Reasons Why Your Tumble Dryer May Not be Heating
Having to deal with an out-of-order tumble dryer can be frustrating especially in the cold winter months. One of the most common problems that occurs is the tumble dryer not heating. Do not worry; depending on which tumble dryer you own, resolving this can be relatively easy and inexpensive.
Most tumble dryers come equipped with a small red reset button at the back of the appliance.
If the dryer still does not work, it means that there is some other fault. Depending on whether you own a gas or an electric tumble dryer, the reasons for the tumble dry not heating will vary.
Electric tumble dryer
If you have an electric tumble, your appliance engineer can check the following parts:
- Power outlet: If there is no problem with the power outlet, then the problem lies with the appliance.
- Heating element: Most likely, the heating element is defective. The heating element in the dryer comprises of coils. A break in the coils will prevent the appliance from generating enough heat for drying.
- Dual breaker switch: To generate the 240 volts of electricity needed for the drying function, electric tumble dryers have a dual breaker switch. If the switch is faulty, then the appliance will not have enough power to produce the heat (even though the machine may be tumbling)
- Thermal fuse: The thermal fuses could also be faulty.
Gas tumble dryer
A gas tumble dryer has a burner system comprising of an igniter, coils, and flame sensor. The heating problem in your gas tumble dryer may be due to the following which a Gas-safe register technician can resolve:
- Bad coils: If the tumble dryer produces heat at the beginning, but finishes cold, then most likely your appliance has bad coils.
- Problem with igniter / flame sensor: If the tumble dryer is not heating up at all, then most likely the igniter or the flame sensor needs replacing.
- Residue around the burner: Sometimes there is a build up of slime around the burner, which blocks the gas flow and prevents the unit from igniting.
Please remember:
Appliances should be serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions – found in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call in a NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.
If you inspect your appliance yourself, remember to turn off and unplug the tumble dryer or turn off the gas first. Also, seek out reliable professional help to carry out the repairs. These parts are easily replaceable and your tumble dryer will be as good as new.
Here are a few do’s and don’ts for keeping your tumble dryer problem free:
- Let the dryer run through its cool down phase
- Do not open the door midway through a cycle to check if the clothes are dry
- Ensure that the filters / burner are cleaned regularly