Troubleshooting a Sears Whirlpool Dryer

Clothes Not Drying

• 1

  Remove, clean and reinsert the dryer’s lint screen. Clean the lint screen after every load.

• 2

  Look at the controls and see if you selected air dry. Air dry does not provide heat for drying a regular load; choose another setting.

• 3

  Check how many clothes you’ve put in the dryer. If the load is too large, it won’t dry properly. Don’t overfill the dryer.

• 4

  Remove the fabric softener sheet. It may be blocking the grill. If using a softener sheet, use only one, and discard after use.

• 5

  Turn up the heat to the room if the temperature is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The dryer won’t dry properly if ambient temperatures fall below 45 F.

• 6

  Measure the area around the dryer. The rear of the dryer requires about 5 inches of air space, while the front needs about 1 inch. If the dryer is located in a closet, you may not have sufficient air space around the appliance.

• 7

  Inspect the exhaust vent. It won’t work properly if it is too long or has too many turns. It typically needs to be about 4 inches in diameter.

Dryer Won’t Run

• 8

  Check the dryer door to see if it is closed. Something may be blocking the door.

• 9

  Push the start/pause button and hold it to see if the dryer begins running. If you fail to push the button hard or long enough, the dryer won’t start.

• 10

  Check the power supply. Make sure the appliance is plugged into the power source. If it is an electric dryer, you need a 240-volt power supply. You may have the wrong type of fuse; it should be a time-delay fuse. Check to see if the household fuse is blown or the circuit breaker tripped.