Dryer no heat-easy fix? Property manager charges a $50 "deductible" for any repairs. I'm assuming it's a bad thermostat or something "simple"?

It's a small "apartment" sized whirlpool unit.

DIY folks please chime in. Thanks!

I used this website to diagnose; then serached for the parts online to compare pricing.

Appliance Repair

Worked for my older washer, dryer, and stove.... until I could replace them.

I would disconnect the vent to see if that fixes it. If it works the vent is plugged.

Jim

A lot of time the problem is electrical, since that's the easiest to check, I'd check that first. Lost leg can give you spinny but no heaty.

quote:

Originally posted by Pal:
I would disconnect the vent to see if that fixes it. If it works the vent is plugged.

Yep. Could be caused by a lint build-up if it hasn't been cleaned for years, or something like a bird/squirrel/rat nest or a damaged exterior vent cap.

quote:

Originally posted by Pal:
I would disconnect the vent to see if that fixes it. If it works the vent is plugged.

Jim

I'll check it but we just had the entire vent tube replaced (there was a huge plug where the tube connected to the wall that was removed) not too long ago.

Easy fix yes,
According to half a dozen guys on you tube

mine had a heating element that got old and became an open circuit rather than a resistor.

tested with a multimeter.

Got a new one for $65 and was set.

Runs but no heat.
Fuse, thermostat, heating element.

Does your lease allow him to charge that deductible? It is his dryer, I assume.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Does your lease allow him to charge that deductible? It is his dryer, I assume.

I hear ya. Granted the guy we interface with is a douchebag, but he's not the owners. Yes, they bought the dryer. I can't fault the owners. They have been very, very good to us regarding rent increases.

Given that there is almost zero chance the cost to fix is less that $50, I'd let him deal with it so when there's a fire a day, week or year later he doesn't try to pin it on you.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
Given that there is almost zero chance the cost to fix is less that $50, I'd let him deal with it so when there's a fire a day, week or year later he doesn't try to pin it on you.

I concur.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
Given that there is almost zero chance the cost to fix is less that $50, I'd let him deal with it so when there's a fire a day, week or year later he doesn't try to pin it on you.

Excellent point.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
mine had a heating element that got old and became an open circuit rather than a resistor.

tested with a multimeter.

Got a new one for $65 and was set.

agree, heating element!!

What model is it?

I have fixed MANY electric dryers for total cost of $0. Often it is the "non resetable" Thermal fuse. They can be reset by just throwing them on the floor.

Total investment 15 minutes of work.

Definitely make sure the vent is clear.

IF you are comfortable with electric and a multimeter checks are pretty simple.

REMOVE PLUG!!
Heating element:
Remove heating element electrical connections. multimeter set to ohms measure across leads. Should be ~10 ohms. Open indicates a broken
coil.

On the vent pipe there are 2 components that could cause no heat, the thermal fuse and thermostat.

They look like this
https://partsdr.com/part/27976...6EAQYAyABEgLuaPD_BwE

They should measure close to 0 ohms when measured across the terminals. If there is not a short, from the picture in the above link the one on the left needs to be replaced, the one on the right is the "non resetable" one. (short good, open bad) Take off leads and remove screw. Throw the component metal side down onto a concrete surface. measure leads, It will reset to a short. May take a try or 2.

I've replaced the thermal fuse on dryers before when there was no heat but they still turned. Easy to test but you have to get access to them first. Depending on how much room is there to work around the dryer it can be fairly easy or a PIA.

For $50 I would probably I would just let them fix it.

If you do decide to try it yourself and run into any problems I would be happy to give you a hand. I'm not an appliance repair guy but have worked on mine before.