Maytag Dryers are pretty reliable appliances and have earned a good reputation for quality and efficiency.
But sometimes, they do encounter a problem where they will stop heating for seemingly no reason. Of course, this is a big problem as without a means of producing heat, you won’t be able to dry your clothes.
Fortunately, this problem is fairly easy to address. So in this article, we’re going to walk through all the main reasons why this problem occurs and how you can fix it.
Why is your Maytag Dryer Not Heating?
When a Maytag dryer stops heating, it’s usually due to some kind of buildup or blockage affecting its ability to either generate heat or expel the moisture as it’s been extracted from the clothes.
Numerous components play a role in how a dryer functions, so we’ll need to clean these out to ensure the dryer can work properly.
1. There is a Blown Thermal Fuse
A thermal fuse is designed to monitor the internal temperature of your dryer, and should it exceed a certain limit, the fuse will blow, immediately stopping your dryer from producing heat.
This is for safety reasons to protect your home from fire and the dryer itself from suffering damage from the excess heat.
If the thermal fuse blows, it will need to be replaced, as these are single-use components.
2. The Exhaust Vent is Blocked Up
As dryers heat up, they cause the moisture inside the clothes to evaporate into the air, which is then expelled from the dryer through the dryer vent.
However, the exhaust vent may become clogged with dust, lint, or hair extracted from the clothes over time.
This can prevent your dryer from successfully drying the clothes, so they’re still wet when you touch them after a finished drying cycle. It’s easy to think the dryer did not heat at all.
We’ll need to unclog the dryer vent to ensure it can expel all that moist air.
3. The Wrong Venting Type
When you think of a dryer exhaust vent, you’ll usually picture a metal oil or plastic exhaust hose-type venting system.
Maytag advises against these as they are less optimal for airflow and may contribute to your dryer not heating well.
There are alternate venting types available that are better suited to Maytag dryers.
4. The Lint Trap is Clogged
There is an inevitable accumulation of lint that occurs when clothes are dried. If not managed well, they can clog up the components and affect the dryer’s functionality.
So Maytag built a lint screen or lint filter into the dryer, which is designed to catch lint as it forms to keep the dryer clean and running smoothly.
Over time these lint filters can become so clogged up that they stop functioning, which causes the lint buildup to become a problem.
The lint trap needs to be cleaned intermittently to ensure your dryer isn’t clogged up.
5. Incorrect Cycle Settings
Usually, when you dry your clothes, it will be on an auto-cycle which will monitor the internal moisture levels of the dryer and only stop once it reaches the desired amount of dryness.
However, you can also run a timed cycle, which will run for a set amount of time, no matter how wet or dry the clothes are.
Oftentimes people will set the timed cycle too short, not giving the dryer enough time to heat up and dry the clothes properly.
We will need to adjust these settings to ensure the dryer has enough time to do its job.
6. The Gas Line isn’t Turned On
Applicable to gas dryers only.
A gas dryer requires a steady supply of gas to produce heat continually. If your home’s gas valve has been shut off for some reason, is only partially open, or your provider has halted the supply, your dryer will not heat.
We will need to restore the gas supply before the gas dryer works properly.
7. The Gas Valve Solenoid isn’t Working
A failed gas valve solenoid will still prevent the dryer from heating even if the gas supply works fine.
The purpose of the solenoid is to open and close upon instruction from the dryer to allow gas to flow into the machine.
When this component fails, it will remain permanently closed, and your dryer wont be able to produce heat.
8. The Igniter has Failed
Similarly, the igniter is a small component that ignites the gas as it enters the dryer, producing heat.
So when the igniter fails, the dryer won’t be able to ignite the gas and produce heat. Not only does this render the dryer non-functional, but it can also be dangerous. This component should be fixed or replaced as soon as possible.
9. The Flame Sensor isn’t Working
The flame sensor monitors the temperature of the igniter, and once it’s hot enough to ignite the gas, it will instruct the gas valve solenoid to open up and allow the gas into the machine.
However, if the flame sensor breaks or isn’t working properly, it won’t detect when the igniter is hot enough and never instruct the gas valve to open.
We’ll need to test the flame sensor for continuity using a multimeter and fix it as needed.
10. The Heating Element has Failed
Applicable to the Maytag electric dryer only.
Instead of gas, electric dryers will pass an electrical current through a coiled wire called a heating element; this then produces a lot of heat, which allows the dryer to extract the moisture from the clothes.
This coil can be prone to burning out and failing. The heating element will need to be tested with a multimeter and replaced if needed.
How to Fix a Maytag Dryer Not Heating
Fortunately, in most cases, simple cleaning and unclogging will be enough to restore a Maytag dryer’s ability to hear.
However, in some rarer instances, a component may have failed and require a technician to replace it.
1. Replace the Thermal Fuse
If there is a blown thermal fuse, it will need to be replaced with a new one, as these are single-use consumables.
These components are fairly easy to replace by yourself; here’s how to do it:
- Start by turning off the power and unplugging the dryer; you should never work on the internals of a dryer while electricity is still supplied.
- Remove the mounting screw holding the back panel to the dryer and set the panel aside.
- You will now have access to the fuse; pull the wires attached to it off. You can do this by hand.
Pro tip: Take a picture of the wires with your camera, so you know how to re-install them. - Remove the mounting screw holding the thermal fuse in place.
- Remove the old thermal fuse and discard it.
- Insert the new thermal fuse in its place.
- Re-attach the screws and wires in the reverse order you removed them.
- Now you can place the back panel on, plug it back in, and you’re good to go!
2. Unblock the Exhaust Vent
Remove the vent from the dryer and ideally take it outside before unblocking it, as this process creates a lot of dust.
Use a vacuum with a hose to remove as much of the built-up dust and lint as possible. If you don’t have a vacuum, a long broom handle can also work; just be careful not to damage the lining, as aluminum vents can be quite fragile.
3. Exchange the Venting Type
Maytag advises against the traditional foil or plastic exhaust hose vents as these are not optimal for airflow.
Consider replacing it with rigid metal vents with a 4-inch diameter for better performance and heat dissipation.
4. Unclog the Lint Screen
If the lint screen has become clogged up, it will need to be cleaned.
Start by removing it from the dryer and placing it in a sink filled with warm water and dish soap. Let it sit there for 5-10 minutes to loosen up the built-up lint.
Scrub it clean using a soft brush like an old toothbrush. Rinse it under clean water and let it dry before re-installing.
5. Change the Cycle Settings
If you are using a timed cycle, it’s probably finishing before the clothes are dry and the dryer has heated up properly.
You can extend the timer duration, or the better option is to set it to an ‘auto cycle’ function which will only stop once the internal humidity has reached a certain threshold.
6. Turn the Gas Line On
Double-check your gas valve to make sure it’s fully open.
If there’s still no gas supply after doing this, you may need to contact your home’s supplier for further details and support.
7. Replace the Gas Valve Solenoid
Once you have tested the gas valve solenoid and found it faulty, we recommend replacing it with a new one. While you can sometimes service these yourself, it’s usually more trouble than it’s worth.
8. Replace the Igniter
If the gas burner has failed, it won’t get hot enough for the flame sensor to open the gas valve solenoid and cannot ignite the gas.
So once again, this will need to be replaced. You can contact Maytag customer support for assistance in sourcing a new gas burner and having a technician help you install it.
9. Replace the Flame Sensor
Even if the igniter is working just fine, if the flame sensor can’t detect it, it won’t instruct the gas valve solenoid to open, and the dryer will not heat. This, too, will need to be replaced.
10. Replace the Heating Element
Only applicable to Maytag electric dryers.
If the heating element has burned out, it’s impossible to fix, so you need to contact Maytag customer support and have a qualified technician replace it.