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Dryer not drying clothes properly
Common reasons your dryer not drying clothes properly
The most common reasons your dryer is not drying clothes properly are a defective electronic control board, worn drum bearing or an inoperative user interface control.
37% of the time it's the Electronic Control Board
24% of the time it's the Drum Bearing
13% of the time it's the User Interface Control
26% of the time it's the Something else
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Common dryer repair parts you may need
Replacing one of these dryer parts may fix your problem.
Electronic Control Board Replacement
If your dryer isn't drying clothes as expected, a faulty control board might be to blame. This board oversees a moisture sensor that gauges when clothes are dry. Should the dryer persist in running despite dry clothes or shut off prematurely with damp garments, it could indicate electronic issues within the circuit board. To address this, arrange for a Sears Home Services Technician to inspect the electronic control board in your home. If found defective, the technician will replace the control board.
Drum Bearing Replacement
If your dryer isn't drying clothes properly, a worn drum bearing could be the culprit. The friction resulting from this wear can lead the drive motor to overheat, triggering the overload protection that safeguards the motor. Once cooled, the overload resets and the motor resumes operation. However, intermittent motor functioning can hinder effective drying. Additionally, a worn drum bearing can impede the drum and blower wheel rotation, affecting the tumbling action necessary for thorough drying. If you notice your dryer no longer spinning smoothly, enlist the expertise of a Sears Home Services Technician to inspect the appliance. If identified as worn, the technician will replace the drum bearing.
User Interface Control Replacement
If your dryer fails to dry clothes adequately, a malfunctioning user interface control could be to blame. This component communicates cycle and option selections from the control panel to the electronic control board. When the user interface control malfunctions, it disrupts the accurate control of dryer functions by the electronic control board, affecting heating and cycle duration. Should you encounter drying issues with your dryer, arrange for repair service, and a Sears Home Services Technician will promptly address the problem during their visit to your home.
What to expect when you experience a dryer not drying clothes properly issue
How do I fix a dryer not drying clothes properly problem?
Resolving most issues with clothes not drying properly typically requires replacing the electronic control board, drum bearing, or user interface control. Nonetheless, given the numerous potential causes, a comprehensive diagnosis is crucial for resolving the problem effectively. An accurate diagnosis is vital for determining the extent of the repair costs.
Sears Home Services solutions for a dryer that is not drying clothes properly
If your dryer isn't drying clothes properly, there could be various reasons behind it. To prevent unnecessary part replacements, we advise having a Sears Home Services professional conduct diagnostic tests to pinpoint the underlying issue. Our technicians possess expertise in diagnosing a wide range of dryer malfunctions.
What you will see with a dryer not drying clothes properly diagnosis
Identifying issues with modern appliances without adequate knowledge and training can be hard. If you don't employ correct diagnostic methods, trying to fix your dryer may just involve randomly replacing parts. Appliances, especially those made in the last decade, have become highly advanced, with many featuring electronic components that are tough to assess. Doing repairs yourself on the latest appliance models is getting harder.
Why is my Gas Dryer Not Heating?
There are a many things that could keep your dryer from heating up. You might have a problem with the gas supply to the dryer, or problems with the flame sensor, gas valve coils, high-limit thermostat, operating thermostat, thermal cut-off fuse, thermal fuse, igniter or timer. I know that sounds like a lot, but don’t worry, we’ll help you work through it with the troubleshooting tips in this video:
Once you find the cause of the heating failure, decide whether you want to fix the problem yourself or have a Sears Home Services technician fix the dryer for you.
Resolving a heating problem in your dryer with fix the appliance so it dries your clothes properly again.
Why Won’t My Electric Dryer Heat?
In this helpful DIY video, we show you how to troubleshoot your dryer that won’t heat, including checking the heating element, high-limit thermostat, operating thermostat, thermal cut-off fuse and timer. Learn about a few easy tests you can run to find the problem, including using a multimeter to make sure current is flowing between the parts. Once you know what the issue is, you can fix the issue yourself or have our Sears Home Services technician fix the problem for you.
Check the Power Supply
The first step is to check to see if the dryer is getting the correct amount of power. You may think the dryer is getting enough power if the motor runs, but the heating element needs 240 volts of electricity to heat. The motor will run even if the dryer is only getting 120 volts of power.
Check your power cord to make sure it’s not damaged. Then, reset your house circuit breaker to make sure it’s not tripped. Set your dryer to a timed dry, high-heat cycle and see if it heats up after resetting the breakers.
If it’s still not heating, you’ll need to check the components on the control circuit. Checking continuity with a multimeter will allow you to test them all at once.
First, unplug the dryer. For safety, always disconnect power before checking continuity. Remove the back panel from the dryer, then remove the back of the control panel. Unplug the large red wire from terminal "A" on the timer. Set the multimeter to read ohms of resistance.
Measure resistance between the large red wire on the timer and the heating element terminal where the large red wire is connected. If you measure near 15 ohms of resistance through this circuit, then you know that the heating element, high-limit thermostat, operating thermostat and thermal cut-off fuse are all okay. You can skip ahead to learn how to check out your timer in the video.
Check the Dryer Heating Element
If you measured no electrical continuity through the circuit described, then check the heating element. Place your meter leads on the heating element terminals. You should measure near 15 ohms of resistance through the heating element.
If you measured no continuity, then the heating element is broken. This video will show you how to replace it:
If you measured near 15 ohms of resistance, then the heating element is good. Continue with the troubleshooting tips in the video to find the cause of your dryer not heating and not drying clothes properly.
A dryer that tumbles but leaves items damp might suffer from blocked vents or broken sensors. Re-running loads wastes energy and time. Rather than guess, choose dryer repair near me. Efficient airflow and accurate sensing ensure clothes emerge fully dry.
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Daniel provided excellent service and was very quick to perform the repair. I have nothing good to say about the warranty program and the LACK of customer service and the inability to contact a human being to talk.
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Excellent technician Very thorough and detail oriented Would be happy to have him work on appliances again He managed to find our ranch headquarters in the middle of the desert
Rose W, Las Cruces, NM
Dryer service
He was professional and polite. I didn't call back later that afternoon, although he replaced a thermostat the smart dry timer doesn't work as I was still having the same issue. The lady said she would email him and have him return. Never heard from anyone else.
Terry F, Oklahoma City, OK
Frequently Asked Questions
Repair Dryer Resources
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Glossary Terms
A dryer drum is the main interior component of a clothes dryer where clothes are placed to be dried. It rotates during the drying cycle, allowing heated air to circulate through the clothes.
A dryer filter, commonly known as a lint filter, is a component of a clothes dryer that captures lint and other debris from clothes during the drying process, preventing them from clogging the dryer vent.
A dryer pedestal is a platform that elevates a dryer off the ground, making it easier to load and unload laundry while also providing additional storage space in some models.
A dryer rack is an accessory for clothes dryers that provides a stationary platform to dry items without tumbling, ideal for delicate or bulky items, or shoes that might be damaged by the usual drying cycle.