LG Dryer Not Heating in Westmonte Estates, Palm Harbor: A Blown High Limit Thermostat and a Stuck Vent Flap
- Symptom
- The dryer was running but not heating.
- Cause
- The high limit thermostat on the heater had failed. The flap on the outside vent was old and bent and wasn't opening all the way, so hot air couldn't get out fast enough.
- Fix
- Replaced the high limit thermostat on the spot (LG part 6931EL3003D) and removed the bent flap from the outside vent, leaving the screen in place to keep critters out.
We’d been to this home in the Westmonte Estates neighborhood of Palm Harbor before. A couple of years ago we replaced the drum rollers on their LG electric dryer (model DLEX3370W). This time the dryer was running, but it wasn’t heating.
Two usual suspects
When one of these LG dryers stops heating, it’s usually one of two thermostats on the heater housing. One is the cycling thermostat, which switches the heat on and off to hold the temperature. The other is the high limit thermostat, a safety part that cuts the heat if the heater ever gets too hot. Here it was the high limit.
Why it failed
We didn’t want the new one to go the same way, so we checked the venting. The flap on the outside vent was old and bent, and it wasn’t opening all the way. With the hot, damp air backing up, the heater was running hotter than it should, and the high limit took the hit.
We took the bent flap off and left the screen around it in place, so snakes and lizards still can’t crawl in.
A new thermostat, on the spot
We had the part with us and put in a new LG high limit thermostat (part 6931EL3003D). Here’s the new one in its bag next to the old one.
With the new thermostat in and the vent breathing freely, the dryer heats again. If your dryer runs but stays cold, take a look at the vent outside too. Replacing the part without fixing the airflow just sets up the next one to fail. More on our dryer repairs.
FAQ
Why is my LG dryer running but not heating?
On these LG electric dryers it's usually one of two thermostats on the heater, the cycling thermostat or the high limit thermostat. The high limit is a safety part that cuts the heat if the heater gets too hot.
Can a dryer vent cause a dryer to stop heating?
Yes. If the vent is restricted, hot air can't get out and the heater runs too hot. That can trip and eventually ruin the high limit thermostat, so it's worth fixing the vent along with the part.