LG Dryer Not Heating

LG is a popular appliance brand that manufactures top-selling home appliances, like dishwashers, TVs and dryers. Even the best products will sometimes break down and need to be repaired, and LG dryers are no different. One common problem people run into is their LG dryers not heating correctly.

Here are some of the most common causes of an LG dryer not heating, along with detailed instructions for how to fix each cause.

This guide covers popular models of LG Dryer, including: 

DLE0442W

DLE2701V

DLE3777W

DLEX2801L

DLEX2801R

DLEX2801W

DLEX2901V

DLEX3001P

DLEX3001W

DLEX3360R

DLEX3360V

DLEX3360W

DLEX3470V

DLEX3470W

DLEX3550V

DLEX3550W

DLG5932S

DLG5988B

DLG5988S

DLG5988SM

DLG5988W

Check the Thermal Fuse

Thermal fuses prevent the dryer from overheating. To check if it is the cause of your LG dryer not heating, start by:

1. Locating the thermal fuse – you can find it on the blower housing or in some models at the dryer’s heat source, such as the heating element in electric dryer models.
2. Check that the fuse is closed – this means that it has continuity. When it gets overheated, the fuse loses its continuity, as it won’t be able to work correctly, which causes the fuse to blow. If you have a multimeter, you can use it to test the fuse for continuity.
3. If you find the fuse is blown, it will need to be replaced. When you replace it, make sure that you check that the exhaust vent in the dryer isn’t restricted in any way, as this may have been the cause of the blown fuse.

Check the Gas Valve Solenoid

If your LG dryer is gas-powered, you will need to inspect the gas valve solenoid to check if it’s the reason your dryer is not heating. The purpose of the gas valve solenoid is to open the gas valve port to let gas into the burner assembly; when it fails to operate correctly, the dryer won’t heat properly. Here’s how to check if it is the cause of the heating problem:

1. Check the igniter. If it glows and goes out but doesn’t ignite the gas, this means the gas valve solenoid is broken and will need to be replaced.
2. Check the gas valve coils, and if they are also defective, you should replace the whole set of them.

Flame Sensor

Gas dryers have a flame sensor that detects the heat that is emitted by the flame. When the flame sensor fails to work correctly, the dryer won’t heat up correctly. Here’s how to check it:

1. You can use a multimeter to check the sensor for continuity. You should test it while it is at room temperature.
2. If you find it doesn’t have continuity, it will need to be replaced.

Check the Heating Element

The purpose of the heating element is to warm the air before it enters the dryer drum. 

With time, heating elements can eventually burn out. Here’s how to check yours:

1. Test the heating element for continuity with a multimeter 
2. If you find the heating element does not have continuity, it will need to be replaced.

Check the Incoming Power

Another reason your dryer is not heating may be a problem with the incoming power. Electric dryers require two legs of 120 volts AC (or a total of 240 volts) to operate. Sometimes one fuse can blow but the dryer will still work but not heat, so you need to:

1. Check the fuse box and the circuit breaker to ensure that all fuses are fine and that the circuit breaker is operating correctly. You will need a multimeter to check for continuity.
2. If you find a blown fuse, it will need to be replaced. And if you find a tripped circuit breaker, locate it, and reset it by turning it off and then on.

Test the High-Limit Thermostat

Another possible cause is a faulty high-limit thermostat. This component monitors the temperature of the dryer and will shut off the burner if it detects that it’s overheating. But this doesn’t happen very often, so before replacing it you should:

1. Check all of the other components in this guide first.
2. If you still haven’t found the cause, use a multimeter to the thermostat for continuity.
3. If it doesn’t have continuity, it will need to be replaced.

Test the Cycling Thermostat

The dryer also has a cycling thermostat. This thermostat cycles the heat on and off to regulate the air temperature in the dryer. When the cycling thermostat stops working, the dryer will stop heating. It isn’t common for the cycling thermostat to break down, so before replacing it you should:

1. Check all other likely culprits first.
2. If you still haven’t found the cause, use a multimeter to test the cycling thermostat for continuity.
3. If the thermostat fails the continuity test, you should replace it.

Test the Timer

If the dryer doesn’t heat, you could have a faulty timer. It doesn’t happen often, so it’s best to check the other more common causes out first. If none of those causes is the problem, you should:

1. Test the timer by using a multimeter and also consult the wiring diagram.
2. If the timer fails the multimeter test, then it is defective and will have to be replaced.

Check the Main Control Board

If you still haven’t found the reason why your LG dryer is not heating, then it is a good idea to check the main control board. You can look for any signs of burned-out fuses or short-sighted components within the control board, but that is as far as you can go in testing it. If there are no obvious signs of damage, you will have to replace the main control board and see if that fixes the heating issue.