How To Fix Bosch Dryer That Is Not Heating? – Troubleshooting Guide

You put your clothes in the dryer, turned it on, and went on with your day. You come back to do a quick check after a while, only to realize that the clothes are still wet and your dryer has a heating problem. What can you do to remedy the situation?

Here’s how to fix your Bosch dryer that’s not heating in 9 simple steps:

1. Do a test run to see if the dryer is heating.
2. Inspect the circuit breaker.
3. Unplug the power cord.
4. Check the power adapter’s fuse.
5. Ensure the dryer has adequate clearance.
6. Remove the lint filter and clean it.
7. Examine the vent tubes.
8. Find the dryer’s high-limit thermostat and reset it.
9. Perform a test run again.

Let’s do a deep dive into how you can fix your Bosch dryer’s heating (or lack thereof).

1. Do a Test Run To See if the Dryer Is Heating

Verify if the dryer is working as intended. For instance, if you or someone else in your household used a setting that requires no heat, such as ‘Air Fluff,’ you can rectify it quickly. 

Remove all clothing, if any, from the dryer. Start the drying process by choosing any setting on the appliance, and then wait for 10-15 minutes before you pause the operation.

Open the dryer and examine the interior of the appliance. If it’s warm, consider yourself lucky; you just fixed the problem. If you weren’t quite that fortunate, move to the next step.

Read: 3 Ways How To Fix Bosch Dryer Not Starting?

2. Inspect the Circuit Breaker

Before trying any troubleshooting steps below, ensure the dryer didn’t trip the circuit breaker. Most dryers will have two connections: one for tumbling and the other for heating.

Sometimes, having too many power-hungry devices running simultaneously can cause an overload. In such situations, the circuit breaker trips to prevent damage.

Here’s how to check whether your circuit breaker is tripped:

1. Locate the circuit breaker in your house. If you’re unsure about its location, ask an electrician to help you. 
2. Check the position of the dryer’s circuit breaker and move it to the off position. 
3. Push the circuit breaker to the on position. 
4. Try another dry run and check the dryer’s interior after 10-15 minutes. 

If these steps don’t fix the problem, proceed to the next hack below.

Read: Why Bosch Dryer Start Button Flashing?

3. Unplug the Power Cord

Once you know the dryer doesn’t heat in any setting and the circuit breaker is okay, you can troubleshoot the device for other issues. But before you do, ensure you unplug the power cord from the socket. You want to minimize the chances of an accidental electric shock. 

Read: Bosch Dryer DR Code – Troubleshooting Guide

4. Check the Power Adapter’s Fuse

Typically attached to the power cord, the power adapter connects the mains to the dryer. It allows electricity to flow, giving the appliance the right amount of power to function.

Power adapters (or any adapter for an electric appliance) usually have a fuse. The role of this component is to protect your device from current overflow. In case of faulty operation, such as loose wires or broken heating elements, it can cause a short circuit. 

Rather than allowing the current to overflow and damage the appliance, the fuse will melt. This breaks the connection between the socket and the device, preventing electricity from flowing. 

Checking whether blown power adapter fuses are what’s preventing your dryer from heating is a pretty straightforward process:

1. Remove all the screws with a screwdriver and examine all the fuses. A blown fuse won’t have a wire connecting both ends.
2. If one of the fuses is blown, get in touch with an authorized Bosch dealer to get a spare. Avoid using third-party fuses as they may not have the exact specifications as the original component. 
3. Replace the blown fuse(s) and see if the dryer is working by performing a test run. If the dryer still doesn’t heat, the fuses aren’t the culprits. Proceed to step 5 below if that’s the case.

Read: Bosch Washer Code E04 – Troubleshooting Guide

5. Ensure the Dryer Has Adequate Clearance

Your Bosch dryer needs access to ambient air to cool the device. Any blockages are bound to affect your appliance’s performance. With enough time crammed up with other items, the appliance will overheat and stop working to protect itself from further damage.

Bosch always recommends giving the dryer as much free space as possible. This way, it’ll stay within the operating temperatures and dry your clothes. 

To learn more about the minimum clearances your dryer requires, go through the provided user manual. If you lost it or can’t find this document, visit the official website. You’ll have to enter your dryer’s model number 一 the website also has directions on finding your appliance’s model number.

The general rule of thumb for dryers is ensuring there are zero restrictions to airflow. For example, let’s say you installed the dryer in your closet. Before you turn the appliance on, make sure you keep the closet door open. Perform a test run and see if the dryer heats the device’s interior. 

6. Remove the Lint Filter and Clean It

Your dryer is bound to collect lint with time and use. Think of lint as loose fibers that come off from clothing due to natural wear and tear. Because of static electricity, these fibers tend to stick together and form clumps through a phenomenon known as static cling. 

Your dryer has a lint filter to collect all the loose fiber. If you don’t remove this build-up, it affects how well your dryer performs over time.

Initially, the time it takes to dry your clothes starts to increase. This adds to your energy bill, as your dryer uses more electricity when drying time increases. Lint buildup can also cause the appliance to overheat, so removing it is essential for both your pocket and the dryer’s performance.

The lint filter will be near the dryer’s door. Remove the filter and clean all the lint using your hands or a brush. You may have to use warm water if there are large amounts of lint. 

After the filter is clear, wait for it to dry before you put it back in its original position. Perform a test run and see if this fixes the dryer’s heating problem.

7. Examine the Vent Tubes

The vent tubes are responsible for removing moisture and hot air from the dryer’s interior. If it’s full of lint, the air stops flowing freely. Over time, the amount of space air has to flow keeps reducing, increasing the internal temperature. 

Detach the vent tube and remove all the lint inside. The dryer can also overheat if there are bends in the vent tube. It restricts airflow, affecting the appliance’s performance gradually. Remove all bends, if any, and see if the dryer works properly.  

8. Find the Dryer’s High-Limit Thermostat and Reset It

A high-limit thermostat is a component inside a dryer that prevents the appliance from overheating. When the internal temperature of the dryer goes above its safe operating range, the high-limit thermostat cuts power to the device’s heating element.

In most Bosch dryers, you can access this part from the device’s rear panel.

As you’ll be close to the appliance’s wiring, ensure you unplug the power cord before proceeding. Remove all the screws holding the panel and look for a part with a red button. Press the button to reset the high-limit thermostat.

If the button clicked into place, the mechanism did cut off power to the heating element. If you didn’t feel it click, it could mean the problem is elsewhere. Either way, you should proceed to the next step.

Read: Bosch Washer Code E17 – Troubleshooting Guide

9. Perform a Test Run Again

Once you’ve completed all the above steps, you must run a test to see if you’ve fixed the heating issue. If the problem was due to lint build-up, the power adapter fuse failing, or the high-limit thermostat tripping, your appliance will start heating up again.  

If the dryer doesn’t heat, it could be a problem with other parts. In this situation, you can try to find the root cause by checking components such as the door switch, heating element, and controller board.

You can try cleaning the heating element with a brush and see if this changes anything. If it’s the door switch, the dryer won’t even spin. Fortunately, the fix is quite simple and cheap. 

You can search on YouTube for solutions to any issues with these parts. Just keep in mind that it requires more skill than the above troubleshooting steps. 

Conclusion

That does it for today’s troubleshooting guide. Hopefully, you’ll be able to use what we’ve covered to get your Bosch dryer working again.

If you don’t feel comfortable making some of the repairs I’ve prescribed, you can always get in touch with a certified technician. They’ll examine your dryer before explaining what needs fixing and how much it’ll cost.