Humidity Sensor Maintenance on a Maytag Dryer

Confirm It's Secure

• Two screws attach the humidity sensor to the rear of a Maytag dryer drum. Over time, the screws could come loose and one or both could fall out and cause the sensor to break. For this reason, you should verify that the sensor is securely affixed to the drum and its screws are tight, as part of the dryer’s annual maintenance inspection.

Inspect Its Wiring

• A humidity sensor is a flat plastic or metal bar that’s connected to two wires -- one leads to the timer and the other to the heater. You should confirm that both wires are connected and neither one appear frayed or corroded. If a wire becomes loose or damaged, it could affect the sensor’s performance. Contact a dryer repair technician to repair or replace a faulty wire if needed.

Peform a Basic Continuity Test

• There are two basic ways to verify that the humidity sensor on your Maytag dryer is functioning properly: resistance test and a slightly more involved diagnostic evaluation to check for accuracy. You’ll need an ohm multimeter electrical testing device to perform both maintenance checks. Use the wiring diagram in the dryer’s manual to obtain the sensor’s resistance level. It’s usually 50,000 ohms for a cool, room-temperature dryer. Attach the multimeter tester to the sensor’s wires. The tester should provide a reading instantly. If the reading is less than 50,000 ohms or the level for your dryer model, replace the component.

Validate Its Accuracy

• Once you verify that your Maytag dryer’s humidity sensor has continuity, you should also confirm that its resistance changes when heat is applied. With the ohm multimeter still connected, blow hot air over the sensor with a hair dryer. The sensor’s resistance should decrease as it becomes hotter, and vice versa. If the resistance level remains relatively the same, despite the temperature change induced by the hot air from the hair dryer, change out the existing sensor with a new one.