Is Your Hotpoint Tumble Dryer Not Heating? Here Are 7 Reasons Why…

A tumble dryer failing to heat up is a major problem! But before calling a repairman, read through this post to figure out what could be wrong. The trouble might be a simple fix. Why pay the repairman tens of pounds of service charges for something you can do yourself?

Following are some reasons that your Hotpoint Tumble Dryer might not be heating:

1. The thermostat might be malfunctioning or broken
2. The thermal fuse might have blown
3. The heating element might be faulty or lost efficiency
4. The dryer filters might be clogged or unclean
5. Blocked or faulty dryer pump might need replacement
6. Build-up of lint in the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer hose
7. Hotpoint Tumble Dryer Drum not turning

This post will help you figure out how to fix a Hotpoint Tumble Dryer that won't heat up. Let us walk you through all the issues mentioned above and see how each problem can be fixed.

Read Next: This is why your Hotpoint freezer is not working.

If you have a washer-dryer instead of a tumble dryer in your home, you might want to check out this post on Why Your Washer Dyer Is Not Drying And How To Fix It instead

Keep in mind that this post is specifically for a Hotpoint Tumble Dryer. Always check the product manual before attempting these fixes mentioned below. Take necessary precautions and be mindful of safety measures when dealing with electrical appliances. Good luck and have fun!

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1. Malfunctioning or Broken Thermostat of a Hotpoint Tumble Dryer

Depending on the model of your dryer, there are usually two thermostats installed. One is the cycling thermostat , and the other is the safety thermostat .

The cycling thermostat controls the temperature by turning on and off at intervals, keeping the temperature constant on the setting that you have chosen for the drying cycle.

The safety thermostat may also be called the high-limit thermostat because it prevents overheating in the dryer which might otherwise result in fire or extensive damage of the parts. Basically, it turns off the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer system when the temperature goes over a certain programmed limit. However, the safety thermostat doesn’t reset when the dryer temperature is too cold.

Thermostats can malfunction and fail due to the following reasons:

• Too many mid-cycle interruptions can cause a malfunction because the dryer isn’t able to cool down. Try not to pause and check the dryer while your clothes are drying because this is not healthy for your Hotpoint Tumble Dryer.
• Bad airflow in the dryer due to clogged filters or hose can result in over exertion on the thermostat and cause it to malfunction.
• Too many clothes in the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer can overload the machine and restrict the air flow. Always try to run the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer when it is halfway full. Too many or too less clothes can decrease efficiency of the dryer.
• A simple reason your Hotpoint Tumble Dryer may be blowing cold air is that the cycling thermostat may be stuck in the open position. Simply reset the switch in order to get your dryer functioning normally again.

Thermostats are fitted on the back of the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer in the heating element housing. If the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer blows cold air, that’s the place you should probably start from when trying to identify the source of the problem.

Read Next: Tumble dryer under the stairs - good idea or not?

2. Blown Thermal Fuse in a Hotpoint Tumble Dryer

Another reason that the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer might not be heating up or blowing cold air is that the thermal fuse might have blown, or it might have tripped. This is a pretty common issue when it comes to tumble drier and is a quick fix.

The thermal fuse is a safety device installed in the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer which protects it from overheating.

To identify whether the thermal fuse has blown on tripped, unplug the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer and remove the front panel of the dryer to have a look at the compartment that holds the fuse. If you can't find the fuse there it might be located in the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer’s heat source.

Use a flashlight to have a good look at the fuse. This will be the shape of a flat can.

The thermal fuse is completely useless once it has blown. All you have to do is buy a new one and replace it. Alternatively, the switch might have tripped. Just check the switch to see which direction it is in and reset it if need be.

Read Next: Try these fixes when your dryer refuses to dry.

3. Faulty or Inefficient Heating Element of a Hotpoint Tumble Dryer

As mentioned before, the thermostat is present in the same area as the heating element. This can make the identification of the source of the issue somewhat tricky.

Experts recommend replacing the thermostat and the heating element at the same time when one breaks down because they are so closely connected that you might have to replace the other part anyway.

Replacing both parts at once helps you save time and ensure that the lifespan of both these parts will remain similar in case the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer needs to be repaired in the future. Once you purchase the thermostat and heating element, following are the steps that you will have to take to replace both parts in your Hotpoint Tumble Dryer:

1. Switch off the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer. This is important for your safety. Always remember to switch off the appliance before you start working on any repairs.
2. Remove the back panel of the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer.
3. Remove the side panels, you might have to remove the top panel of the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer as well to gain access to the side panels.
4. Consult the guidelines on the documentation provided with the thermostat in order to wire the thermostat correctly. Do not touch the circular gold disks in the middle of the thermostats because this may damage it.
5. You can also take pictures of the old thermostat before removing the wires from it so that you can consult it when you work on wiring the new thermostat.
6. Replace the thermostat and heating element with the new one.
7. Double check the wiring of the parts and consult the guidelines again just to make sure that everything is in place correctly.
8. Put all the panels back together in the order that you removed them.

And you’re done! It's pretty simple if you’re just careful with the wiring.

4. Unclean Dryer Filters of a Hotpoint Tumble Dryer

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You should regularly clean the filters of your Hotpoint Tumble Dryer once a month before waiting for it to malfunction. Unclean filters can restrict the airflow of the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer and cause it to overheat and damage the dryer leading to costly repairs.

All you have to do is run clean water through the filter and the condenser to remove any lint or debris stuck it in these parts. Reach inside the crevices of the area that holds the filter and manually remove any lint stuck in it. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the debris from these parts.

Just be careful while you do this and always remember to unplug the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer before you put your hands in anywhere.

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5. Blocked or Faulty Dryer Pump in a Hotpoint Tumble Dryer

If you have failed to fix the problems by following the aforementioned suggestions, you might have to check the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer pump to see if it's faulty. In order to do this, follow these steps listed below:

1. Unplug the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer and locate a bulging container at the bottom rear of the dryer.
2. Lever open the container and lift off the top.
3. Remove the hoses of the pump and blow into them to make sure that they are clean and clear of any debris.
4. Remove the pump and check to see if there is any debris.
5. Locate the pump reservoir and clean it.

If the pump still seems to be the source of the problem, you might have to replace it.

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6. Build-up of Lint in the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer Hose

Blockages in the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer hose can restrict the airflow and reduce the drying time by a margin. Remove the hose from the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer and clean it out with plenty of water. Some pressure might help in this task.

7. Hotpoint Tumble Dryer Drum Not Turning

If the drum in the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer doesn’t turn, the clothes will not be able to dry out because they won't be exposed to the hot air produced by the dryer. Following are two primary reasons why the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer drum might not be turning:

1) Broken Drive Belt

If the dryer isn’t turning it won’t be able to dry clothes effectively. This might be due to a broken drive belt that restricts the drum of the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer from turning. You will not only need a new drive belt for the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer, but you will also need a dryer belt fitter to help you fit in the new belt into your Hotpoint Tumble Dryer.

It is best to call in an expert instead of trying to replace the belt yourself because it is trickier than replacing other parts of the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer.

2) Faulty Start Capacitor

Another reason that the drum in the Hotpoint Tumble Dryer might not be turning is a faulty start capacitor. The start capacitor kickstarts the motor in the dryer and changes the direction of the drum allowing it to turn.

Don’t try to fix a fault start capacitor yourself! Call an electrician or a technician for this job because you might end up getting an electric shock.

If you're thinking about replacing your old tumble dryer with a new one, here's a post on the best 7 KG tumble dryers of 2021 . You can also have a look at this post that reviews The Best Small Condenser Tumble Dryers In 2021

Final Word

The main purpose of a tumble dryer is to produce heat that helps dry clothes quickly. When it fails to perform its primary function, it can be quite frustrating. We hope this elaborate guide helps you identify the source of the problem. If not, you can always call a professional technician to help you sort it out!