Know your dryer type
| Type | How it works | What to clean |
|---|---|---|
| Vented | Blows hot, damp air outside through a hose | Lint filter and vent hose |
| Condenser | Cools the air inside and collects water in a tank | Lint filter, condenser unit, water tank |
| Heat pump | Recycles heat with a small refrigeration system | Lint filters (often two) and the heat pump filter |
Checks you can do
- Clean the lint filter in the door. Do this after every load.
- Clean the condenser or heat pump filter. On condenser dryers, remove the condenser box at the bottom and rinse it. On heat pump dryers, clean the second filter behind the bottom flap.
- Empty the water tank on condenser and heat pump dryers. A full tank stops the cycle.
- Check the vent hose on vented dryers. A crushed or blocked hose traps heat and trips the safety fuse.
- Choose a heat program. Some programs, such as air or refresh, run without heat.
Parts that commonly fail
- Heating element: burns out after years of use. The drum turns but stays cold.
- Thermal fuse or thermal cut-out: a safety part that trips when the dryer overheats, usually because of a blocked filter or vent. It has to be replaced, and the blockage cleared.
- Thermostat or temperature sensor: wrong readings make the dryer cut the heat too early.
- Heat pump system (heat pump dryers): compressor or fan faults make drying very slow.
- Condenser pump: if water isn't pumped to the tank, the dryer stops with a tank warning.
Lint is flammable. A dryer that overheats because of blocked lint is a fire risk. Never run a dryer with a missing or damaged filter.
Book a dryer repair
A FixQara technician will measure the element, fuse and sensors, clean the airflow path and fix the fault. The inspection is AED 75, and every part we install comes with a 1-year warranty. More details on our dryer repair page.
