It’s frustrating when your Maytag dryer won’t dry your wet laundry, right? But did you know you can troubleshoot a non-heating Maytag dryer? That’s right, and as this guide on ‘Maytag dryer troubleshooting no heat’ shows, it starts with identifying the cause.
Generally, a Maytag dryer won’t blow hot air and dry your clothes because of power, laundry load, clogging, dryer setting, or component failure issues. It could be that the dryer is not getting power, something is wrong with the wet laundry, airflow, or dryer setting, or just a failed component.
I’ll explain each issue in detail to help you know what to check in each case and how to troubleshoot it.
My goal is to enable you to troubleshoot your Maytag dryer DIY regardless of the model and avoid paying someone.After all, professional dryer services aren’t cheap, and you want to avoid them.
Note, however, that not all the issues are DIY fixable. Some are just best left to the pros.
Let’s get into it!
In a hurry? Below is a quick troubleshooting guide for a non-heating Maytag dryer.
Maytag Dryer Troubleshooting No Heat – Quick Guide
| – | Possible Cause | Likely Cause | Recommended Fix |
| 1. | Power Issue | Electric Dryer Dryer not plugged in well or plugged into the wrong outlet or a tripped breaker or overheated fuse Gas Dryer Closed or faulty gas valve solenoid or a defective burner assembly (igniter or flame sensor) | Electric Dryer Plug in the dryer properly into a 240v outlet, reset a tripped breaker and replace an overheated fuse Gas Dryer Open the gas valve solenoid if it’s closed and replace it if it’s faulty. Also, replace the igniter or flame sensor if it’s faulty |
| 2. | Laundry Load Issue | Excessively wet or large wet load | Don’t put excessively wet laundry into the dryer, and ensure you don’t fill up the dryer |
| 3. | Clogging Issue | Clogged vents or lint screen | Clear the vents from any blockage and wash the lint screen if dirty |
| 4. | Dryer Setting Issue | ‘Wrinkle Prevent’ or ‘Fluff Air’ setting | Deactivate ‘Wrinkle Prevent’ or ‘Fluff Air’ if they are active |
| 5. | Component Failure | Heating element, timer, thermostat, or control board | Replace the failing dryer component |
How to Troubleshoot a Maytag Dryer Not Heating (Dryer Won’t Heat/Blow Hot Air)?
Essentially you can only fix a non-heating Maytag dryer if you first identify the cause. Overall, your Maytag dryer isn’t getting hot because of one of these issues:
1. Power Issues (Lack of Power)
Power is essential to get the dryer to run. The dryer may turn on without sufficient power but fail to heat up. Whether it’s a gas or electric Maytag dryer, here are the reasons that may cut off its power supply.
Maytag Electric Dryer Troubleshooting No Heat
If you have a non-heating electric Maytag dryer, it could be because of one of these reasons:
- Dryer not firmly plugged in – The power cable shouldn’t be too loose. It should be firmly plugged into the wall socket to deliver maximum power. If not, the dryer won’t heat up.
- You are plugging into the wrong outlet (under voltage) – Ideally, Maytag electric dryers need a 240v power supply. If you plug them into an under voltage (under 240v) outlet, the dryer won’t have enough power to start or heat up.
- Tripped breaker – If the circuit breaker is off, the dryer won’t heat up as it won’t receive the power it needs. So, also check the circuit breaker for possible tripping.
- Overheated fuse – The dryer’s thermal fuse blows up following a power spike to prevent a fire. Once that happens, the dryer is unable to heat up.
Fix
Start by checking the dryer’s power plug to ensure it is firmly plugged into the wall outlet. While at it, certify that the wall outlet rating is 240v. If unsure, use a voltmeter/multimeter to measure its voltage.
If it’s less than 240v, call an electrician. But if the voltage rating is okay, proceed to check the circuit breaker to see if it’s off. If it is, reset it.
And if nothing is wrong with the breaker, use a multimeter to check the thermal fuse’s continuity. It might have blown up. If that’s the case, it won’t show continuity, and you will need to replace it.
Maytag Gas Dryer Troubleshooting No Heat
When it comes to a gas-powered Maytag dryer, the likely cause of a power failure (or should we say gas failure) includes the following:
- Closed or faulty gas valve coil (solenoid) –The gas dryer gets its gas supply via a solenoid valve. If this valve is blocked or defective, it will cut off the dryer’s gas supply, and the dryer won’t get hot.
- Defective burner assembly – The burner assembly comprising the igniter and flame sensor also determines if the dryer will get hot. If they are faulty, your Maytag dryer won’t heat up.
Fix
Start by checking the dryer’s gas supply to determine if anything is blocking the gas valve. If it is, remove it.
It’s also best to open the gas valve fully. If it’s not, turn it (the valve) parallel to the gas supply tube.
Then, consider checking the igniter assembly. You can test both the flame sensor and ignitor for continuity to determine which of the two is faulty. Consider replacing the faulty one.
2. Laundry Load Issues
Sometimes your Maytag dryer won’t get hot because there’s something wrong with the wet laundry. That includes the following:
- The laundry could be too wet – If you have laundry that’s dripping wet, it may take time before the dryer can get hot and dry. You may assume that the dryer is not heating up when the clothes are the issue.
- The wet laundry size could be large – It’s not just an excessively wet laundry load that can prevent a Maytag dryer from heating. The same could happen if you overload the dryer with wet laundry. The dryer needs space within the drum to facilitate proper airflow and dry the clothes.
Fix
It’s important not to put clothes that are too wet into the dryer. If they are so, spin dry them first in your washer by running the drain or spin cycle.
Once you confirm the load is not dripping wet, put it into the dryer. Ensure, however, that you don’t fill up the laundry to the top as the clothes won’t spin to dry. Just keep the laundry size ¾ full.
3. Clogging Issue (Airflow Issue)
Proper airflow is essential for any dryer to heat up. If an obstruction/clogging cuts off the dryer’s airflow, the dryer won’t get hot. On that note, here are two critical considerations:
- Lint-clogged lint screen – The lint screen needs cleaning/wiping after each use. If you don’t, lint from the clothes will accumulate and reduce the amount of airflow into the dryer.
- Dirt-clogged vents – The dryer vents accumulate dirt over time which reduces airflow. In most cases, the dryer takes a long time to heat up and dry clothes, but in some cases, it fails to heat up.
Fix
Put out the lint screen to inspect it for lint clogging. If it’s clogged, clean it with soapy water, rinse it well, and leave it to dry.
Once the screen dries, put it back and turn to the dryer vents to check for air obstruction. Remove any debris or dirt and clear any kinks to ensure the dryer vent is free from any source of the blockage.
4. Dryer Setting Issue
The Maytag dryer won’t blow hot air if you’ve picked the wrong setting. That includes the following:
- ‘Wrinkle Prevent’ – A ‘Wrinkle Prevent’ cycle allows the Maytag dryer to spin without heat to avoid wrinkling. So, if the setting is on, your dryer won’t get hot.
- ‘Fluff Air’ – The ‘Fluff Air’ setting allows the Maytag dryer only to blow room-temperature air with no heat. Thus, the dryer won’t heat.
Fix
Turn off the ‘Wrinkle Prevent’ or ‘Fluff Air’ settings as they prevent the dryer from getting hot.
5. Component Failure
Lastly, your Maytag dryer won’t get hot if any of the components below fails:
- Maytag dryer heating element – Electric dryers employ a heating element that heats the drum’s cold air, like the gas dryer’s burner. The dryer won’t heat up if the element breaks or burns due to overheating.
- High-limit thermostat – The high-limit thermostat’s main job is to monitor the dryer’s heat and turn off the burner once the dryer overheats. Its malfunctioning forces the burner to shut off, thus no heating.
- Cycling thermostat – The cycling thermostat spins around the heated air to allow the entire dryer to get hot. Once it fails, the dryer won’t get hot or dry your clothes.
- Timer – The timer can malfunction though it’s rarely the case. Once it happens, the dryer is unable to get hot. You can, however, tell if it’s bad if it won’t show continuity if you test it with a multimeter.
- Control board – If none of the above concerns or dryer components is why your Maytag dryer won’t get hot, it’s likely to be a bad main control board.
Fix
Consider replacing any of the above dryer components if it is faulty. Other than the main control board, you can test the other three with a multimeter to determine the faulty one and replace it.
Of course, the one that lacks continuity is the faulty one. But once it comes to the main control board, leave it to a dryer professional. They’ll tell you if you need to replace the main control board or the entire dryer.
People Also Ask
1. What Causes a Maytag Dryer Not to Heat?
Different issues could cause a Maytag dryer not to heat. That includes lack of power, excess wet load, wrong setting, vent or lint obstruction, and component failure.
Some failed components that could prevent the dryer from heating up include the heating element, timer, thermostat, or control board.
2. How Do I Know If My Heating Element Is Bad in My Maytag Dryer?
One way to determine a bad heating element in a Maytag dryer is if the dryer will turn on but won’t heat. But to be sure, test the heating element with a multimeter. If it has no continuity, then it must be bad.
3. What Should I Do When My Maytag Dryer Doesn’t Start?
Consider going through these checks if your Maytag dryer won’t start:
- Ensure the power button is well pressed and not faulty
- Reset the breaker if it’s off and replace an overheated fuse
- Close the door properly and replace the defective door switch
- Deactivate ‘Control Lock’
- Call a dryer expert if you can’t fix it
4. Why Is My Dryer Running but Not Getting Hot?
Your dryer might be running but not getting hot due to a tripped breaker, gas failure (if it’s a gas dryer), a dirt-clogged vent, or a blown-up fuse. Also, check the heating element as it could be faulty.
5. Why Is My Maytag Dryer Blowing Cold Air?
If your Maytag dryer is blowing cold air and not hot air, it’s likely because of a malfunctioning cycling thermostat. The thermostat might be stuck, thus unable to cycle hot air in the dryer.
Closing Remarks On Maytag Dryer Troubleshooting No Heat
Generally, it’s worth looking into a possible power, load, obstruction, setting, or component failure issue when your Maytag dryer won’t heat.
One of those five reasons likely explains why your dryer won’t blow hot air. Once you identify the reason, use the above troubleshooting guide to fix it.
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