Dryer - Taking Too Long To Dry Clothes

Drying times for a Dryer will vary according to the type of heat used (gas versus electric), the size of the load, the type of fabric (cottons hold more water than synthetics), the wetness of the clothes and the condition of your exhaust ventilation.
 
When clothes are taking a long time to dry or do not seem to be drying at all, the troubleshooting tips provided below may be used to correct the problem.
 

Venting

  • Using the proper venting material and making sure the vent ductwork is the proper length is very important to the operation of a Dryer. GE Appliances recommends the use of a solid metal vent pipe 4" in diameter for adequate operation. 4" diameter flexible metal venting may be used but will increase the drying time. GE Appliances does not recommend the use of flexible, white, plastic vent pipe. This type of vent pipe can collapse and restrict the airflow, causing lint to build up inside the Dryer. This build-up could cause the heaters to fail prematurely. Consult the Installation Instructions for your specific model for the proper length and number of turns for the vent pipe.
  • Check for an obstruction in the ductwork. Make sure the outside wall cap or damper is operating easily. If flexible ducting is used, be sure that it is not kinked and is installed properly. It is recommended that you clean the ductwork completely at least once a year. For more information, please check out our Dryer - Things To Check For A Venting Issue article.

Cleaning and Operation

  • Remove and clean the lint filter each time it is used. The filter can be washed with warm soapy water to remove fabric softener residue from the screen.
  • Check the household fuse or circuit breaker that supplies power to the Dryer. Make sure they are not burned out or tripped.
  • There may be too many items in the Dryer. Only dry one wash load at a time. Do not combine wash loads to make one large Dryer load. There may be too few items in the Dryer. If the machine is not leveled properly a small load may migrate to the back of the Dryer drum. If drying only one item and the Dryer is level, add a few similar items even if they are dry to ensure proper tumbling and distribution. If less than 5 items are to be dried, a timed dry cycle should be used for best results.
  • Improper sorting can cause drying difficulty. Do not mix heavy, hard-to-dry items with lightweight items.
  • On sensor dry models, it is important that the Dryer is level to ensure clothes are tumbling properly and making contact with the moisture sensors located in the lower, front of the Dryer.

Other Causes

  • The Washer controls may have been improperly set. If the clothes coming from the Washer are wetter than normal, this could be the difficulty. If a lower spin speed is selected for a normal or heavy wash load, the Washer may not spin the water out adequately. A higher spin speed or extended spin removes more water from clothing which decreases drying time.
  • There could be a Washer service issue. If water can be wrung out or squeezed from the clothing when it is taken from the Washer and the appropriate setting was selected, the Washer may need service. There could be an issue with a loose Washer drive belt or the transmission.
  • If an Electric Dryer is on a 120-volt circuit instead of a 240-volt circuit, the drying time will be as much as three times longer. For more information, see our Dryer - Electrical Requirements And Breaker Size article.
Note: To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug the Dryer from the power supply before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.
 

Additional Support

If the above suggestions do not resolve the issue, service may be needed. For service, please schedule a repair appointment with GE Appliances Factory Service.