My Dryer Is Overheating Then Won't Cut Back on Until Completely Cool

Open the lint trap and remove all standing lint that has been collected in the screen. Although a very simple remedy to the dryer’s situation, heat-sensitive elements inside the dryer are programmed to shut the dryer off as a safety precaution when heat levels inside the dryer rise to above normal levels. This happens because air can’t properly vent due to the blockage. If left unchecked, this poses a potential fire hazard.

Clean out the entire exhaust vent duct that leads from the dryer to the outside vent. Over time, lint blown about by the dryer is sure to bypass the lint screen in the trap and will settle throughout the pipe. Canned air will help blast settled lint out of the vent.

Hold a voltmeter next to the heat sensors themselves to determine if a shorted sensor is the cause of the dryer’s premature shut down. Do this once the dryer is completely cool. Generally speaking, the twin sensors are slightly larger than a quarter and are located just inside the dryer toward in the upper inside facing. If the meter registers a low reading, chances are a spent sensor is to blame, so purchase a new sensor and replace the bad one according to your specific dryer brand.

Swap out the thermostat on the dryer for a new one. A poorly performing thermostat won’t effectively adapt to the desired temperature settings thus may signal the unit to prematurely shut down. Purchase a new thermostat and change it out according to the package’s instructions.