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Dryer not heating: safe checks to try before you call

A dryer that spins but won't heat usually has a setting, power or airflow problem. These checks are safe, quick and may also lower your fire risk.

Updated · 6 min read

The dryer runs, the drum turns, and an hour later your towels are still cold and wet. That's annoying, but the cause is often something you can check yourself in a few minutes: the wrong cycle, a tripped breaker, or lint blocking the airflow.

Lint matters for more than drying time. The U.S. Fire Administration warns that you're at higher risk of a dryer fire if you don't clean your lint filter and dryer vents. So even if your dryer is still heating a little, the airflow checks below are worth doing.

Plan on 20 minutes for the basic checks and up to an hour if you clean the vent.

What you'll need

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Check the cycle setting first

This sounds too simple, but it happens a lot. "Air fluff" or "air only" cycles don't use heat at all. Pick a regular timed dry cycle with heat.

To test, Whirlpool suggests running a heated timed cycle with the dryer empty for about 5 minutes, then opening the door and feeling inside. If it's warm, the dryer is heating, and your problem is more likely airflow. Skip down to the lint and vent sections.

Check the breaker or gas supply

Electric dryers

Electric dryers need 240 volts. That power comes through a double breaker in your panel, which looks like two switches joined by a bar. Whirlpool explains that one side powers the motor and the other powers the heat. If only one side trips, the dryer can spin without heating.

  1. Find the dryer breaker. It's usually labeled "dryer" and is a double-wide switch. Our guide on reading your breaker panel can help.
  2. Reset it fully. Push it firmly to off, then back to on. A tripped breaker may sit in a middle position. See how to reset a tripped breaker.
  3. Test again. Run the 5-minute empty test. If the breaker trips again, stop. That's a job for an electrician or appliance tech.

If your home has a fuse box instead, a blown fuse can cause the same thing. Have an electrician check it if you're not sure how to replace fuses safely.

Gas dryers

A gas dryer still plugs into a regular outlet for the motor and controls, but the heat comes from gas. Whirlpool notes the dryer won't heat if the gas shutoff valve is closed. Look behind the dryer for the valve on the gas line. The handle is open when it lines up with the pipe. If someone bumped it closed, turn it back in line with the pipe.

Don't loosen, move or repair gas fittings yourself. Any work on the gas line belongs to a licensed professional.

Clean the lint screen

Pull out the lint screen and peel off the lint. If it looks clean but still feels clogged, dryer sheets can leave an invisible film. Wash the screen with warm, soapy water and a soft brush, let it dry fully, and put it back. Never run the dryer without the screen in place.

While it's out, use a vacuum crevice tool to pull lint from the slot the screen slides into.

Clean the dryer vent

A clogged vent is one of the most common reasons a dryer seems not to heat. The heat is there, but moist air can't get out. A blocked vent can also cause the dryer to overheat and shut itself off, and it raises fire risk. The CPSC says damp clothes after a normal cycle, or drying that takes longer than usual, can be signs of a blocked screen or duct.

  1. Turn off power. Unplug the dryer or turn off its breaker. For a gas dryer, unplug it and leave the gas line alone.
  2. Pull the dryer out gently. Move it just far enough to reach the duct without stretching the gas line or cord.
  3. Disconnect the duct. Loosen the clamp at the back of the dryer and slide the duct off.
  4. Clean it out. Run a dryer vent brush through the duct and the wall opening. Vacuum out the lint. Also vacuum the dryer's exhaust opening.
  5. Check the duct material. The CPSC recommends replacing plastic or foil accordion-style duct with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct. Look for crushed or kinked spots too.
  6. Check outside. Clear lint from the outdoor vent hood. With the dryer running, make sure exhaust air is coming out and the flap opens.
  7. Reconnect and test. Reattach the duct with its clamp and seal joints with metal foil tape, not screws, which can catch lint.

If your vent runs through the roof, a long distance, or a second story wall, hire a dryer vent cleaning service instead of using a ladder.

When to call a pro

Stop and call for help if:

  • The cycle, breaker or gas valve, lint screen and vent all check out, but there's still no heat. A technician may check parts like the thermal fuse, heating element, igniter, gas valve coils or thermostats.
  • The breaker trips again after you reset it.
  • You smell gas or burning, or you see scorch marks.
  • The dryer feels very hot on the outside or shuts off in the middle of a cycle.
  • You rent. Your landlord may need to arrange the repair.

Read how to choose an appliance repair technician, or take our fix it or call a pro quiz. Have your model number ready. Our guide on finding your appliance model number shows where it is.

Keep it from happening again

  • Clean the lint screen before or after every load.
  • Clean the vent every one to two years, or sooner if drying times get longer.
  • Replace plastic or foil duct with metal duct.
  • Keep the area behind the dryer clear, and vacuum lint that builds up back there.
  • Check the outdoor vent hood a few times a year for lint, nests or snow.

Common questions

Why does my electric dryer spin but not heat?

Electric dryers run on a 240-volt circuit with a double breaker. Whirlpool notes that if one side of that supply is tripped, the drum can still turn while the heating element gets no power. Check the breaker, and check that you didn't pick an air-only cycle.

How often should I clean the dryer vent?

Clean the lint screen with every load. Whirlpool suggests cleaning the vent every one to two years, or sooner if loads start taking longer to dry.

Is foil dryer duct safe?

The CPSC recommends replacing plastic or foil accordion-style duct with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct, because flexible duct can trap lint and get crushed or kinked.

Can I replace a dryer thermal fuse myself?

A blown thermal fuse often means the dryer overheated, usually from a blocked vent. A technician can test the fuse and find out why it blew, so the new one doesn't fail the same way.

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