Dryer Overheating or Shutting Off Mid-Cycle
Likely causes
- ✓Clogged lint screen or exhaust duct restricting airflow
- ✓Blocked outside vent hood
- ✓Failing thermostat or thermal cutoff fuse
- ✓Airflow restriction inside a long or crushed duct run
- ✓Malfunctioning cycling thermostat
A dryer that overheats or quits partway through a cycle is telling you it isn’t getting enough airflow. Beyond the lint screen, we check the full exhaust path — the duct run and the outside vent hood are common places for lint to build up unnoticed, and a restricted vent is both the most common cause and a fire risk if left unaddressed.
If the vent is clear and airflow is good, the thermostat or thermal cutoff fuse may be misreading the temperature or tripping prematurely. We test airflow first because replacing a thermostat won’t fix a dryer that’s genuinely overheating from a blocked vent.
This is one of the issues covered under our Dryer Repair service.