What Could Be the Cause of My Electric Whirlpool Dryer Not Getting Hot?

Power Cord

• A worn power cord can prevent a dryer from getting sufficient electricity to power the heater. Rather than the electrical current running through the cord’s wires to the dryer, a corroded or exposed wire may not relay the right electrical voltage needed for an electric Whirlpool dryer to operate fully. For example, although the dryer controls may work, the dryer’s tumbling might be weakened, and its heater may not generate heat. Inspect the power cord for damage, and upgrade to a new cord if needed.

Electrical Socket

• Your Whirlpool dryer’s electrical socket might have a bad wire, which may be preventing the socket from being able to transmit enough power to ultimately energize the dryer’s heater. Unplug the dryer’s power cord and plug in a different household appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, alarm clock or lamp, into the dryer’s socket. Switch on the appliance. If the appliance operates partly but not fully, or the power cuts out intermittently, something is probably wrong with the socket’s wiring. Contact an electrician to repair it.

Thermal Fuse

• Most Whirlpool dryers, gas as well as electric models, come equipped with a thermal fuse or switch. The fuse is a safety mechanism that blows if the dryer reaches a temperature where overheating is possible. After the fuse blows, the dryer’s heating ability is temporarily suspended until you address the overheating issue and swap out the blown fuse with a new one. Contact a Whirlpool dryer repair specialist to have your dryer serviced.

Heater

• A heater on a Whirlpool dryer largely consists of a long, thick, coiled piece of metal wire. The wire is designed to conduct heat when it’s energized by electricity. As coils start to fade on the heating element, so does the heater’s output, until the element can’t produce heat any longer. Once an element wears out, it must be replaced; you can’t repair a worn element to restore its function. Contact a Whirlpool dryer specialist to evaluate the strength of the heating element and measure its output. If the specialist determines the element is failing, have him replace it.