There are some easy steps to try that may help get your dryer heating again before you call for service.
Here are the first two things to check before you call for service that I tried when my Kenmore Elite HE5 Dryer was not heating:
First Check the venting to make sure there is nothing blocking the exhaust venting away from the back of the dryer. Especially, where it goes through the wall and ceiling.
Check to make sure there aren’t any obstructions in the ducting anywhere between the dryer and the outside vent opening.
Check The Vent
It’s unlikely that your dryer isn’t heating, but it does happen from time to time. Assuming your dryer vents outside, check that vent first by opening it up and making sure there isn’t anything obstructing it.
If it’s all clear, then you probably have a heating issue and should call in a repair person. If you don’t know whether or not your vent is working properly, do some basic tests.
First, run water down one tube of your dryer and then sit with your ear right above that tube—you should hear water going down.
Check The Blower Wheel
Before we get started, check that the blower wheel is spinning. It’s located in front of your dryer on the left side of it.
If you don’t feel any air coming out or hear a faint click when you press on it, your dryer might be clogged and need to be cleaned out or replaced.
That will require even more maintenance than what we’re talking about here so if that’s not your problem. Skip down to checking your heating element next.
Check The Thermal Fuse
If your dryer isn’t heating, one of your thermal fuses could be blown out. Pull up and remove your dryer’s back panel, then check for discoloration on any of these thermal fuses.
If any are discolored or melted (as shown in our image), replace them with new ones and retry your dryer.
These components can fail over time; if you find one has blown but doesn’t look visibly damaged, it may have just been too old to work anymore.
You can purchase replacement thermal fuses at many hardware stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot and install them yourself in just a few minutes. Just remember to shut off power to your dryer first!
Check For A Faulty Thermostat
If your dryer isn’t heating, first check to make sure your thermostat is working. A faulty thermostat may sound obvious. It can be easy to overlook if you haven’t been tinkering around with your dryer in a while.
Open up the door and place a wooden spoon across it. Hit the start button and listen for any sounds coming from behind.
You should hear two distinct clicks—one when you push down on the button, one when you release it—which indicates that your dryer thinks that it has reached its desired temperature.
Clean The Lint Trap
In case your dryer isn’t heating up, it’s usually one of two things: a problem with a component in your dryer (such as a relay or fuse) or lint blocking airflow.
If you aren’t sure what is causing your issue, remove the lint from your dryer and try to heat it again. In you still can’t get it to work, you probably have a wiring issue that needs to be repaired by an experienced technician at Sears.
Clean Out The Dryer Vents
First, you’ll want to vacuum out any lint and dust in your dryer. But, what may seem like a quick fix to get your dryer back up and running could be preventing you from finding out why it stopped working in the first place.
And believe it or not, if your dryer’s vents are filled with lint or debris, it can cause major damage by restricting airflow throughout your entire dryer system.
When air can’t circulate properly through vents, everything slows down—including that hot air that helps keep clothes warm during drying cycles.
Take some time to clean those vents out with compressed air—you might just save yourself some trouble down the road!
Replace The Controller Board
You might need to replace your dryer’s controller board. If you have a voltmeter, test each wire coming out of your dryer’s wiring harness with one lead of your meter on each wire and one lead on the ground.
The wires should be at 110 volts if they’re OK. Try unplugging it for a minute or two then plugging it back in. If it doesn’t heat again, you’ll probably need to replace the controller board.
Also read: Kenmore Elite Front Load Dryer Not Heating Issue Solved
Also watch the video to fix the issue
Conclusion
This simple 5 step troubleshooting guide will walk you through all of the most common causes of a dryer, not heating. If none of them is your problem, we will tell you what to do next.
If your dryer isn’t heating up at all or is taking too long to heat up, there’s no reason to panic.
Just run through these steps and see if it doesn’t help you figure out where the problem is. Your Kenmore Elite HE5 should be just fine in no time.
However, if you continue to have problems after following these steps or simply aren’t sure which step(s) to try.
Be sure to contact a professional appliance repair service in your area. As always, Good Luck!
