Looking for more guidance? Take a look at our Repairs overview.
Available on
BACKFEB 5, 2026
What to Do When Your Dryer Gets Too Hot
BACKFEB 5, 2026
Looking for more guidance? Take a look at our Repairs overview.
Discovering your clothes dryer is running much hotter than usual can be unsettling. The top of the machine might be hot to the touch, your clothes may feel scorched, or you might even notice a faint burning smell. This is not something to ignore. An overheating dryer is one of the leading causes of home fires, but the good news is that the most common causes are often straightforward to diagnose and fix.
An overly hot dryer is almost always a sign of an airflow problem. When hot, moist air can't escape the dryer drum efficiently, heat builds up to dangerous levels.
This guide will walk you through the process of figuring out what’s wrong, starting with immediate safety checks and moving from the simplest fixes to more complex diagnostics.
Image Alt: A person's hand safely unplugging a dryer's power cord before starting any maintenance.
Before you do anything else, it's critical to assess the immediate risk. A burning smell, smoke, or loud mechanical noises are signs of a serious problem that needs professional attention.
Perform this quick safety check:
If you see smoke, smell something burning (like rubber or plastic, not just hot lint), or hear loud, unusual noises, do not use the dryer again. It's time to stop and call a qualified appliance repair technician.
If there are no immediate signs of danger, the most likely culprit is a simple lint clog. This is the first and easiest thing to check.
If the dryer now seems to be operating at a normal temperature, a clogged lint screen or vent was likely the problem. You can help prevent this by adding "deep clean lint trap" to your regular home maintenance schedule in the Casa app.
If the basic cleaning didn't solve the overheating, the blockage is probably further down the line in the exhaust duct—the flexible tube that connects the back of your dryer to the wall.
If clearing and straightening the duct solved the problem, you're all set. A clean, straight exhaust duct is essential for dryer safety and efficiency.
Image Alt: An illustration of a dryer's interior, highlighting the location of the cycling thermostat, high-limit thermostat, and heating element.
If you've thoroughly cleaned the entire vent system and the dryer still gets too hot, the issue is likely a failed internal component. The most common culprits are the thermostats that regulate temperature or the heating element itself.
This is a good point to decide on your comfort level. Testing and replacing these parts requires opening the dryer's access panels and using a tool called a multimeter to check electrical continuity. If you're not experienced with appliance repair, this is the time to call a professional.
For those comfortable with proceeding, the goal is to test the following components:
Testing these parts involves disconnecting them (with the power off) and using a multimeter to see if they have proper continuity—an unbroken electrical path. A reading of infinity or "OL" (open loop) on the multimeter usually indicates a faulty part that needs replacing.
If you identify a bad component, you can often order a replacement and install it yourself. However, if you test the components and they all seem fine, or if you have a gas dryer, the problem is more complex. At this point, it's best to contact an appliance repair technician for a professional diagnosis.
An overheating dryer is a clear warning sign from your home, and addressing it promptly is key to keeping things running safely. By working through these steps, you can often solve the problem yourself by simply clearing a blockage that was hurting performance and creating a fire risk.
Remembering to perform regular maintenance is the best way to prevent future issues. The Casa app can help you keep track of all your home's needs, from cleaning dryer vents to checking smoke detectors. Download Casa today to create a simple, stress-free maintenance plan for your home.
