Admiral Dryer Overheats & Has to Cool Down

Lint Filled Vent Line and Exhaust

• Lint can accumulate in a dryer’s vent line and reduce airflow, which could cause your dryer to overheat. Even though the dryer might resume what appears to be normal operation after it has time to cool, unless the vent is cleaned, the dryer will continue to overheat each time you run it. Clean the dryer’s vent line so that it’s completely clear and ensure the external vent duct is clear as well. If lint is jamming the duct’s screen, remove it. Before you run a drying cycle, always empty the lint screen.

Overloaded Dryer

• A dryer that’s overfilled with laundry could overheat, as air won’t circulate inside the drum properly. As a result, the dryer’s temperature begins to rise rapidly, leaving you no choice but to stop the dryer to allow time for it to cool, so clothes don’t scorch. Only fill the dryer so that it’s about two-thirds full. If it’s running hotter than normal even when drying smaller loads, contact Admiral to have the dryer serviced.

Obstructed Air Vent

• Avoid storing clothes on top of or directly in front of your dryer, notes the AP Wagner website. An Admiral dryer draws in air from its top and front, depending on the model. If clothes are blocking the air vent, it can cause the dryer to become hot quickly and overheat. Move clothing piles to another area of your laundry room, and keep the dryer’s air vents clear.

Bad Cycling Thermostat

• Admiral dryers have multiple cycling thermostats that regulate the dryer’s temperature for specific heat settings. Once you start your dryer, the heater will pump heat into the drum until the cycling thermostat confirms a certain temperature is achieved and then direct the heater to cycle off. If a thermostat breaks or malfunctions, it might not notify the heater to turn off or might inform the heater too late after the dryer already overheats. Assess how hot the dryer’s temperature gets at various heat settings. Hold a thermostat close to the exhaust vent and record the highest air temperature for each cycle setting option on your dryer. Compare the recorded temperature readings with the heat setting temperatures listed in the Admiral’s manual. If the actual temperatures are off for one or more of the settings by about 5 degrees F or more, replace the cycling thermostat for those settings.