Troubleshooting the Heating Element
If you find that your Maytag dryer is not heating, there’s a good chance that the heating element may be malfunctioning. The heating element is responsible for producing the heat that is required to dry your clothes, so if it stops functioning correctly, your clothes won’t dry properly. However, before you decide to replace the heating element, it’s prudent to troubleshoot it to establish if it’s the real culprit. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to troubleshoot the heating element of a Maytag dryer that’s not heating.
Step 1: Check the Power Supply
The first step to check when it comes to troubleshooting the heating element of a Maytag dryer is the power supply. Ensure that the dryer is properly plugged into the electrical outlet. Check the fuse box or circuit breaker box to make sure that there isn’t any blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker that’s responsible for the power outage. If there is a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker, reset or replace it, then test if the dryer is now heating up.
Step 2: Inspect the Heating Element
If the power supply is functional, but the dryer is still not heating, then the next step is to inspect the heating element. The heating element is usually located behind the front panel, on the upper part of the right-hand side. After unplugging the dryer and removing the front panel, inspect the heating element visually. Look for any broken, damaged, or burned-out coils. If you notice any of these, then the heating element is the offender and requires replacement.
Step 3: Check the High Limit Thermostat
The high-limit thermostat is another component that could cause the heating element to malfunction. The function of this thermostat is to cut off the power supply to the heating element when it exceeds the recommended operating temperatures. When the high-limit thermostat fails, the heating element won’t get the power supply, and as a result, the dryer won’t heat up. Using a multimeter, check the thermostat for continuity. If it has no continuity, replace it with a new one.
Step 4: Inspect the Cycling Thermostat
The cycling thermostat is responsible for regulating the temperature inside the dryer. It directs the temperature and ensures that it’s at the required level for the clothes to dry. When the cycling thermostat fails, the dryer produces too much heat or too little heat, or it won’t heat at all. Inspect the cycling thermostat to determine whether it’s faulty or not. Again, using a multimeter, check the thermostat’s continuity. If it doesn’t show continuity, then replace it with a new one.
Step 5: Check the Thermal Fuse
The thermal fuse is an important safety component whose role is to halt the dryer’s operation if the temperature becomes too high. When the dryer overheats, the thermal fuse blows to prevent the dryer from catching fire. When the thermal fuse fails, the dryer won’t heat. Check the thermal fuse using a multimeter to establish whether it has continuity. If it doesn’t, then the thermal fuse needs replacement.
Step 6: Inspect the Timer
The timer works in coordination with the temperature and moisture sensors to control the dryer’s heating. When the timer is faulty, it won’t direct the required temperature and moisture levels, which will affect the dryer’s heating capabilities. Inspect the timer to know if it’s the real culprit. Manually turn the timer to the timed cycle and measure the continuity of the contacts. If they don’t have continuity, replace the timer with a new one.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a myriad of components that can cause a Maytag dryer not to heat. Troubleshooting the heating element is a crucial process in diagnosing the problem. The steps above will help establish whether the heating element itself is faulty or if the problem lies with other components such as the thermostat, timer, or thermal fuse. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to call a professional repair technician to avoid causing further damage to your machine.
Check the Thermal Fuse
If your Maytag dryer is not heating, one of the first things to check is the thermal fuse. The thermal fuse is a safety device that prevents the dryer from overheating. When the dryer gets too hot, the thermal fuse cuts power to the heating element, and the dryer will not heat. While the thermal fuse is designed to last the life of the dryer, it can fail and will need to be replaced if it does.
To check the thermal fuse, first, unplug the dryer from the electrical outlet and turn off the gas supply, if applicable. The thermal fuse is typically located on the blower housing or exhaust duct. Use a multimeter to test the thermal fuse for continuity. If there is no continuity, the thermal fuse is blown and needs to be replaced. If there is continuity, the thermal fuse is not the issue, and the problem lies elsewhere.
When replacing the thermal fuse, be sure to use the correct replacement part for your specific Maytag dryer model. You can find the correct part number in your dryer’s manual or online. Once you have the replacement part, follow these steps to replace the thermal fuse:
- Unplug the dryer from the electrical outlet and turn off the gas supply, if applicable.
- Locate the thermal fuse on the blower housing or exhaust duct. Depending on your model, you may need to remove the dryer’s back panel to access it.
- Disconnect the wires from the thermal fuse and remove it from the dryer.
- Install the new thermal fuse in its place and reconnect the wires.
- Replace the dryer’s back panel, if necessary.
- Plug the dryer back into the electrical outlet and turn on the gas supply, if applicable.
- Test the dryer to ensure it is now heating properly.
Remember to always unplug the dryer from the electrical outlet and turn off the gas supply before attempting any repairs. If you are not comfortable with performing the repair yourself, contact a professional appliance repair service to assist you.
Inspecting the High-Limit Thermostat
If your Maytag dryer is not heating, one of the possible causes could be a malfunctioning high-limit thermostat. This thermostat is responsible for regulating the temperature inside the dryer drum by cutting power to the heating element when the temperature gets too high. If the high-limit thermostat is faulty, it could be preventing your dryer from heating up properly. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to inspect the thermostat and determine whether it needs to be replaced.
The high-limit thermostat is usually located on the heating element housing or the blower housing. It’s a small, round device with two wires connecting it to the dryer’s main control board. Before you begin inspecting the thermostat, make sure the dryer is unplugged and disconnected from the gas supply, if applicable. You’ll need a multimeter to test the thermostat for continuity.
First, remove the back panel of the dryer to access the thermostat. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the screws holding the panel in place and set it aside. Locate the high-limit thermostat and visually inspect it for any signs of damage, such as burn marks, cracks, or corrosion. If you notice any damage, the thermostat will need to be replaced.
If the thermostat looks fine, you’ll need to test it for continuity using the multimeter. Set the multimeter to the continuity setting and touch the probes to the terminals on the thermostat. You should see a reading of zero or very low resistance, indicating that the thermostat is closed and allowing the current to flow through it. If the reading shows infinity or very high resistance, the thermostat is open and needs to be replaced.
If the high-limit thermostat is faulty, you can order a replacement from your local appliance store or online. Make sure to get the correct part number for your Maytag dryer model. Once you have the new thermostat, you can install it by connecting the two wires to the terminals on the control board.
Before you close up the dryer, double-check that everything is properly connected and secured. Then, plug in the dryer and turn it on to test if it’s heating properly. If the dryer still isn’t heating, you may need to explore other potential causes, such as a malfunctioning heating element or faulty cycling thermostat.
In conclusion, inspecting the high-limit thermostat on your Maytag dryer is a straightforward process that can be done with basic tools and a multimeter. By following these steps, you can determine whether a faulty thermostat is causing your dryer not to heat up and replace it if necessary. Doing so can save you from the expense of a professional repair and get your dryer back in working order quickly.
Testing the Cycling Thermostat
If the problem with your Maytag dryer not heating is not resolved by checking the thermal fuse and heating element, you should move on to testing the cycling thermostat. This component monitors the temperature inside the dryer and regulates the heating element to ensure that it doesn’t get too hot. If the cycling thermostat is faulty, your dryer will not heat effectively or may not heat at all. Here is how to test it:
Step 1: Disconnect the dryer from the power supply by unplugging it or shutting off the circuit breaker.
Step 2: Locate the cycling thermostat on the blower housing. It is usually found on the side of the heater element assembly.
Step 3: Remove the wires from the thermostat by pulling on the connectors. If you have difficulty removing the connectors, use a pair of pliers to grip them firmly and wiggle them loose. Label the wires so that you can reconnect them to the correct terminals once the testing is complete.
Step 4: Using a multimeter, set it to the lowest setting for resistance (ohms). Attach the probes to the two terminals on the thermostat.
Step 5: With the probes attached, the multimeter should display a reading of zero or nearly zero resistance. If the reading is above zero, the cycling thermostat is faulty and will need to be replaced.
Step 6: If the cycling thermostat passes this test, it may still be faulty but not in a way that is measurable by testing it with a multimeter. In this case, you may need to try replacing it and see if this fixes the problem.
Step 7: Reconnect the wires to the thermostat, making sure that they are securely attached to the correct terminals.
Step 8: Reattach any covers that you removed to access the thermostat.
Step 9: Plug in the dryer or turn on the circuit breaker.
Step 10: Test whether the cycling thermostat fix has resolved the issue of your Maytag dryer not heating by turning on the dryer and running it for a few minutes. Check that the heating element is working properly and that the dryer is generating sufficient heat.
Testing the cycling thermostat can be a relatively straightforward process, and will help you identify whether this component is the cause of your Maytag dryer not heating. While a faulty cycling thermostat can be a frustrating issue to deal with, replacing it can solve the problem and have your dryer back to running efficiently in no time.
Examining the Gas Valve Coils
Another possible cause of a Maytag dryer not heating is faulty gas valve coils. The gas valve coils control the flow of gas to the burner, and when they fail, the gas valve won’t open, and the dryer won’t heat. Inspecting the gas valve coils is easy and can be done without any special knowledge or tools.
First, unplug the dryer and turn off the gas supply valve. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws from the back panel of the dryer, and then remove the panel to access the gas valve coils. The gas valve coils are located on top of the gas valve and are held in place with two screws.
Once you have removed the gas valve coils, inspect them for any signs of damage or wear. Look for any cracks, breaks, or other damage to the coils. If any of the coils are damaged, they will need to be replaced.
You can also test the gas valve coils with a multimeter to determine if they are functioning properly. Set the multimeter to the ohms setting and touch the leads to the terminals on the gas valve coils. The reading should be between 1,000 and 2,000 ohms. If the reading is outside of that range, the gas valve coils are faulty and will need to be replaced.
To replace the gas valve coils, simply remove the old coils and install the new ones. Make sure to secure the new coils with the two screws and reattach the back panel of the dryer. Turn the gas supply valve back on, plug the dryer in, and test it to make sure it is heating properly.
Overall, examining the gas valve coils is a straightforward process and can save you from having to call a professional. By following these steps, you can diagnose and fix the problem of a Maytag dryer not heating due to faulty gas valve coils.