Sears Home Services
Sears Home Advantage
appointment lookup logoAppointment Lookup
Repair
Home Warranty
Tune-Up & Maintain
MembershipShop Parts
Resources
Repair
Home Warranty
Tune-Up & Maintain
MembershipShop Parts
Resource Center
Glossary
Help
sears home advantageSears Home Advantage
appointment lookup logoAppointment Lookup
  1. Repair
  2. Whirlpool
  3. Whirlpool Dryer
  4. Dryer not drying clothes properly

Whirlpool dryer not drying clothes properly

Common reasons your Whirlpool dryer is not drying clothes properly

The most common reasons your Whirlpool dryer is not drying clothes properly are a defective electronic control board, worn drum bearing or an inoperative user interface control.

  • 37%

    37% of the time it's the
    Electronic Control Board

  • 24%

    24% of the time it's the
    Drum Bearing

  • 13%

    13% of the time it's the
    User Interface Control

  • 26%

    26% of the time it's the
    Something else

  • Schedule your dryer repair now!

    We can help! Our service technicians have repaired over 150,000 Whirlpool dryers. We can fix yours no matter where you bought it.

    Call (646) 440-2692 or schedule online now.
    Text (240) 616-1772 to schedule now.

    Most common repairs needed to fix a Whirlpool dryer

    Electronic Control Board Replacement

    When your dryer is not drying clothes properly, a defective control board could be causing the problem. The electronic control board monitors a moisture sensor to detect when clothes are dry. If the dryer continues to run even though clothes are dry, electronic components on the circuit board may have failed. Also, if the dryer shut off even though clothes are still damp, the control board may not be interpreting signals from the moisture sensor properly. To fix the problem, schedule a Sears Home Services Technician to visit your home and examine the electronic control board. The technician will replace the control board if it’s defective.


    How to replace the electronic control board in an electric dryer

    Drum Bearing Replacement

    If your dryer is not drying clothes properly, a worn drum bearing be causing the problem. Friction caused by a worn drum bearing will cause the drive motor to overheat and trip the overload that protects the motor from damage. The overload will reset and the motor will restart when it cools down. Clothes won’t dry properly when the drive motor runs intermittently. A worn drum bearing can also slow the rotation of the drum and blower wheel so the clothes won’t tumble and dry as well. When your dryer stops spinning smoothly, have a Sears Home Services Technician examine the dryer and replace the drum bearing if it’s worn.

    User Interface Control Replacement

    If your dryer is not drying clothes properly, you can suspect an inoperative user interface control. The user interface control sends signals to the electronic control board indicating cycle and option selections from the control panel. When the user interface control isn’t working properly, the electronic control board will not accurately control dryer functions such as heating and cycle time. When the dryer isn’t drying clothes properly, schedule repair service and our Sears Home Services Technician will visit your home and fix the problem.

    What to expect when you experience a Whirlpool dryer not drying clothes properly issue

    How is the not drying clothes properly problem fixed?

    Correcting most not drying clothes properly problems usually involves replacing the electronic control board, drum bearing or user interface control. 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 is not drying clothes properly

    When the dryer is not drying clothes properly 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 not drying clothes properly 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.

    Why is my Whirlpool Gas Dryer Not Heating?

    There are a many things that could keep your Whirlpool dryer from heating up. You might have a problem with the gas supply to the dryer, or problems with the flame sensor, gas valve coils, high-limit thermostat, operating thermostat, thermal cut-off fuse, thermal fuse, igniter or timer. I know that sounds like a lot, but don’t worry, we’ll help you work through it with the troubleshooting tips in this video:

    Once you find the cause of the heating failure, decide whether you want to fix the problem yourself or have a Sears Home Services technician fix the dryer for you.

    Resolving a heating problem in your Whirlpool dryer with fix the appliance so it dries your clothes properly again.

    Why Won’t My Whirlpool Electric Dryer Heat?

    In this helpful DIY video, we show you how to troubleshoot your Whirlpool dryer that won’t heat, including checking the heating element, high-limit thermostat, operating thermostat, thermal cut-off fuse and timer. Learn about a few easy tests you can run to find the problem, including using a multimeter to make sure current is flowing between the parts. Once you know what the issue is, you can fix the issue yourself or have our Sears Home Services technician fix the problem for you.

    Check the Power Supply

    The first step is to check to see if the dryer is getting the correct amount of power. You may think the dryer is getting enough power if the motor runs, but the heating element needs 240 volts of electricity to heat. The motor will run even if the dryer is only getting 120 volts of power.

    Check your power cord to make sure it’s not damaged. Then, reset your house circuit breaker to make sure it’s not tripped. Set your dryer to a timed dry, high-heat cycle and see if it heats up after resetting the breakers.

    If it’s still not heating, you’ll need to check the components on the control circuit. Checking continuity with a multimeter will allow you to test them all at once.

    First, unplug the dryer. For safety, always disconnect power before checking continuity. Remove the back panel from the dryer, then remove the back of the control panel. Unplug the large red wire from terminal "A" on the timer. Set the multimeter to read ohms of resistance.

    Measure resistance between the large red wire on the timer and the heating element terminal where the large red wire is connected. If you measure near 15 ohms of resistance through this circuit, then you know that the heating element, high-limit thermostat, operating thermostat and thermal cut-off fuse are all okay. You can skip ahead to learn how to check out your timer in the video.

    clothes-dryer-heating-element-image

    Check the Dryer Heating Element

    If you measured no electrical continuity through the circuit described, then check the heating element. Place your meter leads on the heating element terminals. You should measure near 15 ohms of resistance through the heating element.

    If you measured no continuity, then the heating element is broken. This video will show you how to replace it:

    If you measured near 15 ohms of resistance, then the heating element is good. Continue with the troubleshooting tips in the video to find the cause of your Whirlpool dryer not heating and not drying clothes properly.

    What our customers say about us

    With more than 1.3 Million 5 Star Reviews, you don't have to take our word for it

    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.


    Tammy M, Hilton, NY

    Satisfied customer

    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


    Rose W, Las Cruces, NM

    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

    Repair Dryer Resources

    Title image for blog article "The Ultimate Guide to Ventless Dryers -- Pros and Cons".
    6 min readFeb. 07

    Learn how a ventless dryer works and the ins and outs of this appliance to determine whether a ventless dryer is right for your home.

    Fixing dryer problems
    10 min readFeb. 04

    If your dryer refuses to start, consider exploring common reasons why it might not be kicking into gear before calling in the pros.

    Image of homeowner needing to decipher Samsung Dryer Error codes.
    5 min readJan. 29

    Find the most common Samsung clothes dryer error codes and their solutions. Get professional help from Sears Home Services.

    Top 5 Dryer Problems: Troubleshooting and Tips
    8 min readJan. 29

    Unlock the secrets to resolving your most frustrating dryer dilemmas with expert insights and tips.

    Glossary Terms

    Natural gas is a fossil fuel used primarily for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It's a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting mainly of methane, but it also contains smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and sometimes sulfur compounds.

    A gas dryer is a laundry appliance that uses natural gas or propane to generate heat to dry clothes.

    A dual ice maker is a feature in some refrigerators that includes two separate ice makers: one in the fridge compartment and another in the freezer section. This setup doubles the appliance's ice-making capacity.

    A dual inverter air conditioner incorporates advanced inverter technology with two rotary compressors, providing ultra-efficient cooling with minimal noise and energy consumption. This innovation offers a significant leap in air conditioning technology, providing precise temperature control and longer-lasting performance.

    Additional possible Whirlpool dryer symptoms you may experience

    These dryer brands may also experience not drying clothes properly