Last updated on September 28th, 2023 at 09:15 am
Whirlpool Duet dryer not drying clothes is one of the common issues faced by the users. A lot of factors lead to such kind of malfunctioning. If you are a new user, you might be worrying that your dryer has stopped working.
But, it’s not the case always. Most of the time, the carelessness on the part of the user causes the dryer not to work properly. While it can be a minor mistake that you may not notice.
Therefore, in this article, I will guide you on how can you troubleshoot your Duet dryer if it is not drying clothes.
Previously, I have discussed some other dryer issues with you. Hopefully, my suggestions helped you fix your appliance. Let us know why your Whirlpool Duet dryer not drying clothes and how can you fix it.
Table of contents
Is Your Whirlpool Duet Dryer Heating?
First of all, you should confirm whether your dryer is heating or not. Usually, the dryer takes 10 minutes to reach the optimum temperature. It feels a little warm to touch from the outside.
However, too hot dryer indicates some problems. Moreover, the clothes are hot when you take them out. The vent of the dryer releases hot air if it is running well.
If you do not see all these signs, your dryer is not heating. Kindly read our troubleshooting guide, Whirlpool Duet dryer Will Not Heat. On the other hand, if your dryer is heating but not drying clothes, read this guide and try the easy and simple troubleshooting tricks, I am going to explain.
Common Reasons of Whirlpool Dryer not Drying
While working with different sorts of dryers and washers, I noticed that there are some very trivial reasons that lead to the dryer not heating issue. In the case of the Whirlpool dryer, the reasons may be;
- Overloading: You have put too many clothing items
- Clothes came too wet from the washer
- The lint filter of your dryer is too dirty
- The vent or duct is clogged
- The heating element, gas valve, or moisture sensor have failed
- Your washer is faulty and is not spinning clothes completely
Best Working Solutions For Whirlpool Dryer
I have mentioned some common reasons that can cause the dryer to leave clothes wet. Now, we will learn how to find, diagnose, troubleshoot, and finally fix the issues in your Duet dryer.
1. Avoid Overloading
You may be putting too many clothing items in your dryer, that’s why it is not drying clothes well. Do not put more than one wash load per cycle. Also, avoid filling your dryer to the top.
Because warm air cannot circulate through an overloaded chamber and your clothes remain wet. The company recommends filling 3/4th of your dryer. So, follow the guidelines to avoid such issues.
2. Check Your Washer
Another reason your dryer is not drying well is that the clothes are too wet or dripping. Dryers are designed to dry the damp clothes, not the dripping and soaking items.
The washer is the culprit as it is not spinning clothes properly. You should select a wash setting with a spin cycle. It is suggested to check your washer whether it is functioning properly or not.
Hence, your washer needs repair. You can check the dryer’s functioning by a simple trick; wring the clothes by hand before putting them in the dryer. If the dryer can dry them well, it means the washer is malfunctioning.
3. Clean the Lint Filter
A dirty lint filter can also be a reason for the issue under discussion. Lint is the little clumps of clothing fiber that break down and gather due to dryer heat.
This lint passed through the lint filter and then needs removal. You should clean the lint filter after or before every cycle. However, sometimes, the lint filter gets blocked due to excessive lint.
This obstructs the circulation of warm air in the dryer. So, the clothes remain wet even if the cycle is completed. Now, clean the lint screen and empty the filter.
Make a mixture of soap and warm water, soak a paper towel in it and clean the lint screen. Then, check the functioning of the appliance again.
4. Clean the Dryer Vents
Despite passing through the filter, lint can still escape into the dryer vents thus blocking airflow. If the ventilation is improper, the dryer can stop working mid-cycle or takes extra time for drying clothes.
Because it detects the threat, overheating can cause the dryer to catch fire. So, cleaning the dryer vent regularly is very essential;
- Unplug your Duet dryer from the wall power outlet and turn OFF the gas supply.
- Move the appliance away from the wall to access and detach the duct at the back.
- Use a narrow brush or dryer duct cleaning kit to clean the vents and the duct.
- Next, use a narrow vacuum cleaner to remove the lint completely.
- Finally, move back the dryer to its place, reattach the duct, and plug in the power supply.
The manufacturer recommends cleaning the vent and duct every 4-6 months. This will not only save you from dryer issues but also increase its life.
Moreover, the vent pipe of your dryer should be between 3-5 inches. Also, check the duct pipe, it should not be pinched, broken, or twisted. Otherwise, the airflow will block. Replace the duct if it is broken or pinched.
5. Check the Hardware
If these basic troubleshooting tricks do not help, your Duet dryer has a faulty hardware component. Here are three important hardware parts that can malfunction causing your dryer not to dry properly.
Heating Element
Generally, the malfunctioning heating element or the gas valve solenoid lead to drying issues. The heating element is a metal coil that is responsible to heat air in an electric dryer. Maybe the coil is broken or cannot receive proper current.
Gas Valve Solenoid
Likewise, in a gas dryer, the gas valve solenoid opens up to allow the gas to pass to the burner. If this valve is faulty, the dryer will not heat. Hence, you need to check one of these elements in your dryer depending on whether it is an electric or gas dryer.
Moisture Sensor
Another important part is the moisture sensor. It senses the level of moisture and then sends information to the control board to work accordingly.
If the moisture sensor starts malfunctioning, it will send the wrong information. Thus, the thermostat will stop heating the dryer even if the clothes are still wet.
The moisture sensor is in the form of two metal plates. They are usually located near the dryer door. Clean these metal plates to improve the dryer’s function.
However, if this component is defective, you should replace it. Call a technician or contact Whirlpool to seek help in diagnosing the real issue.
Test, repair, or replace the faulty component to solve the issue.
6. Use Appropriate Settings
It can be simply the issue of wrong settings. Whirlpool dryer offers both manual and automatic drying. Increase the temperature a little higher during manual dry.
Read the user manual carefully to understand the settings. You may not be applying the correct manual settings. Therefore, the cycle stops, and clothes remain wet. It is better to choose the automatic dryer settings.
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FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions/answers to assist you further in fixing your dryer.
How long does the Whirlpool Duet dryer take to heat up?
A Whirlpool dryer takes almost 10 minutes to heat up and reach its operating temperature. The gas supply should be constant and sufficient. Similarly, your dryer should not disconnect from the electric outlet. The time may vary a little depending on some factors.
How much power Whirlpool Duet dryer needs to work?
Whirlpool gas dryer can work with partial voltage; 120v electric outlet. But, Whirlpool electric dryer needs a full 240V supply. It can turn ON if plugged into a 120V electric outlet but will not heat up or dry clothes. A tripped circuit breaker can also cause a drying issue. Hence, you should ensure a proper power supply.
How can I reset my Whirlpool Duet dryer?
There is no dedicated reset button on a Whirlpool Duet dryer. It can be reset by pressing and holding the ‘Start’ button for a few seconds. The dryer should restart automatically, if not select the ‘Start a new cycle’ and press any button. A common way to reset all dryers is to unplug them from the wall power outlet, wait for 10 seconds and plug in again.
Final Thoughts
I hope, you have tried all the troubleshooting tips I mentioned in this guide. They must fix your dryer if it does not have a failed hardware component.
However, if nothing works then you must contact a professional technician or the company. But, before that try to check the suspected hardware components.
You can use a Multimeter to test the continuity of different dryer parts. This will help you identify the real culprit. So, you will save your money by repairing or replacing the faulty component.
Nevertheless, considering the expense, it is better to replace the dryer if repairing costs are equal to the price of a new dryer.
In the end, I want to say that tell me in the comment section which of the tricks proved best in fixing your Whirlpool Duet dryer not drying clothes.
