Why is My Dryer Blowing Cold Air and How to Fix it!

Have you ever wondered why your dryer is blowing out cold air instead of warm, cozy heat? It can be really frustrating when you’re trying to dry your clothes, and all you get is a blast of chilly air. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many people face this issue with their dryers, and there are a few common reasons why it might be happening.

In this article, we’re going to explore why your dryer might be blowing cold air and what you can do to fix it. We’ll break down the possible causes in simple terms so that you can understand exactly what’s going on with your appliance. Whether it’s a simple fix you can do yourself or a sign that you need professional help, we’ve got you covered.

6 Common Reasons Why Your Dryer Might Be Blowing Cold Air

When your dryer starts blowing cold air instead of hot air, it can be frustrating! But don’t worry, there are some common reasons why this might happen. Here are six of them:

Thermostat Troubles

The thermostat is like a little temperature manager inside your dryer. If it’s not working right, your dryer might think it’s already hot enough and won’t make the air warmer.

Heating Element Issues

Just like your oven at home, your dryer has something called a heating element. If this part gets broken or worn out, it can’t make the air hot anymore.

Blocked Vent

Sometimes, the vent that lets out all the hot air can get clogged with lint. When this happens, the hot air can’t escape, so your dryer ends up blowing cold air instead.

Faulty Igniter

Gas dryers have a special part called an igniter that helps light the gas to make heat. If the igniter isn’t working right, your dryer won’t be able to make hot air.

Broken Heating Coils

Electric dryers use coils to heat up the air. If these coils break or get damaged, they can’t do their job properly, and your dryer will blow cold air.

Thermal Fuse Trouble

The thermal fuse is like a safety guard for your dryer. If it senses that the dryer is getting too hot, it shuts off the heat to prevent fires. But if it gets blown, it can stop your dryer from making hot air altogether.

If your dryer is blowing cold air, it’s essential to figure out the cause so you can fix it. Sometimes, these problems can be fixed easily by replacing a part or cleaning out the vent. But if you’re not sure what to do, it’s always a good idea to call a professional for help. They can inspect your dryer and get it back to blowing hot air in no time!

Steps to Fix Dryer Blowing Cold Air

1. Check the Thermostat

The thermostat is like a little temperature manager inside your dryer. It tells the dryer when to make the air hot and when to stop. If it’s not working right, it might not tell the dryer to make the air hot. To check it, you can use a multimeter, which is a tool to measure electricity.

First, make sure your dryer is unplugged to stay safe. Then, you’ll need to find the thermostat inside your dryer. Sometimes, it’s hiding behind panels, so you might need to take some screws out to see it. Once you find it, you’ll need a special tool called a multimeter. It’s like a detective tool for electricity.

With the multimeter, you can check if the thermostat is sending the right messages. Just like checking someone’s heartbeat, the multimeter measures if electricity is flowing through the thermostat properly. If it’s not, that might be the reason your dryer is blowing cold air.

If the thermostat isn’t working right, you might need to replace it with a new one. You can find replacement thermostats at hardware stores or online. Make sure to get the right one for your dryer model.

Once you’ve replaced the thermostat, put everything back together and plug in your dryer. Then, test it to see if it’s making hot air now. If it is, great job! You’ve fixed your dryer all by yourself. But if it’s still blowing cold air, don’t worry. There might be another problem causing it, like a broken heating element or a clogged vent.

2. Inspect the Heating Element

The heating element is what makes the air inside the dryer hot. If it’s broken or worn out, it won’t be able to heat up the air anymore. To inspect it, you’ll need to open up the dryer. Remember to unplug it first!

Then, you’ll need to open up your dryer to find the heating element. Sometimes, it’s hiding behind panels, so you might need to remove some screws to see it. Once you find it, take a good look. Does it look broken or damaged? Are there any breaks in the coils? If you see any problems, that might be why your dryer is blowing cold air.

If the heating element looks damaged, you’ll need to replace it with a new one. You can find replacement heating elements at hardware stores or online. Make sure to get the right one for your dryer model.

Once you have the new heating element, it’s time to put everything back together. Carefully install the new heating element where the old one was. Make sure to follow any instructions that came with it. Once everything is in place, plug in your dryer and give it a test run. If it’s making hot air now, great job! You’ve fixed your dryer all by yourself.

3. Clean the Vent

One common problem could be a dirty vent. Sometimes, the vent that lets out all the hot air can get clogged with lint. The vent is like a tube that lets hot air out of the dryer. When it gets clogged with dirt and lint, the air can’t flow properly, so your dryer might not work well.

To fix this, you need to clean the vent. Here’s how you can do it:

• Unplug the dryer: Before doing anything, make sure your dryer is unplugged from the power socket. Safety first!
• Find the vent: Look behind your dryer to find the vent. It’s usually a long tube or pipe that goes from the back of the dryer to the outside of your house.
• Remove the vent: You might need a screwdriver to loosen the clamps holding the vent in place. Once it’s loose, carefully pull the vent out of the dryer.
• Clean the vent: Shake off any loose dirt or lint. Then, use a vacuum cleaner with a narrow attachment to suck out the rest of the dirt and lint from inside the vent. You can also use a vent cleaning brush to scrub away stubborn dirt.
• Check the outside vent: Go outside and check the vent where it exits your house. Make sure it’s not blocked by leaves, bird nests, or other debris. Clear away anything that might be blocking the airflow.
• Reattach the vent: Once the vent is clean, carefully put it back into place and tighten the clamps to secure it.
• Plug the dryer back in: Once everything is back in place, plug your dryer back into the power socket.
• Test the dryer: Turn on your dryer and let it run for a few minutes to see if it’s blowing hot air now. If it is, then congratulations! You’ve fixed the problem.

Remember to clean your dryer vent regularly to prevent this problem from happening again. It’s a simple task that can make a big difference in how well your dryer works.

4. Test the Igniter

If you have a gas dryer, it uses an igniter to light the gas and make heat. If the igniter isn’t working right, your dryer won’t be able to make hot air.

To fix a dryer blowing cold air, you can test the igniter. The igniter is a part in the dryer that helps to light the gas or heating element. If it’s not working right, the dryer won’t get hot.

Here’s how you can test it:

• Safety first: Always unplug the dryer before doing any repairs. Safety is the most important thing!
• Locate the igniter: It’s usually found near the burner assembly. You might need to remove the front or back panel of the dryer to get to it.
• Inspect visually: Look at the igniter carefully. If it’s cracked or broken, it needs to be replaced.
• Use a multimeter: If the igniter looks okay, you can use a multimeter to check if it’s getting electricity. Set the multimeter to measure resistance (ohms) and touch the probes to the terminals on the igniter. If the reading is very high or infinity, it means the igniter is bad and needs to be replaced.
• Replace if necessary: If the igniter is faulty, you can buy a new one from a hardware store or online. Follow the instructions that come with the new igniter to install it properly.
• Test the dryer: After replacing the igniter, plug the dryer back in and turn it on to see if it’s blowing hot air now. If it is, congratulations! You’ve fixed the problem. If not, there might be another issue, and you may need to call a professional for help.

5. Inspect the Heating Coils

Electric dryers use coils to heat up the air. If these coils break or get damaged, they can’t do their job properly, and your dryer will blow cold air. To inspect them, you’ll need to open up the dryer. Again, make sure it’s unplugged first!

• Access the Heating Element: Depending on your dryer model, you might need to remove the back panel or front panel to get to the heating element. Refer to your dryer’s manual for instructions.
• Inspect the Heating Coils: Once you can see the heating element, take a look at the coils. Look for any signs of damage, like breaks or burns. If you see any, that’s likely the cause of the problem.
• Replace the Heating Element: If you find damaged coils, you’ll need to replace the heating element. You can order a new one online or from a hardware store. Make sure to get the right one for your dryer model.
• Install the New Heating Element: Follow the instructions that come with the new heating element to install it correctly. Make sure everything is connected securely.
• Test the Dryer: After you’ve replaced the heating element, plug the dryer back in and turn it on to see if it’s blowing warm air now. If it is, congratulations! You’ve fixed the problem.

6. Check the Thermal Fuse

If your dryer is blowing cold air instead of hot air, one thing you can do is check the thermal fuse. The thermal fuse is like a safety guard that helps prevent your dryer from overheating. Sometimes, when it gets too hot, the thermal fuse can blow out, causing your dryer to stop producing hot air.

To check the thermal fuse, you’ll need to unplug your dryer and locate the thermal fuse. It’s usually found near the heating element or burner chamber. Once you find it, you can use a multimeter to test if it has continuity. If the thermal fuse doesn’t have continuity, it means it’s blown and needs to be replaced.

Replacing the thermal fuse is relatively simple. You can usually find a replacement fuse at a hardware store or online. Make sure to get the right replacement for your specific dryer model.

Once you have the replacement thermal fuse, you can disconnect the wires from the old fuse and remove it from the dryer. Then, connect the wires to the new thermal fuse and install it back into place.

After replacing the thermal fuse, plug your dryer back in and test it to see if it’s now producing hot air. If everything is working properly, your dryer should be back to heating up as it should.

7. Professional Help

If you’re not comfortable fixing it yourself, you can always call a professional for help. They have the experience and knowledge to get your dryer back to blowing hot air in no time!

Sometimes, the problem might be with the heating element or a broken part. Trying to fix it yourself could be tricky and even dangerous. So, it’s best to leave it to someone who knows what they’re doing. Just give them a call, explain the problem, and they’ll come over to help you. It’s important to get it fixed so you can dry your clothes properly again.