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  1. Repair
  2. Maytag
  3. Maytag Dryer
  4. Dryer will not heat up

Maytag dryer won't heat up

Common reasons your Maytag dryer won't heat up

The most common reasons your Maytag dryer won't heat up are an open heating element, failed thermal cut-off fuse or a defective electronic control board.

  • 44%

    44% of the time it's the
    Heating Element

  • 12%

    12% of the time it's the
    Thermal Cut-off Fuse

  • 11%

    11% of the time it's the
    Electronic Control Board

  • 33%

    33% of the time it's the
    Something else

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    Most common repairs needed to fix a Maytag dryer

    Heating Element Replacement

    An open heating element could be causing the problem when your dryer won't heat up. “Open” means that the heating element is broken and current isn’t flowing through the element to produce heat. You may not see physical damage on the heating element for it to be electrically open. An interior break in the continuity of the element can prevent it from heating. When your dryer isn’t heating, have a Sears Home Services Technician visit your home and fix the dryer.


    Thermal Cut-off Fuse Replacement

    A failed thermal cut-off fuse will prevent your dryer from heating. This fuse is a safety device that helps keep the dryer from overheating. Overheating is often caused by a clogged exhaust vent system in the dryer. Once the thermal cut-off fuse trips, it won’t reset. You’ll need to have a Sears Home Services Technician visit your home and replace the blown thermal cut-off fuse. The technician will check for the cause of the blown fuse and correct any additional problems so the dryer will heat and run properly after replacing the fuse.

    Electronic Control Board Replacement

    When your dryer won’t heat up, a defective control board could be causing the problem. The electronic control board monitors temperature through a sensor and sends electrical current to the heating element or gas burner to heat the dryer and maintain drying temperature inside the drum. When the dryer won’t heat, a relay on the electronic control board may have failed. To fix the problem, have a Sears Home Services Technician diagnose and repair the heating failure.

    What to expect when you experience a Maytag dryer won't heat up issue

    How is the won't heat up problem fixed?

    Correcting most won't heat up problems usually involves replacing the heating element, thermal cut-off fuse or electronic control board. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

    Sears Home Services recommendations for a dryer that won't heat up

    When the dryer won't heat up it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts, we recommend scheduling Maytag repair near you with one of our local Sears Home Services professionals. The technician can perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem and fix it for you. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of dryer failures.

    What to look out for with a dryer won't heat up diagnosis

    Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your dryer problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

    Maytag MEDC465HW0 Not Heating

    When your Maytag MEDC465HW0 is not heating, check the house circuit breaker for the dryer. The motor in the Maytag dryer model MEDC465HW0 will run if only 120-volts is supplied to the dryer. If the second 120-volt leg of 240-volt power is missing, the dryer won’t heat. Reset the house circuit breakers for the dryer if you find one has tripped.

    Other problems that will prevent a Maytag model MEDC465HW0 from heating include a broken heating element, bad operating thermostat, failed timer, blown thermal cut-off fuse, faulty high-limit thermostat or a wiring failure. Schedule dryer repair service to have a Sears Home Services technician visit your home and fix the dryer if the dryer won’t heat after resetting the house circuit breakers.

    Bravos Dryer Not Heating

    Check the control settings when your Bravos dryer is not heating. Make sure that you selected the right heating option for the cycle that you’re using. Adjust the heat setting on the dryer if necessary.

    If the control settings are okay, check the house circuit breakers if you have an electric Bravos dryer. Reset the house circuit breakers if you find one tripped.

    If you have a gas Bravos dryer, check the gas supply cut-off valve. Open that valve if you find it shut.

    If these basic troubleshooting tips don’t help your fix the problem with your Bravos dryer not heating, schedule dryer repair service to have a Sears Home Services technician diagnose and repair the heating failure. An electric Bravos dryer could have a broken heating element, bad electronic control board, defective thermistor (temperature sensor), blown thermal cut-off fuse or a wiring failure. A gas Bravos dryer could have bad gas valve coils, a defective electronic control board, blown thermal fuse, faulty flame sensor or a wiring failure that is preventing the dryer from heating.

    Common Causes Why Your Maytag Dryer Won’t Heat

    Our service technicians have found these common causes why a Maytag dryer won’t heat.

    • Tripped circuit breaker on an electric Maytag dryer. An electric dryer uses a double circuit breaker – one for each 120-volt leg of 240-volt power. The dryer motor will run and spin the dryer if only the first leg of that 240-volt power is going to the dryer. If the 2nd leg of 120-volt power is missing because the circuit breaker for that leg tripped, the dryer won’t heat.
    • Lack of gas supply in a gas Maytag dryer. Technicians often find the gas supply cut-off valve turned off when a gas Maytag dryer won’t heat. An empty Propane tank or lack of gas supply from the natural gas provider also keep a gas dryer from heating.
    • Broken heating element. In an electric Maytag dryer that won’t heat, a bad heating element is a common cause for a heating failure. The technician will check this element using a multimeter if visible damage isn’t apparent.
    • Weak gas valve coils. If a gas dryer initially heats from a cold start but won’t heat once the dryer has been running for a while, weak gas valve coils are the likely failure.
    • Blown thermal fuse. In a gas Maytag dryer that won’t heat, a thermal fuse is a leading cause of the heating failure. A clogged exhaust vent duct system often causes the thermal fuse to blow because the dryer overheats due to the lack of air flow. Clear the exhaust air duct system going to the outside of your home and have a service technician replace the blown thermal fuse to restore heating in the dryer.

    What our customers say about us

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    Excellent service from Daniel

    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.


    Tammy M, Hilton, NY

    Satisfied customer

    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

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    Glossary Terms

    Natural gas is a fossil fuel used primarily for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It's a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting mainly of methane, but it also contains smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and sometimes sulfur compounds.

    A gas dryer is a laundry appliance that uses natural gas or propane to generate heat to dry clothes.

    A furnace flame sensor is a safety device designed to detect the presence of a flame when the furnace is on, ensuring that gas flows only when it is ignited to prevent dangerous gas leaks.

    A microwave diode is an electrical component that allows current to flow in one direction only, playing a crucial role in converting incoming electrical power into the microwave energy that cooks the food.

    Additional possible Maytag dryer symptoms you may experience