As good as Maytag dryers are, they can fail like others. Not every issue, however, requires you to call Maytag or your nearby dryer expert, and all you need in such cases is a thought-after Maytag dryer troubleshooting guide.
Sometimes your Maytag dryer may fail to start, heat up, dry clothes, spin, or complete a cycle. And at other times, it may become noisy, and you just can’t put your finger on it.
Those are ideally the most typical problems associated with Maytag dryers that you can troubleshoot. All it takes is first identifying the most likely cause and then applying the most applicable fix, and that’s what you’ll learn in this troubleshooting guide.
The goal is to equip you with the right skill set to save time and money since you won’t have to rely on an expert. Let’s get into it!
In a hurry? Consider the 6 Maytag dryer issues shared below and their respective fixes:
Maytag Dryer Troubleshooting Problems – Quick Guide
| Dryer Problem | Likely Cause | Fix | |
| 1. | Maytag Dryer Not Starting | No power, non-effective start button, Control Lock, unlatched door, or error code | Check the dryer’s incoming power supply, firmly hold down the start button (or replace it if it’s damaged), disable Control Lock, and reset an error code |
| 2. | Maytag Dryer Not Heating | Failed power, wrong setting, restricted airflow, improper laundry loading, or burnt fuse or heating element | Check the dryer’s incoming power supply, select a heat setting, unblock an obstructed lint filter or vent, don’t overload or load extra-wet clothes, and replace a burnt fuse or heating element |
| 3. | Dryer Fails To Dry Clothes | The wrong setting, clogged lint screen, vent blockage, excess or soaking-wet load, or burnt heating element | Select a heat setting, clean the lint screen, unblock the vent, don’t overload or load soaking-wet clothes, and replace a burnt heating element |
| 4. | Dryer Fails To Spin | Failed power, Control Lock, wrong setting, unlatched door, laundry overload, unleveled dryer, or broken belt | Check the dryer’s incoming power supply, deactivate Control Lock, choose the correct spin setting, close the door, avoid an overload, level the dryer, and replace a broken belt |
| 5. | The Dryer Stops Mid-Cycle | Failed power supply, overheating, or an open door | Check the dryer’s incoming power supply, clean the lint filter, and close the dryer door |
| 6. | Maytag Dryer Making Noise When Starting | Bulky load (thumping noise), loose/unlevelled legs (pounding), loose metal objects (whistling/scraping/rattling noise), lack of clearance (knocking sound), and worn-out parts (squeaking/squealing) | Avoid bulk load, adjust the dryer’s feet, remove foreign metal objects, create enough clearance around the dryer, and replace worn-out drum rollers, axles, bearings, or slides |
6 Easy-to-Troubleshoot Maytag Dryer Problems
Below are 6 Maytag dryer issues you can troubleshoot:
1. Maytag Dryer Troubleshooting Won’t Start
The dryer’s primary function (drying clothes) depends on its starting. If it doesn’t start, then it won’t dry the clothes. Here are the likelier reasons why your Maytag dryer won’t start:
- No power – The power could be out; the dryer won’t start if it is. In such a case, potential causes include an outage, loose or faulty power plug, tripped breaker, defective socket, or blown-up fuse.
- Non-effective start button – Maytag recommends holding down the start switch (the push-to-hold or hold-to-start button) for about 3-5 seconds when starting the dryer. It won’t start if you only tap it. While at it, check if the switch is damaged, making it non-effective.
- Control Lock – The work of the Control Lock is to prevent unintended dryer use. If it’s on, then the dryer won’t run.
- Unlatched door – Maytag dryers stop running when the door is open. They see that as a malfunction you must correct – even if the door is only slightly open.
- Error code – Maytag dryer troubleshooting codes like L2 (low/no-line voltage), PF (power failure), F4E4 (voltage supply fault), and F01 (control board fault) can prevent the Maytag dryer from starting.
Fix
Check your dryer’s incoming power supply, and start by ruling out any power blackout. Then firmly plug in the dryer. Replace it if the power cord appears damaged.
Inspect the circuit breaker, reset it if it’s off, and try plugging another appliance into the socket to see if it works. If it’s not, replace the socket. Moreover, test the fuse with a multimeter for continuity and exchange it if it fails the test.
Remember, you can also use the multimeter to check whether the power cord and socket work.
Meanwhile, ensure you firmly press ‘Start’ for 3-5 seconds, and if the start button won’t work, use a multimeter to check if the start switch is working. The lack of continuity proves otherwise, and if so, replace it.
Long-press Control Lock, too for about 3-4 seconds to disable it if it’s active and firmly latches the door. If the door won’t shut, check for obstructions and remove them.
And lastly, consider a Maytag Dryer Reset in case of an error code.
But does a Maytag dryer have a reset button?
Well, a few Maytag dryers have the reset button on the control panel that you can press to reset them. The majority, however, don’t; in such a case, you may have to hard reset them.
That requires you to unplug your dryer from the wall socket for at least 30 minutes. Alternatively, press Power/Cancel twice, then pick and run a New Cycle.
Maytag Dryer Won’t Start But Has Power
While a power supply is necessary for the Maytag dryer to turn on, it doesn’t mean it will start running. Sometimes it won’t, and if so, the cause could be any of these already highlighted above:
- Non-engaging start button
- Unlatched door
- An error code
- Control Lock
2. Maytag Dryer Troubleshooting No Heat
Your dryer must heat up before it can dry clothes. Several issues, however, may stop that, and here are the considerations when a Maytag dryer won’t get hot:
- Failed power – Your dryer needs the power to turn on and heat up. Without power, it’ll not start (as shared earlier) and will stay cold.
- Wrong setting – Not every setting promotes heating. For example, a setting like Air Fluff only allows the dryer to blow air without heat, while an option like Wrinkle Reduction lets it heat slightly.
- Restricted airflow – If the dryer lacks good airflow, perhaps due to a clogged lint screen or vent, it will struggle to get hot. But other than clogging, the vent could have too many kinks or elbows or be crushed, restricting airflow.
- Improper laundry loading – If the clothes are excessive (more than ¾ drum full) or soaking wet, the dryer won’t get hot; if it does, it’ll take longer. That’s because an overload limits the space necessary for hot air circulation, while the dryer may see soaking-wet clothes as a mechanical fault.
- Burnt fuse – The thermal fuse’s job is to protect your Maytag dryer during a power surge. In such an event, the fuse blows up and stops the dryer from heating further.
- Burnt heating element – A power surge could also result in a burnt heating element. Once burnt, the heating element cannot heat up, which forces the dryer to stay cold.
And if it’s a Maytag gas dryer, you may have to consider the flame sensor, solenoid valve, and igniter. The gas dryer won’t get hot if any of these components fail.
Fix
Ensure the dryer has power using the earlier shared tips. Then choose the correct setting that’s not Air Fluff or Wrinkle Reduction.
Clean the lint screen if dirt-clogged, and do the same for the vent. If the vent is kinked, stretch out the folds, and replace it with the correct size and type if it is crushed or has too many elbows.
Preferably, it should be rigid/flexible metal to avoid crushing quickly and limit the number of 90-degree elbows to not more than 5.
3. Maytag Dryer Not Drying
The Maytag dryer will not dry clothes for most reasons; it won’t heat up. That includes the following:
- Wrong setting
- Clogged lint screen
- Vent blockage
- Excess or soaking-wet load
- Burnt heating element
- Or a defective igniter, solenoid valve, or flame sensor in the case of a gas dryer
Fix
Follow the tips on troubleshooting a non-heating dryer to fix your non-drying dryer. Note that if your Maytag dryer heats up, it will likely dry the clothes.
4. Maytag Dryer Not Spinning
So much goes into drying the clothes, and it’s not just about the dryer starting and getting hot. It also has to spin the clothes properly. If it doesn’t, you’ll likely get wet laundry.
Here are the reasons a Maytag dryer won’t spin:
- Failed power – Check if your dryer has power. If it doesn’t, it won’t turn on, which means it won’t spin.
- Control Lock – Remember, Control Lock stops any unintentional dryer operation, including spinning, since the dryer doesn’t start.
- Wrong setting – Not all settings allow the dryer to spin. Some settings don’t let the dryer spin, while others only allow it to turn slightly.
- Unlatched door – An unlatched door doesn’t just stop the dryer from starting; it can also prevent it from resuming a cycle, which means the dryer won’t spin.
- Laundry overload – The clothes need some space to turn. That won’t happen if they are overloaded.
- Unleveled dryer – If the dryer is not standing on leveled ground, the chances are that it won’t spin properly or spin at all. The space needs to be uniform and solid.
- Broken belt – If the dryer belt is broken, it’ll prevent the dryer from spinning
- Other reasons – Other issues preventing the Maytag dryer from spinning include worn-out parts like the drum rollers, bearings, idler pulley, and motor.
Fix
Ensure your dryer has power and disable Control Lock if it’s active.
Check the dryer setting to ensure it’s not a no-spin or low-spin option, and adequately latch the dryer door. If the clothes are excessive, reduce their size and adjust the dryer’s feet to ensure it is stable and steady. If the drive belt is damaged or the drum roller, bearing, idler pulley, or motor is worn out, replace it.
Maytag Dryer Not Spinning But Heating
Sometimes the Maytag dryer may heat up but fail to spin, which means it won’t dry the clothes. That’s likely to be a result of the issues already discussed.
For one, you could use a low-spin or no-spin setting, or the dryer is unstable. If that’s not it, then it could be that the motor or belt is faulty.
And lastly, it could result from a worn-out drum roller, bearing, idler pulley, or motor.
5. Maytag Dryer Stopped Working Mid Cycle
For your Maytag dryer to fully dry the clothes, it has to complete a cycle. Some issues, however, may force it to stop mid-cycle.
One such issue is failed power supply. If the circuit breaker, for example, trips up or the power cord loosens, it’ll affect the power supply, and the dryer may abort mid-cycle.
The other issue is overheating. If the dryer overheats, primarily due to a clogged lint screen, it may abort mid-cycle. And lastly, if the door opens mid-cycle, it stops the dryer from running.
Fix
Ensure your Maytag dryer has power, clean the lint screen if it’s filthy, and firmly latch the dryer door if it’s open.
6. Maytag Dryer Troubleshooting Noise
Lastly, you can troubleshoot a noisy Maytag dryer if you first identify the noise type. Here’s what to know about the various dryer noises and their fixes
| Dryer Noise Type | Likely Cause | Applicable Fix |
| Thumping Sound | Bulky load | Reduce the load size and remove tennis shoes and other bulky loads |
| Pounding Noise | Unlevelled/loose feet | Adjust and level the dryer’s feet |
| Maytag Dryer Making Whistling Noise | loose metal objects like pins, coins, keys, screws, and nails or a clogged burner assembly | Remove loose metal objects and clean the gas burner if it’s clogged (in the case of a gas dryer) |
| Scraping Sound | loose metal objects | Remove loose metal objects |
| Rattling Noise | Lack of clearance (dryer is close to cabinets) | Create enough clearance around the dryer |
| Knocking Sound | Lack of clearance or trapped foreign objects | Create enough clearance around the dryer and remove trapped objects |
| Squeaking/Squealing Sound | Unlevelled installation or worn-out drum glide, belt, motor, or idler pulley | Adjust the dryer’s feet and leveling and replace worn-out drum glide, belt, motor, or idler pulley |
Concluding Thought:
Above is an easy-to-follow Maytag dryer troubleshooting guide that you’ll find helpful in fixing most everyday dryer problems. Whether your Maytag dryer won’t start running, get hot, dry the clothes, or spin, or perhaps it stops mid-cycle or is just too noisy, you can troubleshoot it. Just follow the simple tips – at least before calling an expert.
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