When it comes to your clothes dryer, you may not think about its parts and how they work until something goes wrong. If your dryer isn’t working properly, or your dryer is not getting hot enough , knowing its parts and getting some ideas on how to repair them can help to get laundry day back on track. This guide will break down the major internal and external parts of a dryer to help you understand what each part does, where it's located, which parts to look at if your dryer isn’t starting and how to consider whether it might need to be repaired or replaced.
If your dryer seems to be malfunctioning, the simplest place to start investigating is the appliance’s exterior parts. Your dryer’s external parts can be accessed without having to remove the dryer cover. Below is a list of dryer part names that are typically found on the outside of your machine.
Location: at the bottom of the appliance
Purpose: helps keep the dryer level and firmly in place
Location: inside the dryer opening
Purpose: iIlluminates the dryer’s interior
Location: either on the exterior of the dryer or inside the door opening depending on the model
Purpose: collects lint and debris as it passes through the dryer vent
Location: on the exterior of the dryer
Purpose: used to select time of a dry cycle
Location: on the dryer door
Purpose: closes the gap between the dryer drum and door to prevent air and loose items from passing through
Location: on the opening of the dryer door
Purpose : keeps the dryer door shut during dry cycle
Location: in the opening of the dryer door
Purpose: stops dryer function if the door is ajar
Location: on the dryer drum
Purpose: promotes air flow to help tumble clothes during the dryer cycle
Location: on the back of the dryer
Purpose: used to expel hot air from the dryer
Purpose: help keep the dryer level and firmly in place
Location : inside the dryer opening 1
Purpose : iIlluminates the dryer’s interior
1. Some dryer models do not include a light bulb inside the dryer opening.
Location : either on the exterior of the dryer or inside the door opening depending on the model
Purpose : collects lint and debris as it passes through the dryer vent
Should be cleaned after each dry cycle
If clothes are still damp after a dry cycle, the lint screen may need to be replaced
Shop Maytag ® replacement lint screen
Note: Before replacing the lint screen, try washing it with soap and water to see if that helps.
Location : on the exterior of the dryer
Purpose : used to select time of a dry cycle
Needs to be replaced if it does not turn, or if it turns but does not provide a response whether it's a clicking sound or cycle selection
Shop Maytag ® replacement dryer knob dial
Location : on the dryer door
Purpose : closes the gap between the dryer drum and the door to prevent air and loose items from passing through
If the dryer door isn’t closing properly, the seal may need to be replaced
Shop Maytag ® replacement dryer door seal
Location : on the opening of the dryer door
If the dryer door is not closing or pops open, replace the door latch
Location : in the opening of the dryer door
Purpose : stops dryer function if the door is ajar
If the dryer does not start when the door is closed, door switch may need to be replaced
Location : on the dryer drum
Purpose : promotes air flow to help tumble clothes during the dryer cycle
If baffle is loose or has fallen off, it needs to be replaced
Shop Maytag ® replacement dryer baffle
Location : on the back of the dryer
Purpose : used to expel hot air from the dryer
Vents clogged with lint or with damaged blades should be replaced
If the external parts of your dryer are not the root cause of your appliance’s problem, it may be one of the parts in the main body of your dryer or behind the control panel. Below is a list of internal dryer parts that may need repairing or replacing if your appliance is no longer performing at its best.
Location: either behind the dryer drum or in the back panel of the machine
Purpose: a coil or wire that produces heat in electric dryers
Location: near the bottom of the dryer cabinet
Purpose: circulates air by pulling dry air in and drawing hot damp air out through vents
Location: on blower housing
Purpose: works as a safety mechanism to prevent overheating
Location: typically located on blower housing
Purpose: regulates the cycle temperature to properly dry laundry
Location: in the back panel of dryer
Purpose: provides tension for drive belt to help rotate the dryer drum
Location: on the outside of the dryer drum
Purpose: connects to the drive motor to rotate the drum during a drying cycle
Purpose: gives power to the pulley wheel and the drive belt to rotate the dryer drum
Location : inside dryer cabinet
Purpose: supports the drum as it rotates
Location: in the back panel of dryer near the drum
Purpose: holds the drum in place during a drying cycle
Location: in the back panel of the dryer
Purpose: controls dryer timing, temperature and function
Location : either behind the dryer drum or in the back panel of the machine
Purpose : a coil or wire that produces heat in electric dryers
If dryer does not heat during dry cycle, heating element may need to be replaced
Professional help is recommended for this replacement
Shop Maytag ® replacement heating element
Location : near the bottom of the dryer cabinet
Purpose : circulates air by pulling dry air in and drawing hot damp air out through vents
If you hear high pitched noises during use, loud vibrations or experience longer drying times, these may be signs to replace the blower
Shop Maytag ® replacement dryer blower
Location : on blower housing
Purpose : works as a safety mechanism to prevent overheating
If the dryer overheats, the thermal fuse will blow and cut off power to the motor
If the fuse blows and dryer does not heat, it cannot be reset and must be replaced
Shop Maytag ® replacement thermal fuse
Location : typically located on the blower housing
Purpose : regulates the cycle temperature to properly dry laundry
If the dryer has poor temperature control or does not heat, the thermostat may need replacement
Location : in the back panel of dryer
Purpose : provides tension for the drive belt to help rotate the dryer drum
Typically makes a high-pitched squealing, squeaking or rattling noise when malfunctioning
Shop Maytag ® replacement idler pulley wheel
Location : on the outside of the dryer drum
Purpose : connects to the drive motor to rotate the drum during a drying cycle
If the drum does not rotate but the motor can be heard, the drive belt needs to be replaced
Shop Maytag ® replacement drive belt
If the dryer does not start, makes a loud noise or stops mid-cycle, replace the motor
Shop Maytag ® replacement drive motor
Location : inside the dryer cabinet
Purpose : supports the drum as it rotates
The dryer will make a loud sound when the slides need replacement
May need to replace all slides at once as they typically wear out simultaneously
Shop Maytag ® replacement dryer slides
Location : in the back panel of the dryer near the drum
Purpose : holds the drum in place during a drying cycle
If the dryer makes a loud rumbling noise during use, replace the drum rollers
May need to replace all rollers at once as they typically wear out at the same time
Shop Maytag ® replacement drum roller
Location : in the back panel of the dryer
Purpose : controls dryer timing, temperature and function
Sends power to the motor and other components
If all other components of the dryer are functioning properly but the dryer still won’t run, the control board may need to be replaced.
Professional help is recommended for proper diagnosis of this problem
Shop Maytag ® replacement control board
Though many parts of a dryer are the same whether your appliance is gas or electric , gas dryers have a few additional components as they use a different fuel source.
Location : across from the flame igniter
Purpose : detects when the igniter is ready to light the gas burners
Location : near the flame igniter
Purpose : heats the dryer by opening for flame ignition
Dryers that don’t heat or heat up intermittently may need a coil replacement
Location : on the side of the gas burner
Purpose : lights the gas to heat the dryer
If defective, gas will not ignite and the dryer will not heat
Shop Maytag ® replacement dryer igniter
In some cases, a dryer malfunction can be resolved with a simple part replacement that comes at a low cost, such as replacing a part to fix your dryer that doesn’t spin . With proper care and maintenance, a dryer can typically last between 10–15 years before needing a replacement. If you begin to run into problems around that time, upgrading your dryer with options from Maytag may be a more efficient option than replacing multiple dryer parts.
Select Maytag ® Energy Star dryers have features like smart capabilities, Extra Power, Advanced Moisture Sensing and Steam-Enhanced Dry. If you decide to give your laundry room an upgrade, trust Maytag to help you find the right washers and dryers for your family’s needs.
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