Imagine loading your Maytag Centennial dryer and waiting hours for it to dry the clothes, only for them to come out wet! If that happens to you, you ought to find the reasons for your Maytag Centennial dryer not drying clothes and fix it.
A Maytag Centennial dryer won’t dry clothes due to the wrong cycle, an unleveled dryer, soaking-wet laundry, drum overload, lint screen clogging, vent blockage, failed heating element, or defective moisture sensor.
So, you should determine which of the eight issues affects your Maytag Centennial and troubleshoot it; this guide will help you do it. Not only will I discuss the reasons the dryer won’t dry, but also why it won’t get hot.
What’s more, I’ll discuss the issues that only apply to a non-drying Maytag Centennial gas dryer, a dryer that heats up but doesn’t dry, and an option that takes too long to dry.
Let’s dive in!
In a rush? Below are the eight issues that could stop your Maytag Centennial dryer from drying and their fixes.
Maytag Centennial Dryer Not Drying Well – Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| – | Likely Cause | Fix |
| 1. | Wrong Cycle | Select the correct cycle |
| 2. | Unleveled Dryer | Level the dryer |
| 3. | Soaking-Wet Laundry | Wring out the excess water before reloading the dryer |
| 4. | Drum Overload | Reduce the drum’s capacity to not more than ¾ full |
| 5. | Lint Screen Clogging | Wash the clogged lint screen |
| 6. | Vent Blockage | Unblock the vent |
| 7. | Failed Heating Element | Replace the heating element |
| 8. | Defective Moisture Sensor | Replace the moisture sensor |
Why Is My Maytag Centennial Dryer Not Drying?
Generally, here are the reasons your Maytag Centennial dryer won’t dry your clothes and the respective solutions:
1. Wrong Cycle
Maytag dryers have different settings, but not all settings will dry your clothes. For example, Auto Dry stops the dryer from running once the clothes reach a specific moisture level, while Time Dry only allows it to run for a specified duration.
Meanwhile, the Air Dry or Air-Only setting allows the dryer to blow air without heat. So, the dryer won’t dry the clothes. On the other hand, Wrinkle Control only enables the dryer to run on low heat, which only favors wrinkle-prone clothes.
Fix
Ensure you use the correct dryer cycle and setting to match the clothes you are drying. If unsure, use the Normal Cycle or check out your manual.
2. Unleveled Dryer
For the dryer to run smoothly, it has to rest on leveled ground. Things are, however, different when the dryer is unstable, as it’s likely to shake a lot. And when it does, the clothes cannot spin uniformly, so some may come out wet.
Fix
Steady the dryer on the ground. If you can, adjust its feet and tighten them firmly to avoid shakiness when the dryer runs.
3. Soaking-Wet Laundry
Although it’s the dryer’s job to dry wet clothes, it doesn’t mean they should be soaking wet. If they are, the dryer’s sensor may see that as a technical fault and fail to run. In the end, your clothes will come out wet.
Fix
If possible, take out the clothes are wring out the excess water before reloading them. The issue is, however, avoidable by first wringing out the clothes before loading them into the dryer.
Or better, run the drain cycle on the washer before transferring the wet clothes to the dryer.
4. Drum Overload
It’s also important not to overload the dryer. The drum should not be more than ¾ full to leave room for the clothes to turn and the hot air to circulate.
If you overload the drum, there won’t be enough room for the clothes to turn, let alone the hot air to circulate. In the long run, your clothes will remain wet.
Fix
Reduce the drum’s capacity if it’s more than ¾ full. However, you’ll need to stop the dryer from running first before removing some of the clothes.
5. Lint Screen Clogging
The lint screen’s job is to trap lint and other clogs to prevent them from clogging the dryer vent. Over time, this screen over-clogs; when that happens, the clogging restricts airflow, making it harder for the dryer to dry clothes.
That’s one reason you should clean the lint screen after every use and do a deep cleaning with warm soapy water every six months.
Fix
If the lint screen is lint-clogged, use warm soapy water to wash it. You’ll first need to roll off the accumulated lint with your fingers and then use a nylon brush to scrub off the hardened clog.
6. Vent Blockage
Lint may find itself in the dryer vent, and when it does, it restricts airflow. In such a case, the dryer will fail to heat; if it does heat, it may take a long time.
Lint clogging is not the only way the dryer vent can block. It can also block from kinking or crushing if made of frail material like plastic or aluminum foil.
Additionally, the vent may restrict airflow if it’s narrower than 4 inches. You need it to have a diameter of at least 4 inches for proper airflow.
Fix
Vacuum the dryer vent if it’s lint clogged, and straighten it out if there are kinks. If the vent is crushed or has the wrong diameter, replace it. Ensure the replacement vent is at least 4 inches in diameter and should preferably be rigid/inflexible metal, not plastic or aluminum foil.
7. Failed Heating Element
The heating element’s only job is to heat the dryer. It does that by heating the arriving cold air before circulating it in the dryer. Over time, the heating element wears out and sometimes burns from the dryer overheating, thus making it unable to do its job.
Fix
If the heating element is faulty, you’ve to replace it. One way to tell a faulty Maytag Centennial dryer heating element is to inspect it with a multimeter. If it lacks continuity, then that proves it to be defective.
8. Defective Moisture Sensor
Lastly, consider that your Centennial dryer might not be drying the clothes because of a faulty moisture sensor. Usually, the moisture sensor’s job is to monitor the load’s moisture level and avoid under-drying or over-drying. So, if it’s defective, the dryer may under-dry (which applies to our case) or over-dry the clothes.
Fix
Use the multimeter to check if the moisture sensor has continuity. If it doesn’t, replace it.
Maytag Centennial Gas Dryer Not Drying
If you have a gas-powered Maytag dryer, you’ve to consider these additional reasons if it won’t dry your clothes:
- Failed gas supply – The gas shut-off valve could be off and thus preventing the gas from flowing to the burner assembly. In such a case, the burner won’t burn. So, the dryer won’t get hot, making it impossible to dry the clothes.
- Defective flame sensor – The flame sensor senses the flame, allowing the dryer to heat up. However, it can fail, but when it does, it stops the dryer from heating up and drying the clothes.
- Defective igniter – The igniter lights up the flowing gas, enabling the burner to get hot and heat the dryer. If it’s bad, the dryer won’t get hot and will fail to dry the clothes.
- Failed solenoid or gas valve coil – If the solenoid is defective, it fails to open up to allow gas flow, and that stops the dryer from heating up and drying the clothes.
Maytag Centennial Dryer Not Heating Up
Your Maytag Centennial dryer won’t heat up for different reasons, but most of these issues are similar to those that will stop the dryer from drying. Those reasons include the following:
- Lack of power – In this case, the dryer won’t turn on
- Failed gas supply if it’s a gas-powered Centennial dryer
- Defective heating element
- Clogged lint screen
- Blocked dryer vent
- Extra-large or extra-wet laundry
Maytag Centennial Dryer Heating But Not Drying
It’s not often that a dryer heats up but fails to dry clothes, but it can happen. In the case of the Maytag Centennial, the dryer may fail to dry despite heating up due to a clogged lint screen or vent. The vent could also be kinked; in such cases, restricted airflow hampers the dryer from drying the clothes.
If the issue has nothing to do with restricted airflow, it’s most likely due to an almost failing heating element. The heating element might be working but probably on its last kicks, preventing the dryer from drying the clothes even though it’s getting hot.
Maytag Centennial Dryer Takes Too Long to Dry
If your Maytag Centennial dryer takes too long to get hot and dry the clothes, it’s often due to a clogged lint screen, which you ought to clean. If the lint screen is not lint-clogged, the issue could be a kinked dryer vent which you should straighten out.
Sometimes, however, the problem could be the load that’s too large and therefore doesn’t spin correctly. In such a case, it takes longer for the dryer to dry it. And if that’s not it, the issue could be the wrong setting, perhaps a low-heat cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Should I Reset a Maytag Centennial Dryer?
You can reset a Maytag Centennial dryer by plugging it out of the power for 5-10 minutes. If that doesn’t work, plug it out for 30 minutes. Alternatively, flip off its circuit breaker for 5-10 minutes at first and 30 minutes if the first attempt doesn’t work.
2. Why Is My Maytag Dryer Not Getting Hot?
Your Maytag dryer won’t get hot for different reasons. It could be that the Maytag Centennial lacks power, you are using the wrong setting, the vent or lint screen is clogged, or the clothes are soaking wet or too bulky.
And if that’s not it, it could be that the heating element is defective and, therefore, cannot heat the dryer.
3. Why Is My Maytag Dryer Taking Too Long to Dry My Clothes?
Your Maytag dryer will take a long time to dry your clothes if its lint screen or vent is lint-clogged. If so, you’ll need to clean them. The duct could also be too narrow or kinked, slowing airflow.
But if that’s not the case, it could be that the load is too large or you are using the wrong setting, such as a low-heat one. And sometimes, the problem could be the heating element slowly failing.
Closing Remarks on the Maytag Centennial Dryer Not Drying:
You should consider the above eight issues when your Maytag Centennial dryer won’t dry your clothes well. You must ensure the cycle is correct, the dryer is not out of level, the load is not too-wet or excessive, and the lint screen or vent is not blocked. Moreover, the heating element and the moisture sensor shouldn’t be defective.