Whirlpool duet dryers beep for a reason, and often they do so when a cycle completes or to remind us of a vital check. In some rare cases, however, a Whirlpool Duet dryer won’t start just beeps, and you have to wonder why.
Whirlpool duet dryers won’t start but will beep due to an incorrectly unlatched door, laundry overload, dirty lint screen, overheating, wrong voltage supply, or a defective start switch, back pulley, or control board.
One of these eight issues is why your duet dryer won’t stop beeping and needs immediate action. Some of these issues don’t require technical know-how, while others require some DIY skills.
Regardless, I’ll explain how to take on each fix. Moreover, we’ll look at other issues, such as a duet dryer that won’t start but only clicks. Let’s dive in!
In a hurry? Check out the quick fixes in the table below for your non-starting but beeping Whirlpool duet dryer.
Whirlpool Duet Dryer Won’t Start Just Beeps – Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| Likely Cause | Recommended Fix | |
| 1. | Incorrectly Latched Door | Try closing the door firmly, replacing a faulty door switch, and resetting the dryer |
| 2 | Laundry Overload | Reduce the amount of laundry to about ¾ full |
| 3. | Dirty Lint Screen | Clean the lint screen |
| 4. | Dryer Overheating | Unblock the dryer vent and lint screen and replace a blown thermal fuse or heat relay (if it lacks continuity) |
| 5. | Wrong Voltage Supply | Ensure the dryer’s voltage supply is 240v. If not, call an expert |
| 6. | Defective Start Switch | Replace the start switch (if it lacks continuity) |
| 7. | Faulty Back Pulley | Replace worn out pulley tensioner or loose pulley belt |
| 8. | Defective Control Board | Replace the control board as the last option |
What to Do First When Your Whirlpool Duet Dryer Beeps But Won’t Start
It’s generally a good idea to put your Whirlpool duet dryer on diagnostic mode when it only beeps but does not start. Doing so will give you an error code you can use to check and fix the dryer.
Ideally, you can put a Whirlpool duet dryer on the diagnostic mode by pressing any three keys (apart from power) while the dryer is on standby and repeat twice to make it a three-cycle.
You can then go ahead and research the error code that pops up and troubleshoot your dryer. Let’s now look at some issues that could trigger the problem.
What Causes A Whirlpool Duet Dryer Not To Start But Just Beep?
Remember, a beep without the dryer starting is a fault code, indicating a major issue. Here are the problems that will cause the Whirlpool duet dryer to beep but fail to start:
1. Incorrectly Latched Door – The Dryer Thinks the Door Is Open
Yes, sometimes the dryer door may look shut, but if the dryer sees it otherwise, it may send a warning as a beep. Sometimes you may note the error code OE accompanying three beeps to indicate that you should check the door.
It could be that nothing is wrong with the door, and you only forget to return it firmly. On the negative, it could be that the door switch is faulty, thus preventing the dryer door from locking correctly.
Fix
Try to firmly but gently latch the dryer door. Check the door switch using the multimeter if it doesn’t shut completely. If it lacks continuity (a sign that it’s faulty), replace it. After that, reset the dryer by unplugging it for at least 30 minutes.
2. Laundry Overload – The Drum Capacity Exceeds ¾
Typically, you shouldn’t overload the dryer; anything beyond the 3⁄4 line qualifies as an overload. If you do, several issues may happen, such as your Whirlpool duet dryer not heating, drying, or spinning.
At times, however, the dryer may fail to start and will only beep to tell you that you should check the laundry size.
Fix
Remove the extra clothes to keep the drum’s load capacity ¾ full or slightly under. Don’t go beyond a half, as that’ll make it hard for the dryer to run and is not energy efficient.
3. Dirty Lint Screen
You will likely get an error code such as F4E3 to indicate restricted airflow when the lint screen/filter is dirt clogged. It shows that the lint screen needs cleaning.
If you don’t and the dryer happens to start (which may occur), it won’t get hot and will therefore fail to dry the clothes. Don’t forget that the accumulating lint is also a fire hazard, and you wouldn’t want that.
Fix
Remove the lint screen from your duet dryer and clean it if it’s dirty. Remember, you can clean the lint screen with water and detergent and use a nylon brush to scrub off the stubborn lint.
4. Dryer Overheating
The dryer will send a warning sign when it starts to overheat, and that sign is often a beeping sound without the dryer running. Several issues could cause the dryer to overheat, such as a dirty, lint screen (discussed above), a blocked air vent, or overworking vent.
Overall, here’s what can happen when the dryer overheats and result in a beeping but non-starting dryer:
- Blown-up thermal fuse – The thermal fuse, housed in the blower chambers, protects the dryer from overheating. Once the dryer starts overheating, the thermal fuse sacrifices itself and blows up instead of the dryer.
- Blown-up heat relay – The heat relay is a functional component on the dryer’s control board whose job is to switch on the blower chamber’s heat. It also has a fuse that blows up when the dryer overheats.
Fix
Without a working thermal fuse and heat relay, the dryer won’t start. So, you’ll need to replace any of them if they are faulty. You can determine if that’s the case using the multimeter.
Just probe the multimeter into both components to see if they’ve continuity. If they don’t, replace them.
It’s also essential to clean the dryer vent and lint screen to promote good airflow. Once there’s good airflow, you can avoid an overheating dryer.
5. Wrong Voltage Supply
A Whirlpool duet dryer generally requires a voltage supply of 120v AC. That means 120v at the power plug’s left, right, and center terminals.
The outside terminals should, however, be 240v. Anything outside this range will stop the dryer from starting and will only beep.
Fix
Use a Voltmeter to test the terminals that get voltage from an outside source. If the power cord, for instance, is not 120v or the outer terminal isn’t 240v, you’ll need to call an expert, preferably an electrician.
6. Defective Start Switch
If your duet dryer has power but won’t start and only beeps, it could be because of a defective start switch. If this switch has a fault, it won’t be able to start the dryer. The button could be broken or have an internal wiring issue.
Fix
Use the multimeter to check if the start switch has continuity. Replace it if it doesn’t (which confirms it’s faulty).
7. Faulty Back Pulley
The pulley system at the rear side of your Whirlpool duet dryer is pivotal in spinning the drum. If one of its components, especially the tensioners or belt, fails, the whole pulley system fails, and that may result in a dryer beeping.
Fix
Check the back pulley components, especially the pulley belt, and tensioner, to ensure they are in proper working condition. If the belt is loose or the tensioner is worn out, replace it.
8. Defective Control Board
Lastly, if you still cannot determine what’s wrong after considering the above seven issues, it could be that your dryer’s control board has failed.
Overall, you can tell a malfunctioning control board from the error codes that may pop up, such as F01, F1E1, FCE2, and F6E1.
Whirlpool Dryer Won’t Start Just Beeps Once
Your Whirlpool duet dryer won’t start but only beeps once for different reasons. It could be due to overheating, which a clogged lint trap or vent, or a wrong voltage supply could trigger.
It could also be due to a blown-up thermal fuse or a faulty back pulley component, such as the pulley belt or tensioner. For the latter two reasons, you’ll need to replace the defective parts.
Whirlpool Duet Dryer Won’t Start 3 Beeps
A Whirlpool duet dryer will beep thrice and fail to start when it reads the door to be open. Often the beep is accompanied by a fault code.
You need to firmly shut the door and reset the dryer to fix it. But if the door doesn’t lock, check if the door switch is broken. You can even test its continuity with a multimeter. If the switch lacks continuity, change it.
Whirlpool Duet Dryer Won’t Start Just Clicks
If your Whirlpool duet dryer only clicks but won’t start, it could point out to any of these issues:
- Defective start switch
- Broken door switch
- Blown-up thermal fuse
- Broken drive belt
- Faulty timer drive motor, idler pulley, or control board
Remember, you’ll need to replace the defective component to stop the dryer from beeping without starting
People Also Ask
1. Why Won’t My Whirlpool Dryer Start But Has Power?
Lack of power is not the only reason a Whirlpool dryer won’t start. Your Whirlpool dryer will also not start due to an active control lock, an unlatched door, a blown-up thermal fuse, a wrong setting (such as wrinkle Reduction or Timed Dry), or a faulty start switch.
2. Does a Whirlpool Duet Sport Dryer Have a Reset Button?
Sadly, no, Whirlpool duet sport dryers don’t have the reset button. However, you can manually reset them by unplugging them for 30 minutes.
3. How Do I Do a Hard Reset On a Whirlpool Dryer?
You can hard reset a Whirlpool dryer by plugging it out for at least 30 minutes. Essentially this helps to reset the control board, clear an existing error code and revert to the default setting.
4. Why Is My Whirlpool Duet Not Turning On?
Your Whirlpool duet dryer is not turning on because it lacks power. In that case, check for an unplugged cord, power blackout, tripped breaker, defective wall socket, or a blown fuse.
Sometimes, the issue could be a wiring fault that an expert technician or electrician can help you fix.
Closing Remarks
Generally, several considerations exist when your Whirlpool Duet dryer won’t start just beeps. It could be that the dryer perceives the door as open, there is too much laundry in the dryer, the lint screen is filthy, or the dryer is overheating.
It could also be due to a wrong voltage supply or a defective start switch, rear pulley, or control board. So, before taking your duet dryer to the expert, go through these checks. You could end up fixing the issue and saving money!