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GE dryer won't heat up
Common reasons your GE dryer won't heat up
The most common reasons your GE dryer won't heat up are an open heating element, failed thermal cut-off fuse or a defective electronic control board.
39% of the time it's the Heating Element
22% of the time it's the Thermal Cut-off Fuse
18% of the time it's the Electronic Control Board
21% of the time it's the Something else
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Most common repairs needed to fix a GE dryer
Heating Element Replacement
An open heating element could be causing the problem when your dryer won't heat up. “Open” means that the heating element is broken and current isn’t flowing through the element to produce heat. You may not see physical damage on the heating element for it to be electrically open. An interior break in the continuity of the element can prevent it from heating. When your dryer isn’t heating, have a Sears Home Services Technician visit your home and fix the dryer.
Thermal Cut-off Fuse Replacement
A failed thermal cut-off fuse will prevent your dryer from heating. This fuse is a safety device that helps keep the dryer from overheating. Overheating is often caused by a clogged exhaust vent system in the dryer. Once the thermal cut-off fuse trips, it won’t reset. You’ll need to have a Sears Home Services Technician visit your home and replace the blown thermal cut-off fuse. The technician will check for the cause of the blown fuse and correct any additional problems so the dryer will heat and run properly after replacing the fuse.
Electronic Control Board Replacement
When your dryer won’t heat up, a defective control board could be causing the problem. The electronic control board monitors temperature through a sensor and sends electrical current to the heating element or gas burner to heat the dryer and maintain drying temperature inside the drum. When the dryer won’t heat, a relay on the electronic control board may have failed. To fix the problem, have a Sears Home Services Technician diagnose and repair the heating failure.
What to expect when you experience a GE dryer won't heat up issue
How is the won't heat up problem fixed?
Correcting most won't heat up problems usually involves replacing the heating element, thermal cut-off fuse or electronic control board. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.
Sears Home Services recommendations for a dryer that won't heat up
When the dryer won't heat up it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of dryer failures.
What to look out for with a dryer won't heat up diagnosis
Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your dryer problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.
When you need professional GE dryer repair to fix a problem, schedule an appointment with Sears Home Services.
Troubleshooting a New GE Dryer Not Heating
A new GE dryer not heating is an rare occurrence. If the dryer is a gas model, check to make sure that the installer turned on the gas supply. If you find the gas supply cut-off valve shut, open it and the dryer should heat up and dry properly.
If you have new GE electric dryer not heating, check the house circuit breakers for the dryer. The dryer will run if one circuit breaker is on but the 2nd circuit breaker for the heater circuit is tripped. Reset both dryer circuit breakers and the new dryer may begin heating.
Check the exhaust vent duct system for your dryer. Make sure the flexible vent hose behind the dryer is not kinked. A kinked exhaust vent hose can blow the thermal fuse in a gas dryer and it won’t heat.
Check for lint clogs in the exhaust vent duct system going to the outside of your home. Make sure the damper on the vent cover at the outside of your home opens properly so exhaust air exits the dryer vent properly. This will prevent the dryer from blowing a thermal cut-off fuse or thermal fuse which will prevent it from heating.
Check the settings on your dryer to make sure that you have the dryer set on a heated cycle. Look for deposits or debris on the moisture sensors of the dryer that would interfere with moisture detection and cause the dryer to stop heating and end the cycle before clothes is actually dry.
Following these troubleshooting steps can help you avoid an unnecessary service call on a new GE dryer not heating. If these tips don’t help, schedule dryer repair service and have a service technician diagnose and fix the dryer heating problem.
How to Fix a GE Dryer Not Getting Hot
For a gas GE dryer not getting hot, check the gas supply cut-off valve to make sure it is fully open. Open the cut-off valve if you find it shut. Restoring the gas supply to your dryer may fix the heating issue.
Another cause of a gas GE dryer not getting hot is weak gas valve coils. The gas dryer may initially heat when you first start it up but won’t continue to heat when the gas valve coils are weak. They can open the gas valve to ignite the burner when they’re cold but as they heat up, they’re unable to open the gas valve during the rest of the drying cycle. Have a service technician replace the gas valve coils if they’re weak.
Other causes of a gas GE dryer not getting hot include a failed flame sensor, blown thermal fuse, bad operating thermostat, faulty high-limit thermostat, blown thermal cut-off fuse, bad timer or faulty electronic control board. If you’re unable to find the cause of the problem and fix the GE gas dryer yourself, schedule a Sears Home Services technician to visit your home and fix the dryer.
If you have an electric GE dryer not getting hot, check the heating element and replace it if damaged. A bad operating thermostat, blown thermal cut-off fuse, faulty high-limit thermostat, bad timer or faulty electronic control boards are additional issues you may face with your electric GE dryer not getting hot. Schedule dryer repair service to have our technician fix your dryer if you’re unable to find and repair the cause of the heating problem yourself.
GE Dryer Won’t Heat Troubleshooting
When your GE dryer won’t heat and you have an electric model, check the house circuit breakers for the dryer. The dryer motor will run if only 120 volts of power is supplied to the dryer. If the 2nd leg of 120 volt power that supplies the heating circuit is missing, your GE dryer won’t heat. Reset both circuit breakers for your dryer and then see if it heats.
If you have a gas GE dryer that won’t heat, make sure that the gas supply cut-off valve for the dryer is open. Open that valve if you find it shut and your gas dryer should heat.
Additional problems that can prevent an electric GE dryer from heating include faulty thermostats or thermistors (temperature sensors), broken heating element, bad electronic control board or timer and a wiring failure.
Problems that can prevent a GE gas dryer from heating include bad gas valve coils, faulty flame sensor, bad thermostats or thermistors, electronic control board or timer failure and faulty or disconnected wiring in the heating circuit.
Having a service technician diagnose and repair your GE dryer that won’t heat is important. The technician will safely determine the cause of the heating failure and fix the problem. Schedule dryer repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to repair your dryer so it heats properly.
A GE dryer that won’t generate heat leads to prolonged, inefficient cycles. Faulty elements or thermostats are usual suspects. Don’t waste more time with lukewarm tumbling—contact dryer repair. Once the heat returns, clothes dry faster and you save energy.
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Excellent service from Daniel
Daniel provided excellent service and was very quick to perform the repair. I have nothing good to say about the warranty program and the LACK of customer service and the inability to contact a human being to talk.
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Excellent technician Very thorough and detail oriented Would be happy to have him work on appliances again He managed to find our ranch headquarters in the middle of the desert
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Dryer service
He was professional and polite. I didn't call back later that afternoon, although he replaced a thermostat the smart dry timer doesn't work as I was still having the same issue. The lady said she would email him and have him return. Never heard from anyone else.
Terry F, Oklahoma City, OK
Frequently Asked Questions
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Glossary Terms
A dryer drum is the main interior component of a clothes dryer where clothes are placed to be dried. It rotates during the drying cycle, allowing heated air to circulate through the clothes.
A dryer filter, commonly known as a lint filter, is a component of a clothes dryer that captures lint and other debris from clothes during the drying process, preventing them from clogging the dryer vent.
A dryer pedestal is a platform that elevates a dryer off the ground, making it easier to load and unload laundry while also providing additional storage space in some models.
A dryer rack is an accessory for clothes dryers that provides a stationary platform to dry items without tumbling, ideal for delicate or bulky items, or shoes that might be damaged by the usual drying cycle.