GE Dryer Not Heating? How to Fix It

Is your GE dryer not heating? Then this article is for you. Simply go through each of the possible causes listed below, and you should be able to find the cause of the problem and fix it.

This guide covers most models of GE dryers, including:

CADE165RAL

CADG265RAL

CADG265RBL

CADG265RCL

DBLR333ET0AA

DBLR333ET0WW

DBXR300EG3WS

DHDSR46EG8WW

GHDX100EM0WW

GTDP180ED2WW

GTDP180ED3WW

GTDP200EM0WW

GTDP200EM1WW

GTDP200EM2WW

GTDP220EF0WW

GTDP220EF1WW

GTDP220EF2WW

GTDX200EM0WW

GTDX200EM1WW

GTDX200EM2WW

GTDX205EM1CC

Thermal Fuse

The first possible cause to check out is the thermal fuse. The thermal fuse protects the dryer from overheating. When it malfunctions, your dryer will not heat.

To check the thermal fuse:

1. Turn the dryer off.
2. Locate the thermal fuse. You will be able to find it on the blower housing or at the heat source on your dryer (check your manual if need be).
3. Once located, you’ll need to use a multimeter to check it for continuity.
4. If the test shows that the fuse has continuity, then it is working fine and not the cause of the problem. However, if the test shows no continuity, this means it has most likely overheated and blown, so will need to be replaced.
5. If you do replace the fuse, make sure that you also clean out the exhaust vent to stop the problem from happening again.

Incoming Power Problem

If your GE dryer is not heating, then it could be caused by a problem with your incoming power. Most GE electric dryers need two legs of 120 volts AC (240 volts in total) to operate correctly. Sometimes one of your household fuses or circuit breakers trips, and this will stop the dryer from operating correctly.

To test if this is the case:

1. Locate the fuse box in your house.
2. Check the fuses or circuit breakers to see if they have tripped. You can also use a multimeter to check the voltage. If you find a problem with the fuses or circuit breakers, they will need to be fixed.
3. Once fixed, turn your dryer back on and see if the problem has been fixed. If not, move on to checking the next component.

Gas Valve Solenoid

The next cause to investigate is a faulty gas valve solenoid. If your GE dryer is gas-powered, it will have two or more valve solenoid coils. The role of the solenoids is to open up and allow gas into the burner; if they become faulty, the dryer won’t heat.

To check them:

1. Make sure the dryer is still turned off.
2. Locate the gas valve solenoids.
3. To check if they are defective, you need to see if the igniter glows and then goes out without the gas igniting. If this is the case, this means the solenoid is faulty, and you need to replace the whole set of them.

Igniter

If the gas solenoids are working correctly, the next component to inspect is the igniter. When the igniter stops working, the gas won’t ignite, and the dryer won’t be able to heat.

To check if the igniter has burned out you need to:

1. Make sure the power is still turned off.
2. Locate the igniter and then use a multimeter to test it for continuity.
3. If the test shows no continuity, you need to replace the igniter. If it does have continuity, then it is working correctly.

Flame Sensor

Next up is the flame sensor. In gas dryers, the flame sensor’s role is to detect the heat that the flame creates. When it stops working, the dryer won’t heat.

To check it, you need to:

1. Make sure the power is still turned off.
2. Locate the flame sensor and then use a multimeter to test it for continuity at room temperature.
3. If the test shows no continuity, replace the flame sensor. If it does have continuity, then it is working correctly.

Heating Element

If the flame sensor passes the multimeter test, you should next test the heating element to see if it is faulty.

To do that:

1. Make sure the power is still turned off.
2. Find the heating element and then use a multimeter to test it for continuity.
3. If the test shows no continuity, you need to replace the heating element. If it does have continuity, then it is working correctly.

Heating Element Assembly

If the heating element is working correctly, then you should test the heating element assembly to make sure that it hasn’t burned out.

To do that:

1. Make sure the power is still turned off.
2. Locate the heating element.
3. Use the multimeter to test it for continuity.
4. If the test shows no continuity, it will have to be replaced. However, if it does have continuity, then it is working correctly, and you can move on to checking the next possible cause.

High-Limit Thermostat

The high-limit thermostat is responsible for monitoring the temperature within the dryer and will turn the dryer off when it overheats. If it is faulty, it will turn the dryer off even if it isn’t overheating. It’s not a common cause of dryers not heating, but it can happen sometimes.

To check the thermostat:

1. Ensure that the power is still turned off to the dryer.
2. Locate the high-limit thermostat (check your manual if necessary).
3. Use a multimeter to check the thermostat. If it has continuity, it is working correctly, and if not, it needs to be replaced.

Cycling Thermostat

Your dryer also has a “cycling thermostat” that works to turn the heat on and off so that the air in your dryer is regulated. When the cycling thermostat becomes defective, the dryer will not heat.

Here’s how to check it:

1. Ensure that the power is still turned off to the dryer.
2. Locate the cycling thermostat (check your manual if necessary).
3. Use a multimeter to check the cycling thermostat. If it has continuity, it is working correctly, and if not, it needs to be replaced.

Timer

The next component to check is the timer. The timer very rarely breaks down, but it can happen. Only check the timer after you have checked all of the other components listed in this article.

To check it:

1. Ensure that the power is still turned off to the dryer.
2. Find the timer in your dryer (check your manual if necessary).
3. Use a multimeter to check the timer. If it has continuity, it is working correctly, and if not, it needs to be replaced.

Replace the Main Control Board

If you still haven’t fixed your GE dryer, then your next option is to replace the main control board. The main control board doesn’t break down often, but it can happen. It is also very difficult to test. Your only option is to inspect it to see if any of the components have shorted out, and if you find any, replace it. Depending on how old your dryer is, it’s probably best to buy a new dryer.