Amana Dryer: not drying properly

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your Amana dryer leaving clothes damp or taking too long to dry? This common issue can stem from restricted airflow due to clogged vents, overloaded drum, or incorrect cycle settings. Understanding the causes can help you find effective solutions and restore your dryer’s performance.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Amana Models

  • Amana specifically calls out improper venting as a key reason for not drying clothes efficiently.

Possible Causes

Restricted airflow due to clogged lint filter or venting system

How to Identify: Drying time is significantly longer than normal or clothes remain damp; visible lint buildup in filter and reduced airflow at external vent

Part: Lint filter, dryer vent hose and external vent

Overloading dryer drum

How to Identify: Large or heavy loads (e.g., comforters dry slowly or unevenly

Part: Drum load capacity

Incorrect cycle settings (auto moisture sensor issue)

How to Identify: Clothes still damp despite long cycles; moisture sensor may misinterpret dryness

Part: Control panel moisture sensor/settings

DIY Solutions

Clean lint filter and venting

Easy 10-30 minutes
Tools Needed: vacuum with hose, dryer vent brush
  1. Remove and clean lint from lint filter after every load.
  2. Disconnect vent hose and vacuum out lint accumulation.
  3. Use vent brush to clear lint from dryer vent and external vent hood.
⚠️ Safety First: Unplug dryer before disconnecting vent hose.

Reduce load size and adjust settings

Easy 5 minutes
  1. Remove excess clothes from overloaded drum.
  2. Select appropriate heat and cycle settings (e.g., timed dry instead of auto dry).
  3. Run dryer again with smaller load to improve airflow.

Test heating element continuity

Moderate 30-60 minutes
Tools Needed: multimeter, screwdriver
  1. Unplug dryer and access rear panel to locate heating element assembly.
  2. Use multimeter to check continuity of the heating element.
  3. Replace heating element if it shows no continuity.
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure power is disconnected before opening dryer panels.

Check thermal fuse and thermostat with multimeter

Moderate To Advanced 45-90 minutes
Tools Needed: multimeter, screwdriver
  1. Unplug dryer and locate thermal fuse on blower housing.
  2. Test thermal fuse and thermostat for continuity.
  3. Replace any component that shows no continuity.
⚠️ Safety First: Disconnect power before inspection.

Professional Repairs

Replace venting system or clear extensive blockage

Estimated Cost: $100 - $250

Replace internal heating assembly

Estimated Cost: $150 - $350

Control board or sensor replacement

Estimated Cost: $200 - $500

When to Call a Professional

Vent blockage causing overheating or fire risk
Heating element or thermostat tests inconclusive or replacement needed
Electronic control or sensor malfunction suspected

Preventive Maintenance

  • Clean lint filter after every load: Restricted airflow and drying performance issues
    Frequency: after each use
  • Inspect and clean dryer vent hose and external vent: Vent blockage and reduced drying efficiency
    Frequency: annually

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Amana Dryer not drying properly?
Common causes include restricted airflow from clogged lint filters or vents, overloaded dryer drum, and incorrect cycle settings.
How do I fix Amana Dryer not drying properly myself?
Clean the lint filter and vent, reduce load size, and check cycle settings. For advanced issues, test the heating element and thermostat.
How much does it cost to fix not drying properly?
Professional repairs typically range from $100 to $500 depending on the issue, such as replacing the venting system or heating assembly.
When should I call a technician for not drying properly?
Consider calling a technician if basic troubleshooting doesn’t resolve the issue or if you suspect a problem with internal components.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

17%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Professional

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Ventilation issues (3 mentions)
  • Heating element problems (2 mentions)
  • Blower wheel malfunction (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Address ventilation issues

    Success rate: 17.0%

  2. Check heating element and thermostats

    Success rate: 0.0%

  3. Inspect blower wheel

    Success rate: 0.0%
Analysis based on 6 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Amana dryer not working properly
  2. Dryer is not working
  3. Dryer vent kit needing replaced?
  4. Dryer Requires Multiple Loads to Dry
  5. Amana dryer making noise and not drying properly
  6. Dryer keeps running, slow to dry

Community Discussions

Clothes take multiple cycles to fully dry

Ventilation issue identified as the cause of the problem.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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