Maytag Dryer Not Heating? How to Fix It

If your Maytag dryer is not heating, then this guide should be able to help you find the cause and fix it.

We have listed all of the main components within your dryer that cause the problem, along with step-by-step instructions for how to check each component.

This guide covers most models of Maytag dryers, including:

66CB

67C

70C

741C

742C

7MMEP0080WW0

7MMEP0080WW1

MED5600TQ1

MED5620TQ0

MED5620TQ1

MED5621TQ0

MED5630TQ0

MED5630TQ1

MED5640TQ1

MED5700TQ0

MED5700TQ1

MED5720TQ0

MED5800TW0

MED5805TW0

MED5830TW0

Check the Thermal Fuse

The best place to start with your Maytag dryer that won’t heat is to check the thermal fuse. The thermal fuse makes sure that your dryer doesn’t keep running when it overheats, but sometimes it can become faulty and will stop your dryer from working when it shouldn’t.

Here’s how to check the thermal fuse:

1. Turn the power off to the dryer.
2. Remove the top and side panels so you can access the thermal fuse.
3. Locate the thermal fuse – it will be on the blower housing or by the heat source of the dryer (the burner for gas dryers and the heating element for electric dryers).
4. Test the thermal fuse with a multimeter.
5. When testing the thermal fuse, it should be closed for continuity – which means it should have a continuous electrical path through it. If the thermal fuse has no continuity, it needs to be replaced.
6. If you replace the fuse, make sure that the exhaust vent is not blocked, as this will likely cause it to happen again. Once you’ve replaced the fuse, you can then turn it on to check if the problem has been solved, and if not, move on to checking the next component.

Check the Gas Valve Solenoid and Igniter

Gas-powered dryers have a gas valve solenoid and an igniter that help to ignite the gas (if your dryer is electric, then skip to checking the heating element). When either of these parts becomes faulty, the dryer won’t be able to heat.

To check these components:

1. The way to check if the gas valve solenoid is faulty is to test if the igniter is working. You can check the igniter by seeing if the igniter glows and ignites the gas or if it just goes out without igniting the gas.
2. When the igniter does not glow at all, you need to test the igniter for continuity with a multimeter. If the test shows no continuity, it will need to be replaced.
3. When the gas does not ignite but the igniter does glow, this means that the gas valve coils are faulty, and the whole set of them needs to be replaced.
4. If both components are working fine, then move on to checking the next component, and if you do replace either component, then you’ll need to check if the problem has been solved.

Test the Flame Sensor

Gas dryers also have a flame sensor that detects how hot the flame is; when it stops working, your dryer won’t be able to heat.

Here’s how to check the flame sensor:

1. Locate the flame sensor (consult your dryer’s manual if necessary).
2. Check the flame sensor for continuity with a multimeter. When you check the sensor, make sure that it is at room temperature.
3. If the multimeter test shows that the sensor has continuity, it is working fine, and you can move on to checking the next component. However, if it doesn’t have continuity, it will need to be replaced.

Test the Heating Element

Electric dryers have a heating element that heats the air before it enters into the dryer drum. If the element is faulty, your dryer won’t work correctly.

To check the heating element:

1. Make sure the power is switched off to the dryer.
2. Remove the top and side panels, and locate the heating element (consult your dryer’s manual if required).
3. Test the heating element with a multimeter to ensure it has continuity. If it doesn’t have continuity, it will need to be replaced.

Check the Incoming Power

If you still haven’t found the cause of your Maytag dryer not heating, the next thing to check is if there is a problem with the incoming power. Your dryer requires two legs of 120 volts AC to operate (250 volts in total), and when one of the fuses trips, your dryer might turn on but not heat.

Here’s how to check if the incoming power is causing the dryer to not work:

1. Open your household fuse box, and locate the fuses that power the dryer.
2. Test each fuse with a multimeter to ensure it has the correct voltage, and if not, you’ll need to replace it. If the fuses are fine, you can move on to checking the next component.

Test the High-Limit Thermostat

The next component to check is the high-limit thermostat. If your dryer overheats, the high-limit thermostat will make your dryer turn off. If it stops working correctly, it might tell the control board to turn the dryer off incorrectly.

Here’s how to check the high-limit thermostat:

1. Ensure that the power is still switched off.
2. Locate the thermostat (check your manual if necessary).
3. Use your multimeter to test the thermostat for continuity.
4. If it has continuity, it is working fine, and you can move on to checking the next component, and if not, it needs to be replaced.

Test the Cycling Thermostat

Your dryer should have another thermostat called a cycling thermostat, which works to regulate the air temperature in your dryer. If it stops working correctly, your dryer can’t heat up correctly.

To check the cycling thermostat, you need to:

1. Ensure that the power is still switched off.
2. Locate the cycling thermostat (consult your manual if necessary).
3. Use the multimeter to see if the thermostat has continuity.
4. If it lacks continuity, it needs to be replaced, and if it does have continuity, you can move on to checking the timer.

Check the Timer

Sometimes the timer in the dryer can become faulty, and this stops the dryer from heating correctly.

To check the timer, you need to:

1. Ensure the power to the dryer is still switched off.
2. Locate the timer (consult your manual if necessary).
3. Test the timer for continuity with your multimeter.
4. If it has continuity, it is working fine, and you can move on to the next component, and if not, it needs to be replaced.

Replace the Main Control Board

Your last option to fix a Maytag dryer if it isn’t heating is to replace the control board. This is because they are very difficult to test. The control board very rarely breaks down, but it can happen. Before you replace the control board, you need to consider if it is better to just buy a new dryer.