Skip to content 
A Speed Queen dryer can’t function without heat. Still, your dryer can have too much of a good thing, leading to overheating problems.
You can fix a Speed Queen dryer overheating problems by clearing any blocked airflow and replacing a faulty heating element or cycling thermostat. Besides that, worn-out felt seals must also be replaced to prevent overheating, and your blower fan must also be in excellent condition.
Overheating dryers are a significant cause of house fires each year. So, you’ll want to read through this guide to learn how to fix the overheating problems on our Speed Queen dryer.
Why Is My Speed Queen Dryer Overheating?
Overheating is one of the most dangerous problems a Speed Queen dryer can experience. So, here are the reasons you must troubleshoot as soon as possible and the steps you can take to restore the dryer’s functionality:
Blocked Airflow
What it is: Speed Queen dryers are effective appliances but rely on smooth airflow throughout the machine.
A Speed Queen dryer has internal components that drive hot air through the machine to dry your laundry. That air then exits the appliance to dump that moisture outside your home.
How it fails: One of the most common reasons your Speed Queen Dryer overheats is because its airflow is blocked.
That blockage is most likely caused by a clog of lint, dust, dirt, and other debris. These kinds of blockages can happen at:
- The dryer’s lint trap.
- The dryer’s exhaust duct.
- The external vent allows air from the exhaust duct to exit the building.
Besides that, the blockage can also be caused by kinks and bends in the dryer’s flexible exhaust duct.
How to restore: You can restore smooth airflow by inspecting the above parts and clearing any blockages. When you do that, the dryer’s hot air can flow through the machine and out safely, thereby preventing overheating.
Read: Why Dryer Smells Like Sewage?
Connect with an Appliance Repair Tech
Click here to use the chatbox to speak with one of our technicians.
No in-home service calls. No appointments.
Heating Element Electrical Fault
What it is: The component in your Speed Queen dryer responsible for generating heat is the heating element.
The element drives electrical current through high-resistance wires. That electrical resistance causes the current to convert to heat.
Then, another component, the blower wheel, drives air to carry that heat throughout your dryer.
The heating element will turn on and off repeatedly during a drying cycle to maintain the correct temperatures in your dryer.
How it fails: The heating element is an electrical component. That means it can suffer from electrical faults like short circuits.
A short circuit is particularly dangerous as it can cause the heating element to stay on and produce too much heat. The heating element can’t turn off, so it continues making heat and causing your dryer to overheat.
How to restore: The only way to restore the proper functioning of your Speed Queen dryer heating element is to replace it with a new one. Unfortunately, the heating element is an excellent example of a component that can’t be repaired, as attempting to do so could be dangerous.
So, the most effective solution is to disconnect and remove the existing heating element and replace it with a new one. Replacements are available on Amazon for around $37. Check model number before ordering.
Read: 5 Reasons Why Fisher Paykel Dryer Is Not Heating
Faulty Cycling Thermostat: Speed Queen Dryer Overheating
What it is: Above, you saw that the heating element turns on and off repeatedly throughout a drying cycle to maintain the correct temperature for your dryer.
The component that triggers the heating element to turn on and off is the cycling thermostat.
As the name suggests, a thermostat continually senses the dryer’s temperature. It cycles the heating element on and off as needed.
How it fails: A fault cycling thermostat will keep the heating element running even when it shouldn’t. So, suppose the heating element continues generating heat even when it shouldn’t. In that case, your Speed Queen dryer will overheat and reach dangerous temperatures.
How to restore: The cycling thermostat is another component you cannot service or repair. A new replacement is the only practical solution here.
Firstly, you’ll have to locate the existing thermostat. When you do, disconnect its wiring and unthread any screws holding it in place.
Then, you can install and connect the new cycling thermostat in its place.
Read: Do All Dryers Need A Vent?
Worn-Out Felt Seal
What it is: All dryers require plenty of hot air to remove moisture from your laundry. However, that heat must be contained in the correct places, particularly in the dryer drum.
Speed Queen dryers have felt seals around their drums to prevent heat from escaping into the appliance. That way, the dryer’s components aren’t exposed to that heat and the damage that comes from becoming overheated.
How it fails: Unfortunately, the felt seal keeping heat trapped in the dryer drum can also wear out. That happens due to extended use and is more likely if you’ve been using the Speed Queen dryer for many years.
When the felt seal wears out, the heat from the drum will leak out to other parts of the dryer where it doesn’t belong. That heat will cause other dryer components to become hotter than usual and lead to overheating.
How to restore: You can restore your Speed Queen dryer’s ability to contain hot air only to the drum by replacing the worn-out felt seal.
The job is pretty straightforward, but it is time-consuming. First, you’ll have to dismantle the dryer to remove the drum so you can access and remove the existing felt seal. Then, you can attach the new seal before putting the machine back together.
Read: Why Speed Queen Washer Wash And Rinse Lights Flashing?
Damaged Blower Wheel
What it is: The heat in your Speed Queen dryer is generated by its heating element. However, the heat won’t go anywhere if it weren’t for the blower wheel.
As the name suggests, that component blows air that carries heat through the dryer drum and out the machine’s exhaust.
The blower wheel plays a critical role in the efficiency of your dryer by ensuring smooth airflow to dry your laundry and carry moisture away from the machine.
How it fails: Blower wheels can sometimes suffer damage, like breaking one or more of their fins. That can happen for several reasons, like a foreign object finding its way into the blower wheel’s compartment.
The wheel can’t blow air efficiently through the dryer when that happens. That causes heat to build up inside the appliance and very quickly leads to overheating.
How to restore: Thankfully, blower wheels are replaceable. First, you’ll have to remove the damaged blower wheel from your Speed Queen dryer. That will allow you to secure the new blower wheel in its place and restore your dryer’s proper functioning.
Read: Speed Queen Washer Code Sr – Troubleshooting Guide
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are a few more questions that are frequently asked about Speed Queen dryers:
Why Does My Speed Queen Dryer Take So Long To Dry?
Your Speed Queen takes too long to dry when its airflow is restricted. Check for lint trap and exhaust vent blockages and clean them out if necessary.
Why Isn’t My Speed Queen Dryer Heating Up?
A failure to heat up is a sign that your Speed Queen dryer’s heating element has stopped working. Unfortunately, the heating element is not a repairable component, so you will have to replace it with a new one.
Where Is Thermal Fuse On Speed Queen Dryer?
The thermal fuse is located at or near the blower housing. You’ll be able to see it at the back of the Speed Queen dryer when you remove the rear panel.
How Hot Should A Dryer Get?
A dryer typically reaches between 125-135 degrees Fahrenheit to function optimally.
Do Dryers Need To Be Vented Outside?
You must vent your dryers outside for safety reasons. Besides that, it helps you maintain indoor air quality by removing the hot and moist air and the lint it carries directly outside the building.
