Gas Dryer Not Drying Properly- Common Causes and Solutions
If your gas dryer is not drying your clothes properly, it can be a real nuisance. Not to mention a waste of time and money since you’ll need to cycle your loads multiple times to get your clothing dry. Fortunately, this is a fairly common issue, and there are several quick fixes.
Below, we’ve put together a short guide to troubleshooting the most common problems with gas dryers.But before trying to fix anything, always make sure you have turned off the power supply.
Some experience is also required to carry out certain repairs safely. Therefore, it might be best to contact a professional who can diagnose and fix the problem for you.
Dryer Won’t Start
There are several reasons why the dryer is failing to start.
The first thing to check is whether the dryer is connected to a power outlet. This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how often it’s the culprit! If the dryer is definitely plugged in and switched on, check that both the dryer’s circuit breakers are switched on at your circuit breaker box. If not, then make sure to reset them. Next, double-check that the door switch is functioning correctly.
When closing the door, you should hear a clicking noise, which sends a signal to the dryer to start spinning. If the switch or latch is damaged, the dryer likely won’t start.
Dryer Drum Not Turn
If your dryer seems to have power, but the drum isn’t turning, then there are several possible causes you can investigate. A broken drive belt is a common cause of a dryer drum, not turning. To check this, try turning the drum yourself by hand. If the belt is working fine, it should be stiff and offer some resistance, but should still turn. If it turns very loosely, then the belt has probably been broken. Worn out drum rollers could also be to blame. Dryers usually have two drum rollers at the back of the drum, and some have an additional two at the front.
If the rollers are not turning smoothly, the motor can become overwhelmed, and the dryer will stop running. While you’re checking the drum rollers, have a look at the roller axles too. If the drum rollers seem wobbly as they spin, they’ll also need to be replaced.
Motor Failure
Several factors can interfere with the motor and cause it to shut down or malfunction. Worn drum glides are a common culprit that can affect the motor. Or, a worn drum bearing can also affect the motor.
The drum bearing is located at the rear of the drum and acts as a support mechanism. If it becomes worn out, it can put added stress onto the motor and cause it to break down.
To investigate whether the drum bearing is worn, remove the dryer belt and try to spin the drum with your hand. If the drum is tough to turn and makes a grinding or whining sound, then the bearing is likely worn out and will need replacing.
Drum Turns But Doesn’t Dry Clothes.
If the drum is turning, but your clothes are not drying, it is most likely due to the dryer not heating up. The dryer might not be heating up because of a faulty ignitor or flame sensor. Contact an expert to assess whether or not either of these elements needs to be replaced to get your dryer working again.
No Gas Supply
First, to determine a problem with the gas supply, double-check that the gas supply line is open and is definitely supplying gas to your dryer. If the gas line appears damaged, then make sure you switch it off and contact an expert to come and repair it immediately.
Broken Heating Elements
If none of the above reasons account for your problems, then a faulty or damaged heating element could be to blame. If this is, in fact, the culprit, then it will need to purchase a new heater assembly to replace the faulty one.
Malfunctioning Control Board
If your control board is faulty, the only thing you can do to fix it is to replace it with a new one.
Once again, you can purchase a new control board and replace it on your own. But many times, faulty control boards may be covered under your unit’s manufacturer warranty. Which is why it’s best to contact a professional technician who will know how to check this for you.
