Repair advice
Tumble dryer runs but does not heat or dry
A tumble dryer that spins normally but produces little or no heat, so loads come out damp or take three cycles to dry, nearly always has one of two problems: restricted airflow, or a failed heating component. Airflow is worth checking first because it costs nothing.
Clean the airflow path
- Lint filter: clean it every single load. A film of fabric softener residue can also clog the mesh, so wash it under a tap with a brush occasionally.
- Condenser / heat-exchanger (condenser and heat-pump dryers): find the lower access panel, remove the condenser block and rinse it thoroughly under a tap until water runs clear. Fine lint that the filters miss collects here and slowly strangles drying performance.
- Secondary fluff filters: heat-pump dryers often have a fine foam or mesh filter behind the main one. Check and clean it.
- Vent hose (vented dryers): make sure the outlet hose is not crushed, kinked or blocked, and that it is as short and straight as possible to the outside.
- If drying improves noticeably after cleaning, that was the fault. Set a reminder to clean the heat-exchanger every two to three months.
Heating components: technician territory
- Heating element: burns out over time and gives no heat at all. Replaceable on most vented and condenser models.
- Thermostats and thermal cut-outs: a tripped one-shot thermal fuse (often caused by earlier airflow blockage) stops the heat. It is replaced, and the airflow cause is fixed at the same time.
- Heat pump (heat-pump dryers): the sealed refrigerant system, compressor or sensors can fail. Diagnosis needs the right equipment.
- Moisture sensor: a dryer that stops early thinking the load is dry can leave clothes damp. A sensor clean or replacement fixes it.
A dryer that trips the electricity is a different problem. Stop using it, leave it off at the wall, and have it checked. That is usually a shorted element or moisture in the wiring.
Need a technician?
If the checks above have not solved it, book a dryer repair diagnosis. We confirm the fault on site and quote before any work.