Takes too long to dry

When clothes are not drying, check in this order: 1) Lint filter clean? 2) Exhaust duct clean and unobstructed? 3) Dryer already in cool-down phase of cycle? 4) Exhaust hood outside can open and close freely? 5) Duct system properly installed (4-inch rigid metal recommended)? 6) Load not overloaded (1 wash load = 1 dryer load)? 7) Heavy and light items dried separately? 8) Washer draining and spinning properly? 9) Load too small to tumble? 10) Co Dry option turned off for Normal/Time Dry cycles?

It is normal to hear the dryer's gas valve or heating element cycle on and off during the drying cycle. This is the thermostat regulating temperature. Customers may report this as clicking or popping — reassure them this is normal operation and not a malfunction.

A restricted exhaust vent system is the most common root cause of overheating errors (tC, tC5, HC) and poor drying performance. Before replacing any heating components (thermistor, thermostat, heater), always check the vent system first. The DV3400T includes a built-in Vent Blockage Test that can quantify the blockage level (0, Clg, C80, C90). Use it.

Thermostat 3 is a thermal cut-off — a one-time use safety device. Once it trips (opens), it cannot be reset and must be replaced. However, simply replacing it without finding and fixing the root cause (usually a clogged vent or failed cycling thermostat) will result in the replacement also tripping. Always fix the underlying overheating issue first.