GE Dryer No Heat or Not Drying Clothes

Step 1 – Check the thermal fuse 

When fixing a GE dryer that isn’t heating, the best place to start is to check the thermal fuse. The thermal fuse turns your dryer off when it overheats. However, sometimes it can do this for no reason, which stops your dryer from heating at all.

This is how you check the thermal fuse:

1. Unplug your dryer and pull it away from the wall.
2. Remove the panels so you can access the internal components. If you’re not sure how to do this, consult your user manual.
3. Locate the thermal fuse. It’s usually attached to the blower housing.
4. Test the thermal fuse with a multimeter to ensure it has continuity.
5. If the fuse passes the test, proceed to the next step. If it fails the test, replace it.
6. If you replace the fuse, plug your dryer in and turn it on to check that it now heats properly. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step. Note: To stop the new fuse from blowing in the future make sure you clean out the exhaust vent regularly.

Step 2 – Check the power sources

The next step is to check the incoming power sources. Your GE dryer requires two legs of 120 volts AC (a total of 240 volts) to work. If the circuit breaker or fuses that provide power to your dryer trip, the incoming power source to your dryer can become infringed or cut off completely, which prevents the dryer from heating.

Here’s how to check the incoming power sources to ensure they’re working correctly:

1. Inspect your circuit breakers to ensure the one responsible for sending power to the dryer hasn’t tripped. If it has, turn it back on.
2. Use a multimeter to test the voltage coming from the circuit breaker and fuses. If it’s not high enough the power source that isn’t working properly will need to be repaired or replaced. If you determine that the power sources are fine, proceed to the next step.
3. Once the circuit breaker and fuses are working properly, run your dryer to check if the problem has been solved. If it hasn’t, proceed to the next step.

Step 3 – Check the gas valve solenoid

The next step is to check the gas valve solenoid. If your dryer is electric, proceed directly to step 6. Your gas-powered dryer has two or more solenoid coils that open to supply gas to the burner. When they don’t correctly open, your GE dryer won’t heat up.

To check that the gas valve solenoid is working, you need to:

1. Remove the panels so you can access the internal components. Find the gas valve solenoid.
2. You shouldn’t turn the power to your dryer off because you’ll need power for the test. But you do need to pull it away from the wall.
3. Attempt to ignite the gas and observe the igniter. Check if it glows and ignites the gas or if it glows and doesn’t ignite the gas. If it doesn’t ignite the gas, the solenoid is faulty and will need to be replaced. If the gas does ignite, the solenoid is working and you can proceed to the next step.
4. If you replace the solenoid, run your dryer to check if the problem has been solved. If it hasn’t, proceed to the next step.

Step 4 – Make sure the igniter works

The next step is to check the igniter. The igniter is responsible for igniting the gas when you turn your dryer on. If the igniter fails, your dryer won’t heat up.

Here’s how to make sure the igniter is working:

1. Unplug your dryer and turn off the gas.Then pull the dryer away from the wall.
2. Remove the panels so you can access the internal components.
3. Locate the igniter and use a multimeter to test whether it has continuity.
4. If the igniter passes the test, proceed to the next step. If it fails the test, replace it.
5. If you replace the igniter, run your dryer to check that it now heats properly. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

Step 5 – Make sure the flame sensor works

The purpose of the flame sensor is to monitor the heat coming from the flame to ensure your dryer is at the correct temperature. If it stops working your dryer won’t heat up.

Here’s how to make sure the flame sensor is working:

1. Unplug your dryer and turn off the gas.Then pull the dryer away from the wall.
2. Remove the panels so you can access the internal components.
3. Locate the flame sensor and use a multimeter to test whether it has continuity.
4. If the sensor passes the test, proceed to the next step. If it fails the test, replace it.
5. If you replace the flame sensor, run your dryer to check that it now heats properly. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

Step 6 – Make sure the heating element works

The next step is to test the heating element. The heating element is how your dryer heats the air that is then distributed throughout the dryer. If the heating element stops working your dryer will too.

Here’s how to make sure the heating element is working:

1. Unplug your dryer and pull it away from the wall.
2. Remove the panels so you can access the internal components.
3. Locate the heating element and use a multimeter to test whether it has continuity.
4. If the heating element passes the test, proceed to the next step. If it fails the test, replace it.
5. If you replace the heating element, run your dryer to check that it now heats properly. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

Step 7 – Make sure the high-limit thermostat is working

The purpose of the high-limit thermostat is to monitor the temperature in your dryer and send a signal to the control board to turn the dryer off if it overheats. If the thermostat stops recording accurate temperatures or stops working completely, your dryer won’t be able to heat up.

Here’s how to make sure the high limit thermostat is working:

1. Unplug your dryer and pull it away from the wall.
2. Remove the panels so you can access the internal components.
3. Locate the high-limit thermostat and use a multimeter to test whether it has continuity.
4. If the high-limit thermostat passes the test, proceed to the next step. If it fails the test, replace it.
5. If you replace the high-limit thermostat, run your dryer to check that it now heats properly. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

Step 8 – Make sure the cycling thermostat is working

The other thermostat in your dryer is called a cycling thermostat. This thermostat monitors the temperature in your dryer during each cycle and tells the main control board to turn the heat on or off. This regulates the air temperature during each cycle. When the cycling thermostat stops working, your dryer will either not heat to the right temperature or not heat at all.

Here’s how to make sure the cycling thermostat is working:

1. Unplug your dryer and pull it away from the wall.
2. Remove the panels so you can access the internal components.
3. Locate the cycling thermostat and use a multimeter to test whether it has continuity.
4. If the thermostat passes the test, proceed to the next step. If it fails the test, replace it.
5. If you replace the cycling thermostat, run your dryer to check that it now heats properly. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

Step 9 – Make sure the timer is working

The next step is to check that your dryer’s timer is working. The timer doesn’t become defective very often, but if all of the other components covered in this guide work properly, you should now test the timer.

Here’s how to make sure the timer is working:

1. Unplug your dryer and pull it away from the wall.
2. Remove the panels so you can access the internal components.
3. Locate the timer and use a multimeter to test whether it has continuity.
4. If the timer passes the test, proceed to the next step. If it fails the test, replace it.
5. If you replace the timer, run your dryer to check that it now heats properly. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

Step 10 – Replace the main control board

The final option is to consider replacing the main control board. They don’t become faulty very often but if you’ve ruled out every other possible cause, replacing it is your last option to get your dryer heating properly again. Alternatively, you might decide to just purchase a new dryer instead.