any work begins.
Dryer not drying FAQs
Why is my dryer running but not drying clothes?
If the dryer heats, the most common causes are a clogged lint screen, a clogged or crushed vent duct, a blocked outside vent, or an overloaded drum. If the dryer does not heat, the most common causes are a tripped breaker, a blown thermal fuse, a failed heating element, or a failed gas igniter.
Why does my dryer take two cycles to dry?
A dryer that heats but needs two or three cycles almost always has restricted airflow. Clean the lint screen, check the duct behind the dryer for crushing, and make sure the outside vent flap opens fully with strong airflow.
How do I know if my dryer vent is clogged?
Signs of a clogged vent include clothes that take longer to dry, a dryer that feels very hot on the outside, a hot and humid laundry room, a burning smell, and weak airflow at the outside vent while the dryer runs.
How often should I clean my dryer vent?
Clean the lint screen before every load and the vent duct at least once a year. Homes that run the dryer every day, or have long vent runs, may need the duct cleaned more often.
Why is my dryer not heating?
On an electric dryer, the usual causes are a tripped half of the 240-volt breaker, a blown thermal fuse, a failed heating element, or a failed thermostat. On a gas dryer, the usual causes are a closed gas valve, a weak igniter, or worn gas valve coils.
Does Bonita Appliance Repair fix dryers that are not drying?
Yes. Bonita Appliance Repair repairs electric and gas dryers from all major brands in Bonita, Chula Vista, National City, and across San Diego County. Call 619-329-5938 or book online.
Book dryer repair in San Diego
If your dryer still is not drying after these checks, Bonita Appliance Repair can find the failed part and explain the repair and its price before any work begins.
Bonita Appliance Repair · 5080 Bonita Rd #22, Bonita, CA 91902 · 619-329-5938
