A dryer running too hot usually can't get rid of its heat because the vent or lint path is blocked. If the dryer keeps heating after the cycle ends, stop using it and call a technician.
In this post:
- •The vent is blocked or crushed
- •The lint screen is clogged
- •Lint has built up inside the cabinet
- •The cycling thermostat failed
- •The heating element is shorted
- •The thermal fuse keeps blowing
1. The vent is blocked or crushed
Hot, moist air has nowhere to go, so heat builds inside.
How to tell: Long dry times, a hot top panel, and weak airflow at the outside hood.
What to do: Straighten or replace crushed duct, use rigid or semi-rigid metal duct instead of plastic or foil, clear the exterior hood, and have a long duct run cleaned. Wind can pack the hood too; see what Santa Ana winds do to appliances.
2. The lint screen is clogged
Dryer sheets can leave a waxy film that blocks air even when the screen looks clean.
How to tell: Run water over the clean screen. If it beads up instead of passing through, the mesh is coated.
What to do: Clean the screen after every load, and wash it with warm soapy water and a soft brush every few months.
3. Lint has built up inside the cabinet
Lint escapes around the screen and collects near the heater and blower, out of sight.
How to tell: Lint at the door opening, around the screen slot or under the drum, or a dryer that has run hot for a long time.
What to do: Have a technician open and clean the cabinet. Lint near a heat source is a fire risk.
4. The cycling thermostat failed
This part switches the heat on and off to hold the drum at the right temperature.
How to tell: Clothes come out scorching hot or shrunken, even on lower settings and with a clear vent.
What to do: Stop using high heat and have the thermostat tested.
5. The heating element is shorted
On electric dryers, an element that has shorted to the housing can keep heating even when the drum stops.
How to tell: Heat continues after the cycle ends or with the door open.
What to do: Unplug the dryer or switch off its breaker right away, and call a technician.
6. The thermal fuse keeps blowing
The fuse is a safety part that cuts out when the dryer overheats. A fuse that keeps blowing is a symptom, not the problem.
How to tell: The dryer stops heating or won't run again soon after a new fuse goes in.
What to do: Never bypass it. Find the cause, which is usually airflow.
When a technician is the better call
Shorted elements, failed thermostats, lint inside the cabinet and any burning smell need a professional. We service gas and electric models through our dryer repair service, and a gas dryer should only ever be opened by a pro.
Marco's advice: Feel the air at the outside hood with the dryer on high. Strong, warm airflow is the best sign your dryer is breathing the way it should. A weak puff means the problem is in the duct, not the dryer.
Dryer feeling too hot to handle? Call ProFix LA at (818) 334-4526.