A tumble dryer that turns but won't heat leaves you with cold, damp washing and a long airer queue. It's one of the most common faults we're called to — and one where a couple of home checks are worth doing first, including one that matters for safety whether your dryer is faulty or not.
1. The fluff filter — every time
A clogged filter chokes the airflow, and without airflow a dryer can't dry — many models cut the heat entirely to protect themselves. Clean the filter every single load, not every few weeks.
This one is about more than performance: lint is highly flammable, and a neglected filter is a genuine fire risk. If it's been a while, clean the filter housing too, not just the mesh.
2. Condenser and water tank
On condenser and heat-pump dryers, a full water tank stops many machines mid-cycle, and a clogged condenser unit quietly strangles the airflow. Empty the tank, and rinse the condenser through if your model allows it — the manual shows where it lives.
3. The reset button
Many dryers have a thermal overload cutout that trips if the machine overheats — often after running with a blocked filter. On some models there's a small reset button on the back panel. If yours has one (check the manual), let the machine cool fully, press it, and try again with the filters clean.
If it trips again, don't keep resetting it. The cutout is telling you something overheated, and repeat trips need an engineer's eyes.
4. The load and the programme
An overstuffed drum dries slowly and unevenly, and some low-temperature or anti-crease programmes are gentler than people expect. Before assuming a fault, run a normal cottons cycle with a sensible load and see how it performs.
When to call us
If the filters are clean, the airflow is clear and the dryer still runs cold, the usual suspects are the heater element or a thermostat — routine repairs we do week in, week out, usually for a single one-off labour charge plus parts, with three months' cover on the same fault under the GS Repair Guarantee.
Need a hand with yours?
We cover Colchester, Ipswich, Chelmsford and the surrounding Essex and Suffolk area, with same and next-day visits often available.