How to Fix an Electric Dryer That Heats Outside but Not Inside

Dryer Maintenance should keep your machine working better, use less energy, and keep your home safe from a "dryer fire".

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Dryer lint brush
• Nut drivers
• Straight screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Shop Vac

1. Unplug the dryer from the electrical outlet. Detach the vent hose from the wall. Move the dryer out from the wall to an area large enough for you to turn the dryer over and disassemble for cleaning. Remove the filter screen.
2. Starting in the lint trap, run the brush around until you have removed all the lint you can find. Clean the brush off periodically until no more lint comes from the recess. In the vent hose duct, remove lint with brisk motions, freeing any stuck to the inside of the hose with moisture, until it looks lint free. Use an extension on the shop vac for crevices to help remove what you've loosened.
3. Remove the cabinet screws that hold the back panel on, or a side panel if necessary to access the heating element, where lint accumulates that can interfere with proper heating, and cause a fire. The drum support bearing may have to be disassembled to completely remove the back. Use the shop vac to suck the lint out of the heating element coils, and the brush to loosen surrounding mats of lint. Once the element is free of lint, vacuum the inside of the cabinet to get any stray clumps of lint.
   If you removed the drum support bearing, lubricate it before reassembling it, being careful not to contaminate any other surfaces with grease. Reassemble the cabinet, lint screen and duct and move back into place. Check the dryer operation, to make sure you have reassembled correctly. Service Manuals for most models can be obtained from an appliance parts dealer, or you can have your dryer serviced by a technician if you are not mechanical or physically capable. Removing the built up lint should be done once a year, or if you do a lot of laundry, twice a year.

Tips & Warnings

• ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE POWER FIRST!!
• Wash the lint screen in hot soapy water frequently if you use fabric softner sheets, since the buildup may stop moisture from passing through the screen. To check for buildup, hold the screen under the faucet to see if moisture rolls around or stands on the screen instead of passing through it. Switch to liquid softners to eliminate this problem.
• Wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal edges while working with cabinet panels.