Hotpoint Dryer Taking Too Long To Dry

If your Hotpoint dryer’s taking too long to dry your laundry, use the following troubleshooting steps to help you find the problem, locate the faulty part or parts and fix or replace them, to get your dryer drying properly again.

WARNING – If you are attempting to repair any dryer yourself, be aware that you are working with potentially dangerous electrical currents that can cause serious bodily injury or death.  Always remove the electrical power source from the appliance before you ever begin working on it.  If you are attempting to repair any household gas appliances yourself, always be sure to turn off the gas that is designated to the appliance before you ever begin to repair it.  Be aware that clothes dryers have extremely sharp edges and moving parts that can cause serious bodily injury or death.  Be aware that there are many other dangers and precautions involved in dryer repair besides those listed above.  We strongly suggest that you please read our DISCLAIMER before any further actions are taken or proceeding any further.  Always think safety first!

Hotpoint Electric Dryer

Takes A Long Time To Dry

Step – (1.) Safety Reminder

Remember to always unplug the power cord that is designated to the dryer you are working on before you ever begin to troubleshoot or make any repairs to it.

Step – (2.) Lint Blockage

The most common reason a Hotpoint dryer takes too long to dry clothes is from lint blockage in the dryer’s ventilation system.  If your laundry is hot and damp at the end of the drying cycle, make sure that the lint filter has been cleared of all of the lint.  The lint filter should be cleaned between every load, as regular maintenance.  If the filter was clear of lint, you will need to pull the dryer away from the wall and disconnect the dryer vent hose from the back of the dryer.  Look for lint build up in the dryer vent and in the vent hose and clean if any is present.  Try running a load of laundry with the vent hose disconnected from the back of the dryer.  If the load comes out dry, you will need to inspect and remove any lint build up at the wall vent connection and the homes exterior/outside vent.

Step – (3.) Heating Element

You will need to visually inspect the dryer’s heating element for damage.  If the elements coils are intact and no signs of damage are found, you will then need to test it for continuity using a multimeter or a digital meter.  If the element does not have continuity the part is bad and will need to be replaced.  Before installing the new heating element on your dryer, you will need to check for burnt or loose wires and repair them before installing the new element.  Loose wire connections or damaged or burnt wires can short out the newly installed heating element.

Step – (4.) Blower Wheel

You will need to locate the dryer’s blower wheel and clean out any lint build up that is present.  Safety Note – you will need to wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp unfinished metal edges.  Try turning the blower wheel by hand, the dryers drum should turn as the blower wheel is being turned.  Make sure that the blower wheel is not stripped from the drive motor shaft or broken anywhere.

Step – (5.) High-Limit Thermostat

The high-limit thermostat is located on the dryer’s heating element housing.  The thermostat is used to monitor the dryer’s temperature and will shut the heating element off if the dryer gets too hot.  You will need to test the thermostat to make sure that it has continuity using a multimeter or digital meter.  If the meter shows the thermostat has continuity the part is good.  If the thermostat does not have continuity, the part is bad and will need to be replaced.

Step – (6.) Cycling Thermostat

The cycling thermostat is normally located on the dryer’s blower housing.  The thermostat is used to cycle the heating element on and off during the drying cycle to regulate the temperature of the air entering the clothes dryer.  Using a digital meter or a multimeter, you will need to test the cycling thermostat to see if it has continuity.  If the meter shows that it has continuity the thermostat is good.  If the thermostat does not have any continuity, then the part is bad and will need to be replaced.

Step – (7.) Dryer Moisture Sensor 

The moisture sensor is used to monitor the moisture in the laundry.  When the laundry is dry the moisture sensor will send a signal to the electronic control board telling it that the laundry has finished drying.  If the moisture sensor is faulty, the dryer can shut off prematurely, leaving the laundry damp or continue to run after the laundry has dried.

Hotpoint Gas Dryer

Takes Too Long Drying

Step – (1.) Safety Reminder

Please be sure that the electricity and gas have been turned off and disconnected completely from the clothes dryer before proceeding any further.

Step – (2.) Lint Blockage

The most common reason a dryer takes too long to dry is from lint blockage in the dryer’s ventilation system.  If your laundry is hot and damp at the end of the drying cycle, make sure that the lint filter has been cleared of all of the lint.  The lint filter should be cleaned between every load, as regular maintenance.  If the filter was clear of lint, you will need to pull the dryer away from the wall and disconnect the dryer vent hose from the back of the dryer.  Look for lint build up in the dryer vent and in the vent hose and clean if any is present.  Try running a load of laundry with the vent hose disconnected from the back of the dryer.  If the load comes out dry, you will need to check for lint build up at the wall vent connection and the homes exterior/outside vent.

Step – (3.) Blower Wheel

You will need to locate the dryer’s blower wheel, inside the back dryer panel, inside the blower housing.  Safety Note – you will need to wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp, unfinished metal edges.  Try turning the blower wheel by hand, the dryers drum should turn as the blower wheel is being turned.  Make sure that the blower wheel isn’t packed with lint build up, next make sure it is not stripped from the drive motor shaft or broken anywhere.

Step – (4.) Moisture Sensor

The moisture sensor is used to monitor the moisture in the laundry.  When the laundry is dry the moisture sensor will send a signal to the electronic control board, telling it that the laundry has finished drying.  If the moisture sensor is bad, the dryer can shut off prematurely, leaving the laundry damp or continue to run after the laundry has dried.

Step – (5.) Cycling Thermostat

The cycling thermostat is normally mounted on the dryer’s blower housing.  It is used to cycle the gas burner off and on during the drying cycle to regulate the temperature of the air entering the clothes dryer.  Using a multimeter or digital meter, you will need to test the cycling thermostat to see if it has continuity.  If the test shows that it does have continuity the thermostat is good.  If the thermostat does not have any continuity, then the part has failed and will need to be replaced.

Step – (6.) High-Limit Thermostat

The high-limit thermostat is located on the dryer’s burner assembly.  It is used to monitor the dryer’s temperature and will shut the burner off if the clothes dryer gets too hot.  You will need to test the thermostat to make sure that it has continuity using a digital meter or a multimeter.  If the thermostat does not have continuity, the part is faulty and will need to be replaced with a new one.

Step – (7.) Ignition Coils

The ignition coils are also referred to as the gas valve solenoid coils, they are mounted just in front of the gas burner assembly.  Their sole function is to open the gas valve and let the gas flow into the burner assembly.  If you can see that the igniter is glowing red hot and the burner won’t light, it is likely that one or both of the gas valve solenoid coils have failed and will need to be replaced.

Hotpoint Dryer Not Heating

If your Hotpoint dryer will not heat up, follow these troubleshooting steps to help you locate the problem, find the faulty part or parts and replace them, to get your gas or electric dryer heating again.

WARNING – If you are attempting to repair any dryer yourself, be aware that you are working with potentially dangerous electrical currents that can cause serious bodily injury or death.  Always remove the electrical power source from the appliance before you ever begin working on it.  If you are attempting to repair any household gas appliances yourself, always be sure to turn off the gas that is designated to the appliance before you ever begin to repair it.  Be aware that clothes dryers have extremely sharp edges and moving parts that can cause serious bodily injury or death.  Be aware that there are many other dangers and precautions involved in dryer repair besides those listed above.  We strongly suggest that you please read our DISCLAIMER before any further actions are taken or proceeding any further.  Always think safety first!

Hotpoint Electric Dryer

Won’t Heat

  1. Breaker – The first thing to check if your electric dryer won’t heat is the dryers 220 circuit breaker located in the main circuit breaker box.   You will need to locate the breaker box and find the 220 breaker that is dedicated for your dryer.  Flip the breaker off and on a few times, even if it looks like the breaker is already in the on position.  The electric clothes dryer runs on 220 and if half of the two-pole breaker is tripped the dryer motor will run on 110 but the heating element will not heat.  If your clothes dryer still won’t heat up, further troubleshooting will need to be performed.
  2. Warning – Please be certain that the electricity has been turned off or disconnected completely to the dryer that you are servicing, please double check before proceeding to troubleshoot any further.
  3. Thermal Fuse – The dryer thermal fuse is also known as the thermal cutoff fuse and the temperature fuse.  The thermal fuse is used as a safety device, cutting off the electricity to the dryers drive motor and the heating element to keep the clothes dryer from getting too hot.  Note – Once this fuse has blown it cannot be reused.  If your dryer’s thermal fuse has blown, you will need to check for lint build up or blockage in the clothes dryer vent hose or ventilation system, before installing a new thermal fuse, only to have it blow again.  Lint build up prevents good air flow in a dryer and is the most common reason for a dryer’s thermal fuse to blow.
  4. Heating Element – The heating element is used to heat the air before it enters the drum on an electric clothes dryer.  If your electric dryer is not heating, you will need to visually inspect the element for damage.  If the element coils are intact and no signs of damage are found, you will need to test it for continuity using a multimeter.  If the element does not have continuity the part is bad and will need to be replaced.  Before installing the new heating element, you will need to check for loose or burnt wires and repair them before connecting them to the new element.  Loose wire connections and burnt or damaged wires can short out the new element.
  5. Cycling Thermostat – The cycling thermostat is normally located on the clothes dryer’s blower housing.  It is used to cycle the heating element off and on during the drying cycle to regulate the temperature of the air entering the dryer.  Using a multimeter, you will need to test the cycling thermostat to see if it has continuity, if the test shows that it does have continuity the thermostat is good.  If the thermostat does not have any continuity, then the part is bad and will need to be replaced.
  6. High-Limit Thermostat – The high-limit thermostat is located on the clothes dryers heating element housing.  It is used to monitor the dryer’s temperature and will shut the heating element off if the dryer gets too hot.  You will need to test the thermostat to make sure that it has continuity, using a multimeter, if the thermostat has continuity the part is good.  If the thermostat does not have continuity, the part is bad and will need to be replaced with a new one.

Hotpoint Gas Dryer

Won’t Heat

  1. Warning – Please be certain that the electricity and the gas have been turned off or disconnected to the gas dryer that you are servicing.  Please double check before proceeding to troubleshoot any further.
  2. Thermal Fuse – The dryer thermal fuse is also known as the thermal cutoff fuse and the temperature fuse.  The fuse is used as a safety mechanism, cutting off electricity to the dryer motor and the burner assembly to keep the clothes dryer from getting too hot.  The fuse can be tested using a multimeter.  If the fuse does not have continuity, the part is bad and will need to be replaced.  Note – Once this fuse has blown it cannot be reused. If your fuse has blown, you will need to check for blockage or lint build up in the clothes dryer vent hose or ventilation system before installing a new thermal fuse, only to have it blow again.
  3. Igniter – The igniter is located inside of the burner assembly in a gas dryer, it is used to ignite the gas into flame for heat.  If the igniter is bad, the gas will not light and the clothes dryer won’t heat up.  Using a multimeter or digital meter, you will need to test the igniter to see if it has continuity, if the test shows that it does have continuity the igniter is good.  If the igniter does not have continuity, then the part is bad and will need to be replaced.
  4. Gas Valve Solenoid Coils – The gas valve solenoid coils also referred to as the ignition coils are mounted just in front of the gas burner assembly.  Their function is to open the gas valve to let gas flow into the burner assembly.  If you can see that the igniter is glowing red hot and the burner does not light, it is likely that one or both of the coils are bad.  Solution – replace both of the ignition coils.
  5. High-Limit Thermostat – The high-limit thermostat is located on the clothes dryer’s burner assembly.  It is used to monitor the dryer’s temperature and will shut the burner off if the dryer gets too hot.  You will need to test the thermostat to make sure that it has continuity using a digital meter or a multimeter.  If the thermostat does not have continuity, the part is bad and will need to be replaced with a new one.
  6. Cycling Thermostat – The cycling thermostat is normally mounted on the clothes dryer’s blower housing.  It is used to cycle the gas burner off and on during the drying cycle to regulate the temperature of the air entering the dryer.  Using a multimeter or digital meter, you will need to test the cycling thermostat to see if it has continuity, if the test shows that it does have continuity the thermostat is good.  If the thermostat does not have any continuity, then the part is bad and will need to be replaced.
  7. Flame Sensor – The dryer flame sensor is used on a gas dryer as a safety device.  The sensor is used to prevent high levels of gas from building up in the dryer.  The sensor senses heat that is emitted from the igniter and monitors if it is hot enough to ignite the gas and light the burner.  You will need to test the sensor for continuity using a multimeter.  If the sensor does not have continuity, the part is bad and will need to be replaced.
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