Licensed Residential and Commercial Electrician in North New Jersey
Despite what most appliance stores would have you believe, if you are experiencing an issue with your dryer running but not heating or drying your clothes, the problem may not be your dryer - it's your electricity!
You see, the heating element for your dryer runs off a 30 amp double pole breaker. If one side of your breaker is burned open, that leaves just 110 volts of electricity running through your dryer. That's enough power to rotate your dryer but not enough to dry your clothes. Electric dryers require two legs of 120 volts AC, totaling 240 volts. It is not uncommon for just one fuse or breaker to trip, resulting in the dryer running but not heating. If this problem occurs with your dryer, it is important to contact an electrician. They will check the fuse box or circuit breaker or measure the voltage at the outlet using a multimeter.
People often splurge on a brand-new dryer only to discover they have the same issue with the new dryer. Now you're out a perfectly working dryer, and you've spent additional money. So, before you head over to the appliance store to buy a dryer you don't need, contact your electrician first!