Maytag Centennial Dryer Not Heating? (We Have A Fix)

Anyone who has ever done laundry knows the frustration of opening the dryer door to still-wet clothes. Maybe you run it again, or maybe you don’t mind putting them out to air dry for a little while. Either way, unless you plan on doing this forever, that dryer needs to be fixed. So what gives?

If your Maytag Centennial Dryer is not heating up properly, it is most likely an issue with the exhaust. A clogged exhaust vent is a common issue of forgotten maintenance. A blown thermal fuse, located at the exhaust duct, is the most typical mechanical problem.

There are a number of other things that could be wrong with your dryer. We will go through them in terms of likelihood, with the most probable solutions up first. Below are ways to investigate each potential issue, as well as ways to fix them.

While this may seem basic, you should double-check your breaker box first. Most dryers require up to 240 volts. If one leg of power is shut off, the dryer could run and spin but not heat up. You would get the false impression that the dryer is getting power when it isn’t enough to finish the job.

In the same vein, double-check that the settings on your dryer make sense. Maytag Centennial Dryers are crowd favorites thanks to their many drying options. But some of these, like wrinkle release, don’t require as much heat.

Finally, because dryers require airflow to work, they can’t be over packed. Check to make sure your dryer is not too full and that the clothes aren’t still soaking wet. You can help your dryer and run the washer on a second spin cycle if the clothes are too wet.

Most people know to clean out the lint trap with every load of laundry. But when is the last time you cleaned the exhaust vent? You can check to see how your Maytag Dryer is venting while it is running. Simply go outside to where it vents and test the air. It should be hot and coming out at a fast pace.

If the exhaust vent gets clogged or blocked, it can prevent the dryer from heating all the way. This is because it will build up temperatures in that area and send a false reading to the high-limit thermostat. Therefore, we recommend you clean out the exhaust vent at least once a year. The easier the dryer can vent, the more efficiently it will perform.

The most common mechanical issue with a Maytag Dryer is a blown thermal fuse. Located at the exhaust duct, the thermal fuse shuts off the heating elements if the dryer becomes too hot. This important safety device should always be in the closed position.

Once your dryer is off, unscrew and open the rear panel. If you find the thermal fuse in an open position, it will need to be replaced. Luckily, it is both inexpensive and very simple to replace.

The high limit thermostat, as mentioned above, keeps the dryer from overheating. It is located on your dryer’s heating element. It will shut off the heating element if it reads a certain temperature, hence the name. Therefore, your dryer will not heat up properly if this device is broken.

You can test the high limit thermostat with a multimeter to see if it still works. This is called a continuity test of the thermostat’s electrical circuit. If you identify a malfunctioning thermostat, they are quite easy to replace. Follow the steps below to get your Maytag Centennial Dryer back up and running.

The cycling thermostat monitors the air temperature and cycles the heating element on and off accordingly. This is located next to the thermal fuse on most Maytag Centennial dryer models, between the exhaust and blower housing.

You can test this with the same continuity test mentioned above. It would also be replaced in the same manner as the high limit thermostat. Both of these fixes are relatively simple, as long as you are careful with the wires.

Below is a chart that shows the cost and difficulty of replacing the above mechanical parts of your dryer.

Related Questions

Do I have to clean the lint trap every time I use the dryer?

You really should. The more efficiently your dryer can heat and vent the air, the drier your clothes will be, and the cheaper your energy bill. More importantly, though, lint can overheat, ignite, and start a fire.

Is it bad if my dryer is squeaking?

In most cases, a squeaky dryer is still safe to use. However, the noise likely indicates that a part is broken, and you should not ignore it. Investigate the situation before it gets worse.

Why is my dryer making so much noise?

Typically, issues with the drum will cause the dryer to make noise while spinning. You may need to replace worn-out drum glides or a torn felt drum seal.