Is your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer not drying clothes all the way? Perhaps it won’t dry at all, or it takes too long or more than one cycle to dry them. Well, you can fix it if you know what to check.
Your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer is not drying your clothes due to a power supply fault, lint screen clogging, vent blockage, wrong setting, soaking wet or extra-large load, or a bad heating element.
One of those seven issues is stopping your Cabrio dryer from doing its job –drying clothes. If that’s not it, it could be due to a failed component such as the blower, moisture sensor, thermostat, or thermistor.
And if it’s a gas dryer, you also have to consider the possibility of a failed gas supply or a defective component like the solenoid (gas valve), flame sensor, or igniter.
I’ll explain how each issue stops your dryer from drying the clothes and the applicable remedies. After that, we’ll look at other related issues, such as a Cabrio dryer that won’t dry all the way or one that heats up but won’t dry.
Let’s dive in!
In a hurry? See below the seven main issues that could stop a Cabrio dryer from drying and the applicable fixes.
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Not Drying – Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| – | Likely Cause | Fix |
| 1. | Power Supply Fault | Firmly plug in the power cord, reset the breaker, and replace a blown-up fuse or a defective power cord or outlet |
| 2. | Lint Screen Clogging | Wash the lint screen |
| 3. | Vent Blockage | Vacuum the vent if it’s clogged, straighten it out if it’s kinked, and replace it if it’s the wrong diameter or crushed |
| 4. | Wrong Setting | Opt for a normal cycle over Time Dry or Auto Dry |
| 5. | Soaking-Wet Load | Wring off the excess water before reloading clothes into the dryer |
| 6. | Extra-Large Load | Keep the load capacity to not more than ¾ full |
| 7. | Bad Heating Element | Replace the heating element if it cannot pass the continuity test |
Why Is My Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Not Drying?
Generally, below are seven issues you must check when your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t dry clothes:
1. Power Supply Fault
Before your dryer can dry clothes, it has to get hot, and for it to get hot, it must receive power. So, you have to check if your dryer has power, and if it doesn’t, then consider these issues:
- Loose or defective cord – If the power cord is loose or faulty, the Cabrio dryer won’t receive power and will fail to turn on and heat up. Once that’s the case, the Cabrio dryer won’t dry clothes.
- Tripped breaker – The circuit breaker will trip during a power surge; when it does, your dryer won’t have the power to turn on. In the long run, the dryer will fail to get hot and won’t dry the clothes.
- Blown-up fuse – The other thing that could happen during a power surge is that the thermal fuse may blow up. When it does, it also interrupts the dryer’s power supply, preventing it from drying.
- Defective power cord or outlet – If the power cord or the socket is not working, your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t start. And if it doesn’t start, it will neither get hot nor dry clothes.
Fix
Firmly plug in the power cord and turn on your Cabrio dryer. If the circuit breaker is Off, reset it. But if your dryer still won’t turn on, inspect the power cord, thermal fuse, power cord, and electric outlet using a multimeter. If any of those components fail to show continuity, replace them.
2. Lint Screen Clogging
Over time, the lint screen, whose job is to trap lint and other obstructions, clogs up. When it does, it interferes with airflow, making it hard for hot air to move and circulate in the dryer.
In the long run, the dryer cannot get hot and dry the clothes. And even if it does get hot, it takes longer to do it.
The issue is, however, avoidable by rolling off the lint after every use and deep cleaning the lint screen with water and soap at least twice a year.
Fix
If the lint screen is filthy, you must clean it. First, roll off the lint with your finger and then use hot water, soap, and a nylon brush to clean it. Then rinse the lint screen with warm water and use a dry towel to dry it before reinstalling it.
3. Vent Blockage
The vent is another component that could interfere with airflow and prevent the dryer from drying. Overall, there are at least four issues affecting the duct that could lead to restricted airflow:
- Vent clogging – Just like the lint screen, the dryer vent may clog with lint and dirt, and when it does, the clog restricts airflow, making it hard for the dryer to dry clothes.
- Vent kinking – If there are many kinks/twists on the vent, they can block it and interfere with airflow. That’s likely to happen if the vent is too long and there is insufficient clearance between the dryer and the wall.
- Narrow diameter – Ideally, the dryer vent should be 4 inches in diameter. If it’s thinner than that, it’ll restrict airflow, and your dryer will therefore struggle to get hot.
- Vent crushing/collapsing – If the vent material is aluminum foil or plastic, it may collapse after a while, and when it does, it restricts airflow and stops the dryer from getting hot.
Fix
Vacuum the dryer vent if it’s dirt or lint-clogged, and if it has so many kinks, straighten it out and probably move it away from the wall. But if the vent has a narrow diameter or is collapsed, replace it.
4. Wrong Setting
Some settings interfere with the Cabrio dryer’s drying pattern. For example, Time Dry only allows the dryer to run for a certain period, and once the time ends, the dryer stops heating and drying.
Another setting that could explain a non-drying dryer is Auto Dry. This setting forces the dryer to stop when it reaches a specific moisture level.
Fix
Consider a Normal cycle over a Timed Dry or Auto Dry setting. If unsure, check your manual to determine what setting to use or reset the dryer.
5. Soaking-Wet Load
Though you should load wet clothes into the dryer, they shouldn’t be dripping wet. If they are soaking wet, the dryer’s sensitive sensors will read that as a mechanical fault and may stop the dryer from running. So, in the long run, your Cabrio dryer won’t dry.
That’s why it’s advisable to ring out the excess water before loading the clothes into the dryer. Alternatively, you should run the drain setting while the clothes are in the washer.
Fix
Stop your dryer, remove the clothes, and ring out the excess water. Once you reduce the wetness, reload them into the dryer.
6. Extra-Large Load
The dryer shouldn’t be more than ¾ full. If it is, the clothes won’t have enough space to turn and will fail to dry. The other issue is that there won’t be ample room for the hot air to circulate and dry the clothes.
Fix
Reduce the amount of clothes in the dryer to ensure they don’t exceed three-quarters full.
7. Bad Heating Element
In the dryer is the heating element, whose job is to heat the dryer. Over time, the heating element wears out and cannot heat the dryer.
At times, however, the heating element burns out, which means the Cabrio dryer won’t get hot. In the long run, the clothes won’t dry.
Fix
You can tell if the dryer’s heating element works by checking (with a multimeter device) if it has continuity. Replace it if it doesn’t.
Other Reasons
Additionally, your Cabrio dryer won’t dry clothes if one of these component fails:
- Blower – It could be obstructed or worn out
- Moisture sensor
- Thermostat
- Thermistor
Fix
You can test the moisture sensor, thermostat, and thermistor with a multimeter. If any of these sensors lack continuity, replace them. As for the blower, unblock it if it’s lint clogged but replace it if it looks worn out.
Whirlpool Cabrio Gas Dryer Not Drying
Regarding a Cabrio gas-powered dryer, you have to consider more than the issues I’ve shared above. You also have to consider the following:
- Failed gas supply – It could be that the gas supply valve is shut and thus preventing gas from getting to the burner. And if the burner doesn’t burn up, the dryer won’t get hot, and the clothes won’t dry.
- Defective solenoid – If the solenoid valve is faulty, it’ll stop the gas from reaching the burner, and that prevents the dryer from heating up. In the long run, the dryer won’t dry clothes.
- Faulty flame sensor – If the flame sensor isn’t working, it won’t detect the flame, and that’ll stop the dryer from getting hot.
- Non-working igniter – The igniter’s job is to kindle the flame. If it’s faulty, the burner won’t burn, and the dryer won’t get hot.
Fix
Turn the gas supply valve parallel to the gas supply tube. Then use a multimeter to see if the flame sensor and igniter have continuity. If any of them doesn’t, replace it.
Meanwhile, check how the flame behaves. If the flame only glows briefly and goes off, the solenoid is likely defective, and you should replace it.
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Not Drying All the Way
If your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer won’t dry all the way, it’s most likely a setting issue. Whirlpool dryers usually have an auto-sensing feature that allows them to run for a specific period.
In such a case, the dryer shuts downs once the clothes reach a particular moisture level. The issue is, however, fixable by changing the setting. Alternatively, you can reset the dryer to overrun the auto-sensing setting.
Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Heating But Not Drying
There are at least three issues to explain a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer that heats up but won’t dry. First, it could be that the clothes are soaking wet. In such a case, the dryer may get hot but not hot enough to dry the dripping clothes.
Second, the clothes could be excessive. In such a case, the dryer doesn’t have enough room for the clothes to tumble or for the hot air to circulate.
Third, it could be a setting issue. The chances are that you are using a setting like Auto Dry or Time Dry which doesn’t allow the dryer to dry all the way or even start.
Concluding Thought:
Above are the explanations for a Whirlpool Cabrio dryer not drying. Thus, consider the seven issues to get your Cabrio dryer back drying the clothes. For starters, ensure the dryer has power, the lint screen is clean, and the dryer vent is free from blockage.
Then ensure you use the correct setting and load the clothes properly (not too wet or too large), and if the heating element is defective, replace it. But if it’s a gas dryer, you may have to turn on the gas valve or replace the solenoid, flame sensor, or igniter if defective.
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