My tumble dryer is not heating up!

If your tumble dryer is not heating up, but the drum is spinning normally, you might be anticipating a hefty repair bill or want to use your appliance cover service contract to arrange a repair.

However, this might not be necessary – you might be able to get your dryer heating up again with a simple, two-minute fix. Make sure you unplug the appliance before you start trying to repair it!

Reset Your Tumble Dryer’s Thermal Overload Cut Out

In many cases, if your dryer is not heating, it’s because the heater fuse has tripped or the thermal overload has cut out. These appliances frequently have mechanisms to prevent them from overheating and catching fire. You can reset these mechanisms yourself simply by pressing a button.

Some clothes dryers, particularly older models, have a red reset button on their back panel. In newer models, this button may be inside the casing underneath the back panel, and you will have to unscrew and remove this to access this reset button.

Once you’ve found the button, press it.If it clicks, then the thermal overload cutout had tripped and has now been reset.

Some dryers do not have this reset switch and have a “once-only” thermal cut-out, which must be reset by an appliance engineer. A professional will be able to reset your appliance in less than an hour, and if you have an extended tumble dryer warranty, this might not cost you a penny!

Preventing Tumble Dryer Heating Failures

Caring for your tumble dryer will extend its lifespan for many years. If your dryer won’t heat it may be because you have been unknowingly mistreating your tumble dryer since you first bought it!

Do not open your tumble dryer door while it is still in operation, even if it is in the cool-down cycle at the end of drying. Interrupting the appliance will cause the fan to stop circulating while the heating mechanism is still hot, which increases the likelihood of it burning out and can cause the thermostat to fail.
Clean out the door filter regularly to ensure air can flow through the dryer with ease. The lint filter should be cleaned out every couple of washes.
Clean the condensate box at the bottom of the boiler occasionally. This box can become clogged up with lint, fluff and other debris. You will need to run the box under a tap to dislodge these blockages.
Do not allow the water box in a condenser dryer to become full.
Don’t block your cupboards with an appliance as big as a tumble dryer. Instead, place it anywhere in the house where there’s enough free space. To dry your clothes efficiently and trouble-free, ensure that air can travel freely around the appliance. Allow 15-20 mm between the tumble dryer’s sides and the room’s walls/furniture next to it. And if you have a room dedicated for laundry, ensure it’s large enough – at least 10-12 m2 – to house your appliance comfortably.
Before installation, check the manufacturer’s manual for any specific instructions. If you do the fitting the wrong way, you can obstruct the tumble dryer’s heating function and void the warranty.
Refrain from using the tumble dryer when the room’s temperature doesn’t fall in the 5°C – 35°C range. Most tumble dryers can work below 5°C, but won’t heat up at the required level to dry your clothes.
Load the tumble dryer with care. Pack in too many clothes, sheets, or towels, and you’ll limit the appliance’s efficiency. Plus, expect more wrinkles, more lint, extended drying time, and a bill in the hundreds if the motor overheats or burnout. Read the user manual on how to load your appliance correctly.

Common Error Codes For Tumble Dryers That Won’t Heat Up

When your tumble dryer has troubles getting hot, it often signals through an error that usually occurs on the LED display. Sometimes, you can hear a beep code on the appliance’s front panel to help you diagnose it.

“For homeowners, the error/fault codes are confusing numbers or letters depending on the appliance brand. Often, those codes seem like a cipher, making users guess what the symbols mean” commented Harry H.

“To deal with the situation once and for all, look at your tumble dryer display and compare the symbols with the information in the table below. Or, call an experienced appliance engineer to help you out.”

A family is enjoying complete peace of mind in the kitchen

Appliance Insurance

Protect your essential Kitchen appliances from unexpected breakdowns. We provide coverage for numerous white goods, ensuring your peace of mind.

Get Appliance Insurance

Brand Likely Error Codes Why is your Tumble Dryer Not Getting Hot? Remedy / Precaution tips

Brand	Likely Error Codes	Why is your tumble dryer not getting hot?	Remedy / Precaution tips
Beko	1	Open door detected while the machine is running	DIY: Refrain from checking how your clothes are drying up before the appliance finishes its cycle. Opening the dryer’s door in the first 10 minutes results in heat loss.
	9–11	Temperature sensor detects a short/open circuit or it doesn’t work properly at various temperatures	Contact a tumble dryer engineer to check the NTC temperature sensor for an open or short circuit and its resistance to various temperatures.
	13	Blocked filter detected	DIY: Clean the lint filter every time after each cycle. Take care of the heat exchanger/condenser at least once a month or per 30 drying cycles.
	14	Overheating issue causing the safety to trip (you should hear a click)	DIY: Keep the tumble dryer filter and the door channel clean. Reset the mechanism yourself.
Indesit / Hotpoint / Whirlpool	F03	Temperature sensing failure	A tumble dryer engineer should check your tumble dryer sensors.
	F05	Blocked waste or pump problem	DIY: Check for visible obstructions in the pump filter, wastewater hose, or plumbing.
	F07	Electronic circuit board failure	DIY: Reset the machine and if that doesn’t work, turn off the appliance and call a tumble dryer engineer.
	F08	Heater fault	DIY: Reset the dyer and check again. If it doesn’t help, then turn off the appliance and call a tumble dryer engineer to check the wiring to and continuity of the heating element.
	F13	Dryer temperature sensor (thermistor) fault	DIY: Reset the machine. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, turn off the appliance and call a tumble dryer engineer. It usually happens due to a defective thermistor, which should be replaced.
White Knight	–	Heating element fault	DIY: Do a continuity test with a multimeter or ask a professional for help.
	–	Rear or forward thermostat failure, thermostat system cut out	DIY: Reset the machine. If it doesn’t help, use a multimeter and test the thermostat for continuity (reading of either zero or infinity are OK). Different results call for thermostat replacement.
	–	Program timer fault	DIY: Reset the timer. Damaged timers need to be replaced.
	–	Possible relay on PCB or faulty circuit board	Rely on a tumble dryer engineer – PCB (circuit board) may be broken and need replacing.
Candy / Hoover	E5	Temperature sensor has detected an open or shorted circuit (5 flashes may appear, depending on the model)	Call a tumble dryer engineer to inspect for a wiring issue and the sensor resistance at various temperatures.
	E7	Poor airflow detected	DIY: Examine pipes and filters for obstructions; For the condenser tumble dryer models, clean the condenser unit.
	E8	Failing thermal fuse (drum turn but the heating element does not)	Confirm with a multimeter test if you need to replace the thermal fuse.
Zanussi	E60	Tumble dryer does not heat up	DIY: Consider the location of your appliance and its maintenance.
Creda	3	Temperature sensor has detected an open or shorted circuit	Contact a tumble dryer engineer to inspect the wiring of the temperature sensor and the thermistor.
	7	Heater relay stuck	A tumble dryer engineer should inspect the electronic control board and the wiring.
	8	The heater relay can’t be activated	Get in touch with a tumble dryer engineer to check for faulty wiring or electronic control board.
	13	Faulty tumble dryer fan	Call a tumble dryer engineer to check the dryer temperature sensor, wiring, or the dryer’s fan motor.
	14	Temperature sensor detects a short or open circuit or it doesn’t work properly at various temperatures	A tumble dryer engineer has to inspect the wiring and the dryer’s heater element.
Bosch	E01 & E02	Blocked fluff/lint filter	DIY: Brush the fluff/lint filter after each drying cycle.
	E03	Blocked condensation drainage hose	DIY: Remove the drain hose carefully; then clean it, and see if the siphon spigot needs a wash too.
	E06	Faulty heating circuit	DIY: Reset the machine. If it’s still faulty, then turn off the appliance and call a tumble dryer engineer.
	E08, E09, E24, E25, E28, E90	Electronic faults	Check with a tumble dryer engineer: Most often, the control board in your tumble dryer need to be reprogrammed/replaced.

In other cases, these faults are hard to detect when your tumble dryer doesn’t have an LCD display. The only way to find out the root of the issue is to have a City & Guilds-certified engineer examine your appliance.

We Can Help!

Don’t forget, we offer cover for a range of household appliances to ensure you have peace of mind should yours ever suffer a breakdown. Please contact us via our website or on 0345 3192 247 to find out more. Or call us today for urgent assistance. Our technical teams will run through some simple diagnostics to see if it can be fixed over the phone, and if not, they’ll send a manufacturer engineer where possible to take a look.

Don’t attempt to repair the appliance yourself unless you’re really confident in what you’re doing. A number of things could go wrong, including risks of jamming, electrocution, burns, scalds, cuts, and much more. We’ve got a number of highly skilled engineers up and down the country, so you’ll never be far from help when you need it most.

A 24|7 home rescue engineer is checking a boiler

Boiler Insurance You Can Trust

Get boiler breakdown and landlord cover including free annual boiler service.

Choose your policy type

Get Boiler Cover Get Landlord Cover

Also, a number of Whirpool tumble dryers are at risk of being fire hazards. If you own a Whirlpool tumble dryer, it is advisable to contact them immediately to see if yours is affected.

Need more info? Read about what to do if a tumble dryer is not spinning or if it is not collecting water.

24|7 Home Rescue accepts no liability for any injuries or damages you sustain following the advice on this website. If in doubt, seek professional assistance.

Posted by: Martin Astley 24 February 2015