When in Doubt

• One of the most common causes of dryer malfunctions involves the overall airflow via the exhaust system. But attending to this area is one of the least considered solutions. You should clean a dryer's exhaust pipe annually to ensure proper airflow. If a dryer is malfunctioning, first try cleaning out the exhaust pipe to see if that was the problem. If a chimney sweep does not seem like a viable option for the annual cleaning, try removing the excess lint with a leaf blower.
  
  

No Heat

• The next place to troubleshoot is the heating coil. Be sure to unplug the dryer before commencing any repair work. First remove the coil casing. Review the user manual to determine whether the casing is in the front or the back of the dryer and remove the appropriate panels. Use an ohmmeter to determine whether the coil is accurately distributing power. If the meter shows no activity, then the coil is broken and will need to be replaced.
  
  

No Power

• If the dryer will not even turn on, then a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker is most likely to blame. Be sure to unplug the dryer before checking for these problems. Also check the power outlet with a voltmeter to determine whether power is even flowing to the dryer. If neither of these is the problem, than it could be the door lever. Door lever switches can break and stop triggering the dryer's systems to start.
  
  

Long Drying Time

• If you have dealt with the air circulation issues and find that the drying times are still long, verify that the dryer's thermostats are working. If even one thermostat breaks, the dryer's functioning will diminish. Finally, check the heating element as the coil may be partially burned out. If this is the case, replace the element to ensure safe and effective drying.