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Whirlpool dryer not drying clothes properly
Common reasons your Whirlpool dryer is not drying clothes properly
The most common reasons your Whirlpool 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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Most common repairs needed to fix a Whirlpool dryer
Electronic Control Board Replacement
When your dryer is not drying clothes properly, a defective control board could be causing the problem. The electronic control board monitors a moisture sensor to detect when clothes are dry. If the dryer continues to run even though clothes are dry, electronic components on the circuit board may have failed. Also, if the dryer shut off even though clothes are still damp, the control board may not be interpreting signals from the moisture sensor properly. To fix the problem, schedule a Sears Home Services Technician to visit your home and examine the electronic control board. The technician will replace the control board if it’s defective.
Drum Bearing Replacement
If your dryer is not drying clothes properly, a worn drum bearing be causing the problem. Friction caused by a worn drum bearing will cause the drive motor to overheat and trip the overload that protects the motor from damage. The overload will reset and the motor will restart when it cools down. Clothes won’t dry properly when the drive motor runs intermittently. A worn drum bearing can also slow the rotation of the drum and blower wheel so the clothes won’t tumble and dry as well. When your dryer stops spinning smoothly, have a Sears Home Services Technician examine the dryer and replace the drum bearing if it’s worn.
User Interface Control Replacement
If your dryer is not drying clothes properly, you can suspect an inoperative user interface control. The user interface control sends signals to the electronic control board indicating cycle and option selections from the control panel. When the user interface control isn’t working properly, the electronic control board will not accurately control dryer functions such as heating and cycle time. When the dryer isn’t drying clothes properly, schedule repair service and our Sears Home Services Technician will visit your home and fix the problem.
What to expect when you experience a Whirlpool dryer not drying clothes properly issue
How is the not drying clothes properly problem fixed?
Correcting most not drying clothes properly problems usually involves replacing the electronic control board, drum bearing or user interface control. 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 is not drying clothes properly
When the dryer is not drying clothes properly it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of dryer failures.
What to look out for with a dryer not drying clothes properly 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.
Why is my Whirlpool Gas Dryer Not Heating?
There are a many things that could keep your Whirlpool 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 Whirlpool dryer with fix the appliance so it dries your clothes properly again.
Why Won’t My Whirlpool Electric Dryer Heat?
In this helpful DIY video, we show you how to troubleshoot your Whirlpool 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 Whirlpool dryer not heating and not drying clothes properly.
If clothes remain damp from your Whirlpool dryer, vents or sensors likely need attention. Simple lint checks don’t always fix deep blockages. Instead, trust dryer fix near me for advanced airflow solutions. Quickly returning to thorough, single-cycle drying saves effort.
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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
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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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.