I have a hotpoint aquarius TDC32 condenser dryer. The drum spins, the water indicator light goes on and off correctly, all of the filters are clean, but it will not dry. Any ideas?

Paul, July 2004

There is a slight risk involved with re-setting the overload thermostat in the manner suggested.
This is a safety device to prevent fire if the cycling thermostat fails to cut out and the air passing over the element rises above 130 degrees centigrade (green spot, for this model). There is a reason why the cycling stat has failed to cut out and re-setting the safety stat (or even replacing it with the correct kit of parts) is only fixing the symptom and not the cause.
There are a number of reasons the safety stat may have opened.
A competent repairman will not just replace the part, take the money and get on his way. He will ask the customer questions to try and establish the cause. He will then carry out tests on various functions and assess the overall condition of the machine to see if other problems are imminent and help you decide whether it is worth spending money on the repair at all. Only when he has done all he can to check for the cause of the problem and the viability of repair will he rectify the cause and then fit the new parts and test. It will usually only take a few more minutes to do all this because these things are second nature to him. (Apologies to my female colleagues for assuming the repair person's gender there.)
The safety stat (thermal overload cut-out) is vital protection against fire. That is why you can't buy it on its own without the associated cycling stat. (I know, you thought they were just profiteering, but not in this case.) If you bang it on the floor, you just might fracture the hard plastic casing of it, leading it to fail to operate when it is supposed to. There are gentler ways to reset it but I'm not telling because you should never do it unless you know for certain that the cycling stat is not faulty. (The fact that it has continuity through it does not mean it is not faulty, the contacts may have welded or be faulty in other ways only apparent after you break it open to see inside.)
If you search the internet, you will find several references to house fires caused by faulty electrical appliances. I don't know how far the investigators go with their investigations but would they be able to tell what happened within the tumble dryer from the incinerated remains?

Mike tsd, April 2013

the filter light is on all filters are clean changed door cach

stephen, February 2013

My Hotpoint aquarius TDC32 isnt drying my cloths so thank you very much for the above advise, I will try this over the weekend & let you lot know how I got on.

David. J. Harrison, November 2012

The dryer was not heating up, hence not drying. The solution was to reset the thermostat with the green dot, following the excellent points in this blog:

1. Remove the strengthening bar on the back
2. Remove the small cover in the centre of the rear
3. Remove the funny shaped cover from the rear (NOT THE WHOLE BACK PLATE) This will give access to the heating element and the 2 thermostats above it.
4. Take off the thermostat with a green dot on and look at the bottom metal plate. If it's concave, bang it on the floor until it pops back out. (Seriously)
5. Re-fit the parts in reverse order and you done!

It is fiddly, takes 25 mins or so, however success was immediate. The machine is performing like new!

Success, November 2012

carbonni, fantastic worked a treat.

Will add though, to use a vacuum cleaner to clear all the excessive fluff and dust around the casing. Thanks for the advice, spot on.

Jbh

Jbh, July 2012

Carbonni's answer (Jan 2010) worked for me too!! Nice one Carbonni :o)

Chris D., December 2011

You superstar!! Mrs H a happy bunny, I can go to the pub to watch the rugby. Many thanks.

Mr H, February 2011

Thanks Carbonni! This fix is the bees knees! Quick and simple you really know your stuff!!!

Shea, December 2010

Superb advice Carboni (the quick,free fix at the top of the page). It took less than 10 minutes to fix the job and didn't cost a penny. Washing is drying in nice hot air as I type.

Justin, October 2010

There's an easy way to FIX your thermostat for FREE with only a screwdriver - takes 10 mins!

UNPLUG FIRST!

1. Remove the strengthening bar on the back
2. Remove the small cover in the centre of the rear
3. Remove the funny shaped cover from the rear (NOT THE WHOLE BACK PLATE) This will give access to the heating element and the 2 thermostats above it.
4. Take off the thermostat with a green dot on and look at the bottom metal plate. If it's concave, bang it on the floor until it pops back out. (Seriously)
5. Re-fit the parts in reverse order and you done!

carbonni, January 2010

Check the element for visible signs of breakage caused by vibration.
The element is simple to change if you have basic diy electrical skills, if not get an electrician to do it!

marky the man, October 2008

buy a new one you tight sod

rich man, October 2008

I am literally in the process of trying to do the same thing. So far, I found the broken belt and was able to remove enough screws to get the lifted up enough to get my new belt around the drum.

I can not figure out how the new belt goes around the pulto get the new belt around the pulley system or how to get it around the shaft driven by the motor.

Jason, May 2008

I am literally in the process of trying to do the same thing. So far, I found the broken belt and was able to remove enough screws to get the lifted up enough to get my new belt around the drum.

I can not figure out how the new belt goes around the pulto get the new belt around the pulley system or how to get it around the shaft driven by the motor.

Jason, May 2008

This advice was spot on thanks for the help, I bought the thermostats and it works like a dream. Many thanks

Will Taylor, March 2008

There is a small button on the front, near the middle. This is the cool cycle button, it is next to the 'push to start' button.
Ensure that it is pushed in to dry quickly. I had this problem when my friends baby came to visit. Babies just love pushing buttons!

Andiz, September 2007

my hotpoint tdc32p was blowing cold, i changed the timer still the same, it was the door thermostat that was faulty, its a bit of a pain to get to but works ok now i changed it.

steve holt, September 2005

Ages since you asked but here's an answer anyway. Just had a similar problem with my 4 year old Hotpoint TDC60 Condenser Dryer. I fixed mine by replacing the thermostats.

How I replaced the thermostats:

Unplugged the machine.

Thermostats are on the rear of the machine.
To access them I had to unscrew and remove three covers:
First Cover is about 2" square and located on the back, centrally.
Second is just below the first and is actually a piece of angle, horizontal and about 21x1".
Third is the large cover shaped like a moon boot. This piece has a gasket. My 'moon boot' was stuck to the large back panel of the machine. I gently prised the 'moon boot' away with a flat bladed screw driver. On inspection it looked like it was dried dust that had caused the panels to stick together; the gasket was fine.

With the three panels removed, I saw the two thermostats directly above the heating element.

Using a continuity tester I found that one of the thermostats had no continuity.

**Before removing them I took a digital photo to record where the wires and the thermostat with the coloured dot were located**.

I removed the thermostats.

I ordered and bought a pair of new thermostats from my local white goods spares shop for £17. They only come in pairs.

I fitted the new thermostats using my photo for reference.

I chucked the broken thermostat and kept the working, but old, thermostat.

Finally, I replaced the covers and plugged in the machine. It works!

Ulysses_3_1, June 2005

ours is a Crusader which is a hotpoint with a different badge.
I checked thermostats, there are two, adjacent to elements, They have to be changed as a pair (about £12) There is one in the door also. If these and the elements are OK. Then, as was with ours, the Timer is U/S. I called in a repair firm. A new Timer cost £28. I was told it is a common fault on these machines. This also cost labour charges with vat, total about £75. Hope this helps

J.F. Fife, July 2004