What should you do in the event of your Maytag dryer not heating up? Should you call a professional repair technician or fix the problem yourself? Unless it’s a really serious problem that you find too complex to fix yourself, you should always choose the latter.
Apart from saving on repair costs, you’ll learn what to do when an appliance breaks down. Read on to find out how to identify and solve problems with your dryer.
Maytag Dryer Not Heating Up
There are many reasons why your Maytag dryer isn’t heating up. So I will start at first base, by guiding you through a step-by-step troubleshooting approach, from initially checking the incoming power supply, to dealing with more complex technical issues later on.
1. Blown Fuse or Tripped Circuit Breaker
There might not be anything wrong with your dryer even though it won’t heat. Instead, the problem may lie in a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. In case it’s a blown fuse, you can replace it with another one of the same amperage, type, rating, and size. If a tripped circuit breaker is causing the issue, simply reset it.
How to Reset a Tripped Circuit Breaker
It only takes a few minutes to reset a tripped circuit breaker. To do this, first, unplug every device on the circuit. Once you’re finished with the first step, you can go to the circuit breaker board and find the breaker that tripped. It will be in the middle position neither on the off nor the on side. Switch the breaker off and then on to reset it.
Here’s a great video on how to reset a tripped circuit breaker.
2. Clogged Dryer Vent or Filter
Debris buildup in a dryer vent isn’t too serious of an issue, but it can cause the appliance to malfunction. Although your dryer may spin when the vent is blocked, it will not be heating. There is an easy way to fix this problem though. Clean the blocked dryer vent and the machine will continue working properly.
Cleaning a Blocked Vent
It’s important to disconnect the dryer from its power source before you start cleaning the vent. In case you have a gas model, you should also shut off the gas valve. Grab a vacuum cleaner and use it to remove the debris from the dryer vent, which is located in the back of the appliance. You can also use a dry towel afterwards to remove any additional dust that may be in the vent.
3. Defective Heating Element
It makes sense that your dryer won’t heat if a component called the heating element is not working. This component is easily recognized due to its heating coils. It is located in the back of the dryer.
Inspect Heating Element
To access the heating element, you must first remove the back panel on your dryer. Use a multimeter to test the component for continuity. Connect the multimeter’s leads to each of the terminals of the element. In case you hear a beeping sound when you connect the leads to the terminals, the heating element is working.
Is The Heating Element Worth Replacing
Replacement heating elements for Maytag dryers cost $40. However, it will cost you significantly more if you call a repair technician to replace it. If you’d like to know how to replace the heating element yourself, you should watch the video below.
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4. Check For Blown Thermal Fuse
You should check for a blown thermal fuse in your dryer in the event that it’s not heating up. A blown thermal fuse is one of the most common reasons why a dryer stops working. Although you may not be too familiar with this component, it serves a crucial purpose in every appliance in your household.
The thermal fuse is there to detect extreme temperatures and shut down appliances before they can start a fire. When a thermal fuse is blown, you’ll likely notice a burning smell coming out of it.
Locating the Thermal Fuse on Your Dryer
You can find the thermal fuse in your Maytag dryer by removing the front panel and the drum of the appliance. But before you do this, make sure that your dryer is not plugged in. After you remove the panel and drum, you will see a small device with two wires that connect to it. Remove it and you’ll see that there is a product number on it.
Search the product number online and you’ll see exactly which replacement you should purchase.
If you’d like to know how to replace the thermal fuse in your dryer, you should watch the video below.
5. Check the Thermostat
The thermostat in your Maytag dryer is tasked with preventing the appliance from overheating. It also regulates the temperature inside the dryer. When it becomes defective, this component will also stop the appliance from heating up. The only way to get around this issue is to replace the thermostat. But first, you’ll have to see whether it’s actually defective.
Testing the Thermostat in Your Maytag Dryer
All that you’ll need to test the thermostat in your dryer is a screwdriver and a multimeter. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws that secure the back panel. Now remove the back panel and you’ll find the thermostat in the venting system or the blower wheel housing.
The location varies depending on your dryer model. Set the multimeter to the ohm setting and connect its leads to the terminals of the thermostat. If you get a reading of infinity, you will have to replace the thermostat.
6. No Gas Flow
Is there gas flow inside your Maytag dryer? If not, it’s likely due to a defective gas valve solenoid. You can find this component behind the lower panel on your dryer.
How to Test Gas Valve Solenoid
Grab a multimeter and connect its leads to the terminals of the valve solenoid. If you get a reading of 1,000-2,000 ohms, it means that the component is working fine.
7. Defective Coils
Modern gas dryers rely on electric coils for operating the gas valve. These coils are located on top of the gas valve, which is found behind the lower panel of your dryer. To check whether these coils are defective, you can test them with a multimeter.
Testing Defective Coils
You will have to remove the coils from the gas control valve to test them with a multimeter. Once you do that, touch the terminals of the coils with the leads of your multimeter while it’s set to the resistance setting. If you get a reading that’s not in the range of 1,000-2,000 ohms, you will have to replace the coils.
FAQs Maytag Dryer Won’t Heat
Maytag Models Covered
All of the tips provided in this guide apply to the following Maytag dryers:
- Maytag Centennial
- Maytag Bravos
- Maytag Neptune
- Maytag Atlantis
- All Maytag front-loading electric dryers
If you have one of these dryers and are experiencing problems with it, you should grab a multimeter and start testing different parts for continuity.
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SOLVED: Maytag Dryer Not Heating
As you already noticed, it doesn’t take much expertise to test and replace certain components in your dryer. Doing this yourself will save you a lot of money and will also be a great learning experience. Whenever your dryer is not heating up, be sure to take the time to test all of the parts mentioned above to find out whether only one or more of them became defective.
Andy has over 8 years of experience working on residential household appliances, performing diagnostics, and repairs across most major brands. He graduated from the Denver Institute of Technology, is NASTeC certified, and has worked for Mr. Appliance. Andy has contributed to features on major publications including Better Home & Gardens, Family Handyman, and Yahoo.com.
