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Whirlpool Dryer Not Heating? 14 Reasons Why Your Whirlpool Dryer is Not Getting Hot
If your Whirlpool dryer is not heating or your dryer is not getting hot, start with the thermal fuse — it’s the most common cause and often blows when exhaust venting is restricted, so check and clean the vent and lint trap before replacing the fuse. If the drum runs but there’s no heat, the dryer drive motor’s centrifugal switch can fail and keep the heat circuit from engaging, which usually means replacing the motor. On gas models, faulty gas valve solenoids or a bad igniter are highly likely: an igniter that glows but does not light the gas points to the solenoids, while a burned-out igniter will show no continuity. Also confirm you haven’t accidentally selected an air-only or no-heat cycle. You can use a multimeter to check continuity on the thermal fuse and igniter if you’re comfortable testing electrical parts. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement part for your Whirlpool dryer and get the right part and repair instructions for your specific machine.
01 - Whirlpool Dryer Thermal Fuse
The thermal fuse is a safety device designed to protect the dryer from overheating. The fuse is located on the blower housing or at the dryer’s heat source such as the heating element on electric dryers or at the burner on gas models. The fuse should be closed for continuity meaning it has a continuous electrical path through it when good. If overheated the fuse will have no continuity meaning the electrical path is broken and the fuse has blown. A multimeter can be used to test it for continuity. Be aware that a blown thermal fuse is an indication of a restricted exhaust vent from the dryer to the outside. Always check t...
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02 - Whirlpool Dryer Drive Motor
Most dryer drive motors have a centrifugal switch that energizes a start winding when the motor is first started and closes a heat cycle contact to allow the heat source to work. If the motor's centrifugal switch is faulty, either the motor won’t run or the motor will run but the dryer won’t heat. Since most centrifugal switches are not sold separately, the entire motor will need to be replaced if the switch is defective.
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03 - Whirlpool Dryer Gas Valve Solenoid
Gas dryers have two or more gas valve solenoid coils. The gas valve solenoids open the gas valve ports to allow gas to flow into the burner assembly. If a gas valve solenoid fails, the dryer won’t heat. To determine if one or more of the gas valve solenoids has failed, check the igniter. If the igniter glows and goes out but does not ignite the gas, the gas valve solenoid is defective. If one or more of the gas valve coils are defective, we recommend that you replace them as a set.
Highly Likely
04 - Incorrect cycle settings
Ensure the dryer is set to the appropriate heat setting. The setting may have been inadvertently changed to a non-heat option.
Highly Likely
05 - Incorrect cycle selected
The dryer setting may have been inadvertently changed to a non-heat option. Confirm the dryer is set to a proper heating option such as "Regular" or "Heavy" to see if that improves drying performance.
Highly Likely
06 - Whirlpool Dryer Igniter
The igniter uses heat to ignite the gas in the burner assembly. If the igniter is not working, the gas will not ignite, preventing the dryer from heating. To determine if the igniter has burned out, use a multimeter to test the igniter for continuity. If the igniter does not have continuity, replace it.
Highly Likely
07 - Whirlpool Dryer Heating Element
The heating element warms the air before it enters the dryer drum. Over time, the heating element can burn out, causing the dryer not to heat. To determine if the heating element has burned out, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the heating element does not have continuity, replace it.
Common
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my dryer not heating even though the drum turns?
My dryer overheated and the thermal fuse blew. What caused this and how do I fix it?
Dryer not starting or won’t run even though lights or controls work. Could the drive motor be the problem?
How can I tell if the igniter or gas valve solenoids are bad on my gas dryer?
How do I enter my model number or part number on RepairClinic.com to find the correct replacement part?