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Today, we shall take you through some easy steps on how you can fix your dryer if it is not fully drying your clothes.
We are going to specifically look at all the potential causes of the problem and the recommended repair for each root cause individually..
Let us get started…
Gas dryer not drying clothes completely – how to troubleshoot your gas dryer
We shall begin with the basic fixes…
Clean the vent/hose outlet thoroughly (and the lint trap)
Start by cleaning out the whole vent/hose outlet –and the lint trap-thoroughly.
I recommend so because 99% of the time, it is an airflow issue due to plugging at the lint screen (you should clean it after each load), in the ducts (within the dryer), in the ducts(from the rear of your appliance to the exit) or in the outside air vent.
In addition, you might want to check if there are any kinks along the exhaust system, as it can also inhibit airflow.
Quick tip: Pros prefer using compressed air nozzles(on long flexible wands-and with flails- if necessary) for the job- it’s a great way to not just loosen accumulated lint but also blast it outside
Check your dryer settings
Now, some models of gas dryers have an air fluff setting-This setting is normally used to freshen clothes.
To be clear, when you set the dryer to this setting, it simply tumbles your clothes while blowing air at room temperature(to the drum).
Consequently, as there is no heat produced, your clothes won’t dry fully.
Therefore, make sure that your dryer is not set to air fluff– be sure to change to a normal drying program if set to air fluff.
Check the size of load in your dryer
You also want to double-check that you have not overloaded your dryer.
You see, overloading makes it hard for the dryer to properly tumble your clothes so your dryer can leave you a bunch of wet clothes.
For that reason, when loading your dryer, the maximum you should load it is up to ⅔(of the drum).
Next, make sure that your dryer isn’t underloaded.
That’s because under-loading also makes it impossible for the dryer to dry your clothes 100%, especially if your dryer is on sensor dry.
Allow me to explain this further: when you put too few clothes, there can be dampness sensing problems and the sensor can signal the control board to turn off the drying process prematurely.
So, how do you solve this?
Well, you can either
- Dry your clothes using the time-dry option OR
- Add some more clothes to your drum.
Check your moisture sensor
Sometimes the moisture sensor can itself be coated with residue, making it malfunction. It can also go out..
That being so, it’s worth to try cleaning it(Use some rubbing alcohol and moist cloth to wipe the sensor clean).
And if that does not work, consider replacing it..
ALSO READ: Samsung dryer moisture sensor test and Samsung moisture sensor dryer troubleshooting
Gas dryer not drying clothes – more suggested fixes
Check the state of your blower wheel
The blower wheel circulates the heated air into the dryer drum and then out the exhaust.
Subsequently, if there are problems with this wheel, your dryer won’t dry your clothes.
Recommended repair:
Depending on your model, locate the blower wheel housing(see your dryer’s manual).
Next, open it up to access the blower wheel.
Now, if there is any lint, clean it up.
Besides, you need to make sure that the connection between the motor and the blower wheel is working.
That’s because the motor controls the spinning of the wheel.
How to test
To test this, simply spin the blower wheel- This should start the motor and your drum should also start to spin.
If this is the case, you can move on to the next troubleshooting step.
On the other hand, if the motor does not start, then, the connection between your blower wheel and the motor might be damaged and it is important to try and repair it.
Test your cycling thermostat
With time, the cycling thermostat may also get faulty.
Just know that this can make it near impossible for the part to correctly detect the internal temp of the dryer, which can lead to your dryer not drying your clothes as expected.
So, how do you test this thermostat?
Well, once you find your thermostat on your dryer’s blower housing, follow these steps to test it (and get a replacement, depending on the results).
Test your igniter
The igniter is responsible for lighting the gas.
If the gas igniter is damaged, it could result in your gas dryer being unable to ignite the gas, meaning that your dryer’s heating chamber won’t produce the needed heat.
To test the igniter, follow these steps:
- Open your dryer’s front panel and locate the igniter. It is located inside the burning house and looks like the one below:
- Remove it. And be careful while handling it since it is very fragile.
- Using a multimeter, test the igniter for continuity. If it lacks continuity, it is damaged and requires to be replaced. We recommend getting this universal gas repair kit. It won’t give you any headaches to install and it often works like a charm.
Test your radiant flame sensor
The flame sensor is located on the side of the burner assembly and it’s role is to detect the temps inside the burner assembly(It then regulates the opening and closing of the gas valves).
The thing is when this sensor is faulty, the igniter will work but the gas valve won’t open hence no heat will be emitted.
How to test it
To test this sensor, use your multimeter and test for continuity.
Needless to say, if it lacks continuity, it is probably damaged and you will need to swap it out.
If that is so, we recommend you get the universal gas repair kit as it has everything else you need to replace alongside it(ignitor, gas coils, and the flame sensor)
Gas dryer not drying clothes -Final words
The above troubleshooting steps could help you fix your gas dryer not drying clothes issue.
Just to remind you, the first thing you should do is clean the entire exhaust system and the lint filter.
