Having a Maytag Bravos XL dryer means having the option to quickly dry lots of clothes for the family. But what if the dryer won’t get hot? How do you explain a Maytag Bravos Xl dryer not heating?
Maytag Bravos XL dryers won’t heat due to failed incoming power, clogged air vent or lint screen, wrong cycle, or excess wet load. Meanwhile, gas dryers won’t heat due to a faulty solenoid, flame sensor, or igniter, while electric options won’t heat due to a bad heating element, thermostat, or timer.
Some issues apply to gas and electric Bravos XL dryers, while others are exclusive to gas-only or electric options.
To help you know what to check depending on the type of Bravos XL dryer, I’ll discuss the 12 reasons why they all fall. So, watch out for the fixes which you can try before calling a dryer expert.
Let’s get into it!
In a rush? See below the 12 possible explanations for your non-heating Maytag Bravos XL dryer and what you can do to remedy the situation.
Quick Troubleshooter for A Maytag Bravos Xl Dryer Not Heating
| – | Probable Cause | Remedy (Quick Fix) |
| Both Electric & Gas Dryer | ||
| 1. | Failed Incoming Power | Replace the power outlet or thermal fuse if it’s faulty, and reset the circuit breaker if it’s off |
| 2. | Clogged Air Vent | Clean the dryer vent if it’s dirt-clogged to facilitate proper airflow and heating |
| 3. | Clogged Lint Screen | Clean the dryer’s lint screen, preferably with soap and water, if it’s dirt-clogged |
| 4. | Wrong Cycle | Deactivate Wrinkle-Prevent or Fluff Air setting to allow the dryer to blow hot air |
| 5. | Excess Wet Load | Spin dry the clothes if they are excessively wet |
| Gas-Only Dryer | ||
| 6. | Failed Solenoid | Consider replacing the solenoid valve if the igniter goes off almost immediately after glowing |
| 7. | Burnt Igniter | Replace the igniter if it fails to show continuity |
| 8. | Failed Flame Sensor | Test the sensor’s continuity and replace it if it shows no continuity |
| Electric Dryer | ||
| 9. | Bad Heating Element | Consider a Maytag Bravos Xl dryer heating element replacement |
| 10. | Overheated High-Limit Thermostat | Replace the hi-li thermostat if it won’t show continuity |
| 11. | Bad Cycling Thermostat | Replace the cycling thermostat if it won’t show continuity |
| 12. | Bad Timer | Replace the dryer’s timer if it won’t display continuity |
How to Troubleshoot a Maytag Bravos XL Dryer That’s Not Heating
Generally, troubleshooting a Maytag Bravos XL dryer that won’t get hot starts with identifying the cause. Depending on whether the dryer is gas only or electric, here are 12 issues to consider:
Both Maytag Bravos XL Electric and Gas Dryer Not Heating
1. Dryer Not Heating Because of Failed Incoming Power
If there’s a disruption in the incoming power, your Maytag Bravos XL dryer won’t get hot. For that reason, consider the issues below as they are likely to deprive the dryer of power:
- Faulty power outlet – A faulty power outlet prevents the dryer from having enough power, and so the dryer won’t heat. If the voltage is not 210 – 240 volts, you can tell the outlet has an issue.
- Tripped breaker – Following a power surge, the breaker will trip up to protect the dryer from overheating. Unfortunately, that stops the dryer from heating until you reset it.
- Overheated thermal fuse – A power surge doesn’t just trip the breaker but can also blow up the fuse. Once the thermal fuse overheats or blows, the dryer may not heat up.
Fix
Use a voltmeter/multimeter to check the power outlet’s voltage. If it’s not 210 – 240 volts, the outlet is faulty and should be replaced.
Also, use a multimeter to test the fuse’s continuity. If it has no continuity, replace it. Meanwhile, check the breaker and reset it if it’s off/tripped.
2. Dryer Not Heating Due to Clogged Exhaust Vent
If the dryer vent is clogged, airflow reduces, raising the vent’s internal temperature. Once that happens, the high-limit thermostat, which I’ll talk about later, prevents the dryer from heating.
Fix
Inspect the dryer’s exhaust vent for clogging and clean it if that’s the case. This is something you should do regularly. And if there are kinks on the dryer vent, stretch out the duct to remove them.
3. Dryer Not Heating Due to Dirty Lint Screen
A clogged lint screen has the same effect as a clogged lint screen. So, you must check it for dirt/lint clogging too. Overall, a clogged lint screen prevents airflow; thus, the Maytag dryer won’t heat up.
Fix
Inspect the dryer’s lint screen from clogging and clean it accordingly. You can wash with soap and water.
4. Dryer Not Heating Due to The Wrong Cycle
The Maytag bravos dryer won’t heat if you select the wrong cycle or setting. For example, settings like Wrinkle-Prevent and Fluff Air allow the dryer to blow air at room temperature but without heat.
Fix
Check the dryer setting to ensure you use the correct cycle. If either Wrinkle-Prevent or Fluff Air is active, turn them off and choose the right setting.
5. Dryer Not Heating Due to Excessively Wet Load
Sometimes the dryer won’t heat up because of loading too much wet load, especially if the load is dripping wet. That’s why it’s advisable to spin-dry the clothes before putting them into the dryer. More importantly, the damp laundry should be even in the drum.
Fix
Spin dry your clothes before drying them, or manually remove the excess water. Otherwise, fix the reason why your Maytag machine won’t spin-dry clothes.
Maytag Bravos Xl Gas Dryer Not Heating
6. Dryer Not Heating Due to A Failed Solenoid Valve
Maytag gas dryers usually have at least two gas valve solenoids. The valves typically open up to allow gas flow to the burner. Once the burner receives enough gas, it burns up, allowing the dryer to heat up and blow hot air.
So, if the solenoid is faulty, the burner won’t receive any gas, and thus the dryer won’t heat up.
Fix
You can determine if you have a faulty solenoid if the igniter momentarily glows and turns off. If that’s the case, replace the solenoid.
7. Dryer Not Heating Due to A Burnt Igniter
The igniter’s job is to heat the gas in the dryer’s burner. Once the igniter burns, perhaps from overheating, the igniter won’t heat up, and the burner will not become hot.
Fix
Consider testing the igniter’s continuity level using a multimeter. If it shows no continuity, it must be burnt out and so replace it.
8. Dryer Not Heating Due to A Failed Flame Sensor
The flame sensor senses the flame’s heat, enabling the dryer to heat up. If the sensor fails, it cannot detect the heat, so the dryer won’t get hot.
Fix
Test the sensor’s continuity using a multimeter. If it shows no continuity, consider replacing it. But first, check the thermal fuse and igniter to ensure they aren’t at fault.
Electric Maytag Bravos Xl Dryer Not Heating
9. Dryer Not Heating Due to A Bad Heating Element
Incoming air typically passes through the heating element for warming up. Unfortunately, the heating element overheats over time and becomes faulty. And when that happens, the dryer is unable to get hot.
Fix
Consider testing your Maytag Bravos Xl dryer heating element for continuity. If the element shows no continuity, consider replacing it.
10. Dryer Not Heating Due to an Overheated High Limit Thermostat
The Maytag dryer’s high limit (hi-li) thermostat monitors its temperature to ensure it is correct. Once the dryer starts overheating, the thermostat turns off the hot burner, preventing it from getting hot any further.
Fix
Using a multimeter, measure the thermostat’s continuity. The absence of continuity indicates a faulty high-limit thermostat that you should replace.
11. Dryer Not Heating Due to A Bad Cycling Thermostat
For proper heating in the dryer, the heat has to cycle on and off, which is the cycling thermostat’s job. If the thermostat is defective, it cannot cycle the hot air, which prevents the dryer from getting hot.
Fix
Consider testing the cycling thermostat the same way as the high-limit thermostat. So, if the thermostat won’t show continuity, change it.
12. Dryer Not Heating Due to A Bad Timer
Also, check the working condition of the timer, as its faultiness will prevent the dryer from heating up. You should ensure it’s working well.
Fix
Use a multimeter once again to test the timer’s continuity level. If it has no continuity, change it.
Can’t Find the Reason Why Your Maytag Bravos XL Dryer is Not Heating?
Perhaps you’ve gone through the above 12 issues but cannot establish the real reason why your Maytag Bravos dryer won’t heat. Or maybe you’ve tried several fixes, but the dryer still won’t get hot.
If so, consider that you may have a bad main control board. That’s often the case when none of the other components is defective, but the dryer won’t heat up.
If so, replace the main control board. But before you do, have a dryer expert check it out.
People Also Ask
1. Why Is My Maytag Dryer Not Getting Hot?
Your Maytag dryer is not getting hot because of a tripped breaker, faulty outlet, overheated thermal fuse, clogged lint screen or vent, or an incorrect cycle. Also, check components like the heating element, thermostat, and timer for faults.
2. Why Is My Maytag Bravos Xl Not Heating Up?
Your Maytag Bravos XL is not heating because of an incoming power fault, whose cause could be a tripped breaker, overheated fuse, or a faulty outlet. It could also be due to poor airflow, whose cause could be a clogged lint screen or vent.
3. How Can I Reset a Maytag Bravos XL Dryer?
You can reset your Maytag Bravos XL dryer by pressing Power/Cancel (at least twice), choosing a cycle, and pressing ‘Start.’
4. Does Maytag Bravos XL Have a Reset Button?
Maytag Bravos XL dryers usually don’t have the reset button. So, you’ll need to reset them differently. One way to do it is by pressing ‘power/cancel’ new cycle and ‘start’ in the same order.
Closing Remarks On Maytag Bravos Xl Dryer Not Heating:
Above are the 12 reasons most Maytag Bravos XL dryers won’t get hot. So, consider the list before you can call a service technician. But once you go through the troubleshooting and can’t fix it, you can contact an expert service technician.
Also Read: