Combined washer/dryer units can develop various problems. Sometimes, the machine stops working completely; other times, one function works while the other breaks down or develops a problem.
For example, your washer/dryer might wash your clothes as normal. However, its dry cycle might have stopped working. At the end of this cycle, your clothes are wet and cold instead of dry.
This is a sign that your dryer isn't heating correctly. Why does this happen?
Lint Trap and Vent Blockages
Your dryer collects pieces of lint when it dries your clothes. This lint usually goes in a trap; however, it can sometimes stick to vents in the machine.
If your lint trap is full, then your machine might have stopped heating as a protective measure. A full lint trap can catch fire, so the system cuts off heat to keep things safe.
If you have lint blockages in other places, say on vents, then your system doesn't have good airflow. The machine might stop heating or heat might not dissipate effectively if its air doesn't have a clear run around your system.
If your trap is full, then cleaning it out often fixes a non-heating dryer function. Cleaning debris off vents might also solve the problem.
Thermostat Problems
The dryer part of your machine has a thermostat. This device controls heat temperatures in the unit.
If your thermostat has a fault, then your dryer might not heat up to its set temperature or it might not heat up at all. Sometimes, a faulty thermostat produces air that is too cool to dry clothes because it misreads temperatures. It thinks that it is producing hot air when it isn't.
Thermostats can also simply stop working. At best, your dryer will circulate cold air around your clothes, which won't dry them.
Heating Element and Fuse Problems
The heating element in your dryer creates the heat that dries your clothes. It needs a thermal fuse to work. The fuse starts up the element so that it creates hot air.
If you have a faulty or broken thermal fuse or element, then your dryer won't heat up. If your fuse is damaged or broken, then a working element can't do its job. If the element has a problem, then the fuse alone can't make the system work.
To find out why your dryer isn't heating up to the right temperature, contact a washer and dryer repair professional. They can take a look at your machine, diagnose the problem, and recommend a fix.
