Electric dryer
Electric dryer running but not heating
My dryer tumbles but the clothes stay cold and damp. Why no heat?
Straight answer: On an electric dryer, no heat is usually a blown thermal fuse, a burnt-out heating element or a thermostat. Before any of that, check the breaker: electric dryers use two breakers, and if one trips the drum spins but the heater is dead.
$99 CAD visit & diagnosis · 30% off your first repair · 90-day labour warranty
Or give us a buzz: 705-302-0105 · Mon–Sat, 9 AM–7 PM
Error codes you might see
Samsung shows HE or tE. LG shows tE1 or tE2. Whirlpool and Maytag often give no code at all, just cold air.
What it usually means
- One of the two dryer breakers tripped, so the heater has no power
- Thermal fuse blown, often because the vent was restricted
- Heating element burnt out
- Cycling or high-limit thermostat failed
- Gas dryers are out of our scope; this page is for electric only
Safe to check yourself
- Find the dryer breaker (it's a double) and switch it fully off, then on
- Clean the lint screen and check the outside vent flap opens when the dryer runs
- Feel the vent hose behind the dryer: if it's hot and the dryer is cold inside, airflow is restricted
- Don't open the dryer cabinet; the heater circuit is 240 V
Unplug the appliance or switch off the breaker before touching anything behind or under it. If you're not comfortable, skip the checks and call; the visit covers all of this.
Time to call when
- The breaker is fine and there's still no heat
- The dryer heats for a minute and then goes cold
- You smell burning or the top of the dryer gets very hot
What the visit looks like
A technician comes to your place, diagnoses the electric dryer and tells you what it needs and what it costs. You decide; nothing starts without your okay. $99 CAD covers the visit and diagnosis anywhere in our area.
Electric dryer repair: what to expect 
Good to know
Why do thermal fuses keep blowing?
Almost always restricted airflow: a clogged vent or a crushed hose. We fix the fuse and tell you what's blocking the air.
Do you repair gas dryers?
No. We don't work on gas appliances. This page and our dryer service are for electric dryers only.
Other electric dryer problems
- Dryer takes two or three cycles to dryMy dryer heats, but clothes need two or three runs to dry. Why so slow?
- Dryer makes noise or hums but the drum won't turnThe dryer starts, I hear it, but the drum doesn't spin. What's broken?
- Electric dryer won't start at allMy dryer is dead. No lights, no sound, nothing. What should I check?
Still stuck?
Tell us what it's doing and your town. We'll sort out the rest on the call.