American Whirlpool dryers are considered reliable and economical. However, this technique sometimes breaks down. It’s unpleasant when you washed a lot of laundry and loaded it into the car, and when you came an hour later you saw that the laundry was still wet. But don’t panic – most dryer breakdowns can be fixed.
In the article, we tell what are, and how to fix problems in Whirlpool brand electric and gas dryers.
Consider 4 reasons why the dryer does not heat up and does not dry clothes.
In the dryer, the heating element is a key part – it heats the air with which the clothes are dried. In different models of machines, the heating element is located in different places. Most often, the heating element is fixed behind the drum into which the laundry is laid.
The heating element can burn out from frequent power surges in the network, or from the long life of the dryer. When it fails, the Whirlpool dryer will stop heating up.
There are two ways to determine if the heating element has burned out: visually, or using instruments. The burnt part may look blackened, with a slight dark coating and a specific smell, reminiscent of the smell of burning insulation.
It is also worth inspecting the part for external damage and the integrity of the wires and contacts.
If the heater looks normal, then it should be checked for continuity with a multimeter. The instructions for the dryer indicate the power of the heating element for this model of the machine. It can be used to calculate resistance. Then turn off the dryer and disconnect the heating element from the contacts of the machine, connecting the terminals of the multimeter to the connectors.
If the device shows “0”, then the heating element has burned out – the internal heating coil is damaged and must be replaced. With a value of “1”, the heating element must also be replaced. If the value of the tester corresponds to the calculated one, then everything is in order with the heating element and the reason is something else.
An experienced craftsman will also check the breakdown on the body of the element itself. To do this, one output is connected to the heater, the other to its body and they “ring” – if the buzzer squeaks, then the heater is faulty and needs to be changed.
Fuses are installed on all models of dryers without exception. This is required by standard safety measures to prevent fires. The thermal fuse is designed to automatically turn off the heating element in case its heating exceeds normal values. By burning, the fuse helps to protect the dryer and the house from fire.
In order to understand whether the fuse is working or not, you need to check it with a multimeter. If the test showed that the part burned out, then it should be replaced
If the newly installed fuse blows again after a short period of time, then there is a problem in the dryer that leads to this situation. It must be detected and corrected, otherwise the fuse will blow constantly.
A cyclic thermostat is required to maintain the set temperature inside the fan housing. It works in cycles, turning the heater on and off so that the laundry is dried at the right temperature.
If the thermostat does not work properly, the heating element may overheat and fail. In addition, inside the drum of the machine, the temperature will also rise to dangerous levels and lead to damage to the laundry.
In order to check the health of the thermostat, it should be borne in mind that this part has closed contacts that will not open until the temperature rises. And yet, to check the thermostat, you can conduct the following test:
To replace a part, use a simple algorithm of actions:
After repair, be sure to check the performance of the machine by turning it on.
If the dryer drum spins but the air inside is not heated, there may be a problem with the input power. Check the mains voltage, if it is low, the dryer will not work normally. If everything is OK with the network, it is possible that one of the power supply fuses has blown and the machine cannot operate at full power.
Using a multimeter, you need to check the automatic fuses and switches to find the problem. If you do not know for sure how to work with electrical wiring, then it is better to entrust this work to a master who has a special permit. He will carry out all the necessary diagnostics and help fix the problem. The power supply unit can be replaced if it breaks down, however, such a repair will not be budgetary – this part usually costs at least several thousand rubles.
Whirlpool gas dryers have some of the most common failures. Although the design of gas units is somewhat different from electric ones, they can also be repaired if you know the cause of the problem.
During normal operation of an electric lighter, an electric current passes through it and it generates heat, with the help of which the gas inside the burner is ignited. The gas flame heats the air, which goes into the drum of the machine and dries the laundry. If the igniter burns out, it will not be able to ignite the flame and the dryer will not heat up.
If you suspect that the problem lies in the igniter, then using the instructions, find it in the car body and check it with a multimeter. If a part is defective, it will need to be replaced with a new one:
Check the operation of the dryer after repair.
In a gas dryer, a flame sensor ensures that the gas flame burns in the correct mode. When the flame sensor is faulty, the dryer will not heat the air and perform its intended purpose. The flame sensor is checked with a multimeter for continuity. If the device indicates that the sensor is defective, then it should be replaced.
To replace the sensor, follow the instructions:
If your Whirlpool tumble dryer does not heat up at all, or heats up intermittently, then the problem may be a gas valve problem.
It is not difficult to determine whether there is a breakdown of the solenoids of the gas valve, or it is not difficult: to do this, inspect the igniter, if it works, but the burner does not ignite, then one or more solenoids on the valve have broken.
To replace the gas valve, follow the simple instructions:
On gas dryers, as well as on electric ones, thermal fuses are installed that protect the car and house from fire. If the thermal fuse is blown, the Whirlpool dryer will not heat up and dry the clothes.
In order to replace a blown fuse, follow a simple algorithm of actions:
Check the machine for operation. To keep your dryer less likely to break down, clean your vents and hose frequently, and keep your home wiring in good working order. With proper care, your Whirlpool dryer will last for many years without any problems.
