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The Bosch tumble dryer allows you to dry your clothes with the touch of a button. You no longer have to endure the hassle of hanging your clothes out to dry. But what do you do when your tumble dryer starts acting up?
If you encounter problems with your Bosch tumble dryer, performing a reset will usually do the trick. However, if your dryer fails to tumble, stops in the middle of a cycle, or leaves your clothes damp, you may have to replace a fuse or clean the sensors or filters.
This article will discuss common issues with the Bosch tumble dryer and walk you through the troubleshooting steps to get your dryer up and running again.
1. Bosch Dryer Fails To Dry Clothes
Your dryer may seem to be working fine as it tumbles and completes its cycle. But when you open the door to get your clothes, you notice they’re still damp.
If your dryer fails to dry your clothes completely, it may be due to several reasons. I’ll go over these possible reasons next.
The Vent Tube Is Clogged
Vent tubes in a dryer serve as a pathway for the hot, humid air to escape. Hot air gets trapped in the dryer if the ducts get deformed or covered with lint. The heat can trip the thermal fuse or shut the heating element down.
Clogged vents will affect your dryer’s efficiency, leading to damp clothes after a complete cycle. But, aside from compromising your dryer’s performance, dirty tube vents will also increase your power consumption, and worst of all, they may even cause a fire.
How To Fix?
Remove lint and debris by cleaning the clogged vent tube. You should clean the air duct at least once a year. Remember not to bend the tube while cleaning to prevent deformity, which can also cause clogs.
To clean the vent tube on your Bosch dyer, follow the instructions below:
- Switch the dryer off and let it cool down.
- Unplug the dryer from the power outlet.
- Remove the air duct by loosening the clamp.
- Clean the exhaust duct with a brush or vacuum cleaner.
- Reinstall the air duct.
Read: 3 Ways How To Fix Bosch Dryer Not Starting?
The Heating Element Is Faulty
As the name suggests, a dryer’s heating element raises the air temperature in the drum for clothes to dry quicker. Aside from the heating element shutting down due to clogged vent tubing, it can also fail due to an internal fault.
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If your dryer’s heating element is faulty, the air in the drum will not get hot enough to dry your clothes efficiently.
How To Fix?
The heating element of Bosch dryers is located at the back with a red reset button towards the bottom of the back panel. Always make sure to switch the dryer off before working on your dryer to prevent an electric shock.
Reset the heating element by pressing the red button. You’ll hear a click that signifies the reset is successful, and the heating element should start working again.
Bear in mind that getting the heating element to work doesn’t address why it overheated in the first place. You should inspect the filters and vent tubing to see if dirt or lint is causing the heating element to overheat.
If the reset doesn’t work, you may need to replace the heating element. You should be able to see the part number of the heating element on the dryer or in the owner’s manual.
To replace the heating element, follow the instructions below:
- Switch the dryer off and let it cool down.
- Unplug the dryer from the power outlet.
- Use a torque head screwdriver to remove the screws and back panel.
- Unscrew the two screws on the top of the heat element assembly and the other screw that holds the connectors of the wiring in place.
- Unplug the wire connectors and secure them so they don’t fall into the rear panel of the dryer.
- The heating element is free and can now be replaced.
The YouTube video below demonstrates how to replace the heating element:
Read: Why Bosch Dryer Start Button Flashing?
The Filters Are Dirty
Dryers have filters that keep the lint from reaching the vent tube. However, it doesn’t trap all the lint, and over time, the filters can accumulate enough lint to keep hot air from being exhausted outside the dryer drum.
Like clogged vent tubes, dirty filters can cause the heating element to shut down or the thermal fuse to blow.
How To Fix?
To ensure your dryer performs optimally, clean the filter after every cycle. The filter is easy to access since it sits in a compartment you’ll see on the bottom of the door frame upon opening the dryer door.
Clean the filter by following these steps:
- Open the dryer door and remove any lint or dirt surrounding the filter compartment.
- Remove the filter by pulling it up.
- Remove any dirt trapped in the recess of the filter.
- Make sure no dirt falls into the open shaft.
- Open the filter to remove big chunks of dirt or lint.
- Rinse the filter using running water.
- Blow or air dry the filter.
- Reinsert the filter into the compartment.
Read: Bosch Dryer DR Code – Troubleshooting Guide
The Dryer Is Overloaded
Sometimes, your clothes may remain damp after an entire cycle, even if your dryer is in perfect working condition. Each drying cycle should be enough to dry your clothes based on the dyer’s maximum capacity.
When a dryer is overloaded, the clothes are packed in too tightly, making it difficult for air to circulate while the dryer spins. So, as tempting as it is to get your laundry done in one go, it may result in your clothes staying damp after a complete cycle.
How To Fix?
Your Bosch dryer has a maximum load capacity for each program. Prevent overloading by making sure the weight of your dry clothes does not exceed the maximum load capacity.
Ideally, you shouldn’t fill the dryer more than halfway to allow clothes to spin freely during the drying cycle. You should wash bulky items like blankets, bedsheets, or towels separately and ensure they don’t exceed the maximum load.
Read: Bosch Washer Code E04 – Troubleshooting Guide
The Clothes Are Too Wet
Clothes should be spun dry by the washing machine before placing them in the dryer. If the washing machine isn’t spinning adequately, the clothes may be too wet for the dryer to dry them off completely.
How To Fix?
If your washing machine leaves your clothes soaking wet, the problem isn’t with your dryer. According to RemoveandReplace.com, there are several things you can check on your washing machine if it spins without drying your clothes.
Until you isolate the problem with your washing machine, you may have to run several cycles to get your clothes completely dry.
2. Bosch Dryer Doesn’t Start
Another issue that may arise is your dryer not starting, even when you’re certain it’s properly plugged in. It may seem like a huge problem, but in most cases, it’s usually caused by something you can quickly fix.
Below are common reasons for your dryer not starting:
The Door Isn’t Adequately Closed
The Bosch dryer won’t start unless the door is securely closed to prevent injury or making a mess. So, if your dryer fails to start, it could be a case of the door being left open, the latch failing to engage, or a problem with the sensor that detects if the door is open or closed.
How To Fix?
The door latch may fail to engage if it doesn’t align with the door. Make sure there isn’t any loose clothing keeping the door from closing. An overloaded dryer can also make it difficult to close the door, so make certain clothes aren’t leaning against the door when you shut it.
You should hear a click to signify that the door is locked and the latch is working. If you fail to hear the click, check the door switch for power using a continuity meter. You’ll need to replace the door switch if no power runs through it.
The Child Lock Is On
Some Bosch dryers come with a child lock feature to prevent children from operating the machine and getting in an accident. Therefore, when the child lock is on, none of the buttons on the dryer will work.
How To Fix?
To activate and deactivate the child lock function on your Bosch dryer, hold and press the “PROGRAMME DURATION” and “READY IN” buttons simultaneously for three seconds.
The procedure may differ for specific models, so it’s best to consult your owner’s manual.
Dryer Has a Blown Thermal Fuse
For safety reasons, dryers have a thermal fuse that cuts off power when it detects overheating. The fuse prevents fires or further damage to the dryer when it gets too hot.
Your dryer may refuse to start due to a blown thermal fuse. A blown fuse can either cut power to the entire machine or just the motor that makes the dryer spin.
How To Fix?
Before working on your dryer, make sure it’s powered off and unplugged.
The thermal fuse’s location depends on your dryer model, but it’s usually at the back near the heating element. Check your owner’s manual for the specific location.
Once you’ve located the fuse, check it for continuity. If the fuse is busted, you’ll need to replace it.
Replacing the fuse will get your dryer to start again, but you need to determine why the fuse blew in the first place. As mentioned earlier, dirty filters and clogged vent tubing can cause the fuse to trip. If the problem persists after cleaning your filters and declogging your ducts, have an electrician check for any shorted wires.
Read: Bosch Washer Code E17 – Troubleshooting Guide
3. Dryer Stops in the Middle of a Cycle
Sometimes you may find your dryer stopping before completing a cycle. A dryer can stop mid-cycle due to overheating or a blown thermal fuse caused by dirty filters or clogged air vents. We already covered these issues earlier, but let’s talk about another possible issue that may prevent your dryer from completing a cycle.
Dryer Has a Dirty Moisture Sensor
Modern tumble dryers have a moisture sensor that detects when clothes are dry. When the sensor detects no more moisture, it shuts off the dryer to preserve energy. A dirty moisture sensor can give false readings, causing the dryer to shut off in the middle of a cycle.
How To Fix?
All Bosch dryers have a stainless steel moisture sensor. This sensor is easy to find, as it’s found around the door area. It’s best to use a sponge to clean the sensor. A coarse sponge is recommended, as it’s most likely to remove dirt from the sensor quickly and easily.
Additionally, it’s important to note that you should never use steel wool or abrasives when cleaning the sensor, as this can cause damage.
Final Thoughts
Using a dryer saves you time, effort, and having to worry about the weather each time you do your laundry. Little can go wrong when using a dryer, but on rare occasions, your dryer may show symptoms that require your attention.
Fortunately, most issues can be resolved by a bit of cleaning, removing a clog, or pushing a few buttons. You may have to replace a part once in a blue moon, but that’s a small price to pay, considering the convenience of a dryer.
