The short answer
A vented dryer that tumbles without heating points first at one thing: the thermal fuse has blown. Next on the list: the duct is blocked and the machine is cutting itself out. The element is at the bottom of this list on purpose — it is the part owners blame first and the one a technician checks last.
What you observe
- The drum turns normally and the clothes come out damp — Tumbling without heat is a very different fault from not running at all.
- It heated fine and then stopped heating completely, overnight — A one-shot device gives an abrupt, total loss of heat.
- Clothes come out damp and the drum is turning normally — Tumbling without heat is the classic signature of a cut-out.
- The filter looks clean and the machine still runs cool — Looking clean and being clear are different things.
- NEAR MISS — it heats but the clothes still come out damp — That is a drying performance or sensor question, and it belongs on a different page.
Causes, most likely first on this machine
- The thermal fuse has blown — First on this machine because a value-built vented dryer protects itself with a one-shot fuse, and that fuse is the thing that blows when a duct restricts. Replacing it without clearing the duct simply blows the next one — which is why the order on this page matters so much.
- The duct is blocked and the machine is cutting itself out — Ranked here because a restricted duct causes more no-heat calls than every component on this list put together.
- The lint filter is blinded — Ranked here because the invisible film catches out owners who are otherwise doing everything right.
- The heating element has gone open circuit — Last, deliberately.
Check in this order, and why
- Treat a blown fuse as evidence of a restriction upstream — Replacing the fuse without clearing the duct blows the next one.
- Disconnect the duct and run the machine briefly on heat — Strong warm air at the outlet means the machine is fine and the duct is not.
- Pour water on the lint screen and see whether it runs through — A clean-looking screen can be sealed by softener film.
- Note whether there is any warmth at all at the outlet — No warmth whatever, with good airflow, points at the element.
What an owner can safely check
- Run the machine for a few minutes and feel the exhaust air — Warm, ambient or hot decides everything that follows.
About 10 min
- Clear the whole duct run before any fuse is replaced — Otherwise the replacement lasts one load.
Tools: vacuumAbout 45 min
- Pull the duct off the back and check it end to end for lint — Check the outside flap too — it is where lint packs hardest.
Tools: vacuum, torchAbout 45 min
- Wash the lint screen in warm soapy water and dry it — Repeat every few months if you use fabric softener.
Tools: warm water, brushAbout 15 min
- STOP HERE before opening the heater housing or testing a fuse — That means live terminals on a high-current circuit. Service call.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the machine or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off, and a dryer that has just cut out on temperature is hot inside long after it is silent. A thermal fuse is a safety device, not a consumable. Never bridge one to keep the machine running, and never replace one without clearing the restriction that blew it.
When to call a technician
Call once the airflow path is proven clear end to end and there is still no heat — what is left is the element, a thermostat or the supply, and all three are meter work on a high-current circuit. Call immediately if you smell burning, if the cabinet is too hot to touch, or if the breaker trips when the machine calls for heat.
Nearest pages of this class
What this page does not cover
This page is written for the brand and the machine class, not for one family or model line. Where a family- or model-specific page exists for your machine, it is the more specific answer. Deliberately absent: fuse ratings, duct diameters, element and thermostat part identifiers and wiring colours, which differ between the electric and gas-heated families.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
