Clothes Dryer Not Drying? 4 Tips For DIY Troubleshooting

If you are putting clothes in your dryer and turning it on, only to find them still soaking wet an hour later, it's time to investigate the problem. Here are 4 troubleshooting tips for a dryer not drying properly,

You have an important date tonight but your favorite shirt is dirty. You've got time to wash it so you do and pop it in the dryer while you're showering.

Only trouble is by the time you're ready for your shirt it isn't ready for you. Even though it's had plenty of time to dry it's still soaking wet! What's going on?

Is your clothes dryer not drying your clothes? Can you get it working again on your own? Maybe. Check out these 5 DIY troubleshooting tips to see if you can find the problem.

Dryer Lint Filter

Most of the time when a dryer is not drying properly it has to do with airflow. Dryers work by circulating heated air through your clothes. If something is blocking that airflow, the dryer won't work properly.

You may know that you should clean the dryer's lint filter every time you use the dryer. But you may not actually do it.

The first thing you should check is that lint filter. Is it caked with lint? That's probably your problem right there. The dryer can't maintain proper airflow with that filter all clogged up.

Dryer Vent Hose

If cleaning the filter doesn't do the trick, look a little deeper. See that thick hose leading out your dryer? Your dryer maintains airflow by expelling used air through this hose.

That air can easily haul bits of lint along with it. Over time that lint can fill up and block the hose, diminishing or destroying the dryer's ability to vent.

Open it up and clean it out. If it has been awhile you'll probably find a lot of lint stuck in there.

You should clean this hose on occasion anyway to promote efficient airflow in your dryer. Not only will it help you save on your energy bill, but it also reduces the risk of fire as that lint is very flammable.

It can also be a problem if this hose is kinked or sagging. Be sure that when you finishing cleaning it you keep it straight when you put it back.

Bad Fuse or Thermostat

Nine times out of ten you will have fixed your problem at this point. If your dryer still isn't working, you've got a bigger problem on your hands.

It could be an electrical issue like a bad fuse or thermostat. In fact, a clogged hose can cause a fuse or the thermostat to blow. If your hose was very dirty, these components are a good thing to check next.

Burnt Out Heating Element

It could also be a burnt out heating element. Again, if your dryer hose has been clogged up for a long time your dryer has been working overtime. That can cause almost any electrical component to go kaput.

Clothes Dryer Not Drying? Find the Problem Today!

Using these tips you should be able to figure out why your dryer isn't working. Is your dryer not drying still? Check out this post for more great DIY tips for dryer repair.

Did you figure out the problem and need some replacement parts? We've got you covered! Check out our great selection of common washer and dryer replacement parts.