By AFZ Appliance Repair. Published November 1, 2026.

Quick answer

Clothes still damp after a full cycle? The cause is usually airflow, not a failed dryer. Here is how to check the lint path, vent and heat yourself.

If your clothes need two cycles to dry, the most likely cause is restricted airflow. A dryer works by moving warm air through the clothes and out the vent. When lint or a crushed duct slows that air, moisture stays in the drum and the cycle runs longer.

Check the airflow first

Clean the lint screen, then wash it with warm soapy water if fabric softener has left a film. Run water over it. If the water beads up, the mesh is coated.
Pull out the screen and vacuum inside the housing with a narrow attachment or a dryer brush.
Run the dryer and go outside to the vent hood. You should feel strong, warm air and see the flaps open fully.
Slide the dryer forward and check that the duct behind it is not crushed against the wall.

Look at the vent run

Long runs and sharp bends collect lint. So do older foil or vinyl ducts, which sag between supports. Your dryer's manual lists the maximum vent length it allows. If yours runs through a roof or a long basement path, it may be time for a professional vent cleaning. Lint in a vent is a fire risk as well as a slow-drying problem. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (opens in a new tab) warns that lint buildup can cause dryer fires, and it advises replacing plastic or foil accordion ducts with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. The U.S. Fire Administration (opens in a new tab) points to failure to clean as the leading factor in home dryer fires.

When it is not the vent

If the air at the hood is strong but barely warm, the problem may be the heat source. On electric dryers, check that both sides of the double breaker are on, then consider the heating element or thermal fuse. On gas dryers, the igniter or gas valve coils are common causes. Clothes that stop early while still damp can also point to dirty moisture sensor bars. Those are the two metal strips inside the drum, and you can wipe them with rubbing alcohol.

When to call

Call if the dryer is very hot to the touch, shuts off during the cycle, or keeps blowing thermal fuses. A blown fuse is usually a symptom of a restricted vent, so replacing the fuse alone does not fix the cause. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility from outside. Our dryer repair page lists the common faults and causes, and we work at homes across Montgomery County and Howard County.