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Frigidaire Dryer Not Heating

Few things in life are more pleasurable than clothes fresh out of the dryer. There is something comforting about an arm full of warm, clean clothes, even on a hot summer day. For a few brief seconds, we love doing the laundry. But when our dryer does not work properly, chaos quickly ensues in our lives.

There are several places you check when your Frigidaire Dryer is not heating. Most often it’s simply because your clothes are too wet or you’ve overloaded the drum. If those aren’t the reasons, then move on and check the vents to see if they’re either clogged or pinched.

Frigidaire Dryer

The list of reasons why your dryer is not heating can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. This article will help explain some possible reasons why your dryer is either not heating enough or at all. There are some things you can safely do yourself to troubleshoot the issue accurately, but there are some suggestions that should be left to the professionals.

Reasons Why Your Frigidaire Dryer Is Not Heating:

woman putting clothes in the dryer

There isn’t one reason why your Frigidaire dryer is not drying. A lot can go wrong and in different places. While it may be the case that something mechanical has gone wrong, some common reasons include simply having put too many wet clothes in.

Check the following list of things to troubleshoot your dryer.

  • Clothes are too wet
  • Overloaded Drum
  • Clogged Dryer Vent
  • Pinched Dryer Vent
  • Blown Thermal Fuse
  • Bad Heating Element
  • Bad Heating Relay
  • Failed Centrifugal Switch
  • Faulty Thermistor
  • Faulty Timer

Frigidaire Dryer Runs But Does Not Heat Enough

Woman putting clothes in the dryer

If your Frigidaire dryer drum is spinning, this means the appliance itself is getting the needed electricity to operate. It also means the drum is working, narrowing down the list of reasons why the dryer is not producing enough heat. Here are four ways to safely troubleshoot why your dryer is not heating enough:

  • Clothes Are Too Wet
  • Overloaded Drum
  • Clogged Dryer Vent
  • Pinched Dryer Vent Hose

Clothes Are Too Wet

If your washer is not properly draining the excess water off of your clothes, the weight of the wet clothes will put a strain on the dryer and drastically increase the drying time. Check the selected wash cycle to make sure it’s adequately spinning and draining. It could be your washer needs to be serviced instead of your dryer.

Another tip to try is, before putting laundry from the washing machine into the dryer, giving each item a shake, especially the bulkier items such as towels and bed linens. Doing this will open up the matted items, making it easier for the dryer to circulate heat throughout the drum. Enabling the heat to distribute evenly through the wet laundry will also decrease the drying time.

Overloaded Drum

Simply put, there are too many clothes in the dryer. We get busy and, before we know it, we have packed the dryer with heavy wet laundry. Overloading the drum will prevent the warm air from properly circulating throughout the drum and drying your wet laundry. Try reducing the number of items you put in the dryer and see if this fixes the problem.

Clogged Dryer Vent

A clogged dryer vent is typically the main culprit for why your dryer is not heating properly.

When heat from the dryer cannot escape outside, sensors in the dryer will shut it off to prevent it from overheating.

One way a dryer vent becomes clogged is from a buildup of lint. After each drying cycle, lint accumulates in the lint trap. If not cleaned regularly, the accumulation of lint will eventually make its way into the dryer vent, preventing it from escaping outside.

Here is how you can clean the dryer vent:

· Unplug the dryer, pulling it away from the wall.

· Disconnect the dryer vent.

· Use a vacuum attachment to remove the lint from inside the hose.

· Reconnect the vent and restore power back to the dryer.

Pinched Dryer Vent Hose

A pinched dryer vent can prevent the hot air from circulating, much like a pinched garden hose will prevent water from coming out. A dryer vent can easily become pinched from the movement of the dryer, such as when you are cleaning the dryer vent or from moving the dryer for other reasons. Simply move the dryer away from the wall to see if something is obstructing the vent or if you merely need to reposition the dryer.

Troubleshooting Frigidaire Dryer With No Heat

Pressing the start of dryer

If your dryer is not producing any heat, this could be a sign something is wrong with one of the electrical components. Here are six reasons why your dryer is not heating:

  • Blown Thermal Fuse
  • Bad Heating Element
  • Bad Heating Relay
  • Failed Centrifigual Switch
  • Faulty Thermistor
  • Faulty Timer

Blown Thermal Fuse

A blown thermal fuse will prevent the dryer from heating. This fuse is a safety feature on the dryer. When the dryer gets too hot, this fuse will blow, preventing the dryer from overheating and ultimately starting a fire.

If your dryer vent is clogged, this will cause excess heat to get trapped in the dryer, causing the fuse to blow. It is essential to clean the dryer vent before replacing the thermal fuse. Neglecting this step will only result in another blown fuse.

A blown thermal fuse could also be a sign of a more serious issue. A qualified service technician will be able to diagnose the problem and safely replace the blown fuse.

Bad Heating Element

The heating element in the dryer is what its name implies – it generates heat. The heating element has coils and a blower. When the dryer is on, the coils generate heat. The blower will then move the hot air through the drum and out the dryer vent. Natural wear-and-tear will cause these components to break down and, in time, will need to be replaced.

Bad Heating Relay

The heater relay is responsible for relaying electrical currents to the heating element. If the temperature of the heating element is too hot or the drying cycle is complete, the heater relay will stop power from going to the heating element. Over time, this relay will wear out, preventing electricity from reaching the heating element, resulting in a dryer that does not heat.

Failed Centrifigual Switch

The centrifugal switch is a safety feature, ensuring the heating element only turns on when the drum is spinning. If the heat from the dryer is not circulated and removed through the vent, the buildup of heat can cause your laundry to catch on fire.

As your dryer starts to spin, it creates centrifugal force, causing the switch to close the circuit, allowing electricity to flow to the heating element. When the drum slows down, this switch will open, breaking the electrical circuit, and the heating element will begin to cool down. If the drum is spinning, but there is no heat, the culprit could very well be the centrifugal switch.

Faulty Thermistor

The thermistor is a sensor that measures the amount of heat in your dryer. The thermostat controls the heat. If the thermistor is faulty, it will incorrectly sense the dryer is too hot, restricting the amount of power supplied to the heating element. The sensor will eventually cause the dryer to shut off, even though your laundry is still cold and wet.

Faulty Timer

The timer directs electrical currents to the dryer motor and heating element for the specified amount of time for the selected drying cycle. If the timer is malfunctioning, it will incorrectly sense the drying cycle is complete and the dryer will shut off.

Another possibility is the timer knob itself is broken or cracked. The knob will look as though you have chosen a drying cycle, but the control underneath the knob is still in the off position.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on September 14, 2021.

Frigidaire Dryer Is Not Heating And Lights Are Flashing

Washing Machine Dryer

If the dryer drum is spinning but not heating, a simple solution would be to clean the lint trap. Over time, if you use dryer sheets, residue from the dryer sheets will accumulate on the lint trap, preventing proper air flow. The build-up of residue can cause the thermistor to sense the unit is overheating. The dryer will shut off, and an error code or lights will start flashing ode.

Depending on the type of dryer you have, blinking lights or an error code on the dryer’s digital screen could indicate a faulty control panel, thermostat, or something more involved electrically, as we discussed earlier.

Should I Repair Or Replace My Frigidaire Dryer

Putting clothes in the dryer

Repairing or replacing your dryer all depends on the extent of repairs needed and the age of your dryer. A single repair can cost between $50 and $350 for parts alone. A new dryer can cost between $600 and $1500.

Replacement Part

Average Cost

Lint Filter

$50-$75

Vent

$75 – $150

Thermostat

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on September 14, 2021.

$100 – $200

Timer

$150 – $300

Heating Coil

$150-$300

Heating Element

$150 – $350

If your dryer is newer and in otherwise good working condition, hiring someone to replace the defective parts may be worthwhile. Unless, of course, you are looking to upgrade your appliance.

While it may be tempting to save some money by rolling up your sleeves and taking the dryer apart yourself, it is best to call a qualified technician to come out and service the dryer. A professional will be able to troubleshoot the issue accurately. They will also know how to properly and safely service the appliance.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on September 14, 2021.

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