A whirlpool duet dryer is one of the best model dryers for home use. It can automatically sense the clothes’ dryness, making it an effective machine through the help of sensor trips. The sensor trips on the drum work as the load spins on, touching them. When this happens, it will help end the cycle after your laundry is dry.
However, there’s a time when the sensor may stop working, making the cycle end before time. This is if the dryer is stuck on sensing, making it ineffective as your clothes won’t dry or not capable of starting the drying cycle.
How can you fix this? Read on and learn more about this here.
Check On the Thermal Fuse
If your whirlpool duet dryer has issues with the thermal fuse, the drum won’t turn as it should. This means the drum will not come into contact with the sensor trips, making it stuck on sensing. This will make the cycle end prematurely, which can inconvenience you.
You can help change this by troubleshooting the fuse. Locate where the thermal fuse is, which is on the dryer’s exhaust duct. Remove the dryer’s back panel to reach the thermal fuse. But do this after disconnecting the dryer from the main switch. Look if the fuse is burnt or worn out, and consider replacing it.
Alternatively, you need to check for continuity on the thermal fuse. Do this after putting the dryer on standby mode. If there’s continuity, the dryer will indicate infinity showing it’s okay. But if it’s less than infinity, that’s a sign you need to replace the thermal fuse.
Clean The Moisture Sensor
Another best way of solving this issue is by cleaning the moisture sensor. This part is likely to get dirty with lint, dryer sheets, or dirt over time. The dirt build-up will prevent it from working effectively. You can clean the moisture sensor by;
- Identify where the moisture sensor is.
- Then use fine sandpaper to scrub this part to remove white caking. This will help eliminate dirt and any lint that’s covering it.
- After that, use a dry rag to polish the moisture sensor. Gently scrub the moisture sensor with the rag to have it look newer. Note that cleaning it with the dry rag is like polishing it.
- Then test out if your whirlpool dryer is now okay. Ensure the dryer is on auto-dry settings and try using it to test if it’s functioning normally. If it’s operational, it should be able to finish the wash cycle. But if nothing changes, you need to replace it.
Work On the Circuit Board
The whirlpool dryer has a circuit board which helps it function better. The control board also supports the dryer in timing. However, if there’s a problem with the circuit board, like if there’s a loose wiring connection, it may fail to work well.
The faulty wiring will make the sensors stop the cycle before time and affect how the drum turns, preventing it from coming into contact with the sensor.
You can rectify this by replacing or repairing the circuit board to have your whirlpool duet dryer work as before. But it’s advisable to fix this part with the help of a technician as it’s expensive to replace.
Put The Dryer on A Level Ground
Sometimes the whirlpool duet dryer is stuck on sensing because it’s not on a leveled ground that prevents the drum from spinning. This will not allow the drum to touch the sensor making the dryer stick on sensing. So, you need to work on this to have your whirlpool duet dryer work as before. You can do this by;
- First, use a level to determine how leveled the dryer is. Ensure you check the levelness on both sides of the dryer, then do the same for the back and in front of the dryer. Doing this will help you know where it’s uneven from.
- After that, put a wooden block to prop up the machine and reach its legs.
- Then adjust the dryer’s legs so that they all are at an equal level. You can use a wrench to help you out in this process.
- Do monitor the levelness of the dryer one more time to confirm if the legs are all even.
- Finally, load the dryer and test if it can complete the cycle without sticking to sensing.
Consider Replacing the Dryer’s Motor
A whirlpool duet dryer has a motor that helps the drum to turn through what’s known as the pulley system. Through this, the drum will not come into contact with the dryer’s sensor, which helps it move to the next cycle. This will make the dryer get stuck on sensing, making it ineffective.
If the motor is spoilt, the best way out is to replace or repair it. You can work with a technician to help you out with this. But if after this there are not many changes, you need to look for a different solution that will make the dryer work.
On the other hand, your whirlpool duet dryer’s motor may be having lint build-up preventing it from allowing the drum to spin. In this case, you need to clean it out to have it work with fewer challenges.
Clean The Dryer’s Vent
If your whirlpool duet dryer is stuck on sensing, you need to clean the vents. Dirty vents will make the dryer ineffective as there will be no adequate airflow. When there’s restricted airflow, the dryer will be stuck on sensing affecting the results.
Clean the vents to have your whirlpool duet dryer to have this problem solved. Use the dryer’s manual to help you clean this part out.
Bottom Line
Your whirlpool duet dryer automatically senses when the clothes are dry, bringing the cycle to an end. However, there’s a time when the machine gets stuck on sensing, which means it has an issue you need to solve to have it work effectively.
Check if the dryer is on a leveled surface where the drum can turn with ease and touch the sensor. If not, consider replacing or repairing the motor or the circuit board. Also, consider cleaning the sensors, checking if the thermal fuse is operational, and fixing it when necessary.
