Blomberg Heat Pump Dryer Not Drying? 8 Causes and What to Do
Need a technician in Burnaby, Surrey or New Westminster?
Call 604-729-0499 — $85 service call, same-day or next-day in most cases.
10% off labour on Blomberg dryer repair until February 28, 2027 — see the offer
The cycle ends, you open the door, and the towels are still damp. Or the dryer runs for three hours instead of one and a half. This is the second most common complaint we hear about Blomberg ventless heat pump dryers in Metro Vancouver condos — right after “it won’t turn on”.
The good news: most of the time this is not a broken part. A heat pump dryer is very sensitive to airflow, and a few minutes of cleaning often fixes it. Here is how to find the cause.
First: a heat pump dryer works differently
A heat pump dryer does not blow hot air outside like a vented dryer. It heats the air with a small heat pump, pulls the moisture out in a heat exchanger, turns it into water and reuses the same air in a closed loop.
What that means for you:
- Clothes come out warm, not hot. That is normal. A heat pump dryer runs much cooler than a vented one.
- Cycles are longer. Two hours for a full load is normal on many programs.
- It needs clean air paths. Any lint in the filters or the heat exchanger slows drying dramatically.
- It needs a warm room. The heat pump uses heat from the room air. In a cold space it dries slowly.
If your clothes are warm and slightly damp at the end of a short program, the dryer may be working fine. If they are cold and wet after a long one, something is wrong.
8 most common causes
1. Dirty door filter
The lint filter in the door must be cleaned after every load. A thin layer of lint is enough to reduce airflow.
Removing the lint by hand is not enough. The mesh on Blomberg filters is very fine, and a brush won’t clean it — wash the filters under running water with a little dish soap, and let them dry fully before putting them back. Do a full wash like this at least once a year, more often if you dry a lot of towels or pet bedding.
2. Dirty sponge filter / lower filter
Most Blomberg heat pump dryers have a second filter at the bottom front, behind a small cover — often a sponge (foam) filter. Many owners don’t know it exists. When it is full of lint, the dryer can barely dry. Rinse the sponge under water, squeeze it out and let it dry before putting it back. Check your user manual for the exact location on your model.
3. Clogged heat exchanger
Lint that gets past the filters ends up on the fins of the heat exchanger (the condenser). Over a year or two it forms a felt layer. The dryer then runs for hours and still leaves clothes damp. Some models let you rinse the front of it carefully; deep cleaning needs a technician because the fins are thin and easy to bend.
4. Full water container or drain problem
Moisture from your clothes ends up in the water container (the condensate tank) or goes to a drain hose. If the tank is full, the dryer stops or shows a warning. If a drain hose is connected, check that it is not kinked and not routed too high for the pump to lift the water.
5. Overloading or the wrong program
Heat pump dryers dry best at their rated load. Stuffing the drum full means air can’t move between clothes. Heavy items like comforters and jeans need a cotton or heavy program, not a quick or eco program.
6. Washer spin too slow
If the washer leaves clothes very wet, the dryer has more water to remove. Use the highest spin speed the fabric allows.
7. Cold room or closed closet
A heat pump dryer takes its working heat from the room. In a cold storage room, a cold garage or a closed closet without airflow, drying slows down a lot. Leave the closet door open during the cycle if you can.
8. A failed part
If all of the above is fine and the clothes still come out cold and wet, a part may have failed:
- the heat pump compressor not starting,
- a fan motor,
- a temperature or humidity sensor,
- the main control board.
These need a technician.
What you can safely do yourself
- Clean the door filter.
- Find and clean the lower (sponge) filter — rinse, squeeze, dry.
- Empty the water container and check the drain hose if you use one.
- Run a half load on a cotton program.
- Use the highest spin speed on the washer.
- Open the closet door or warm up the room.
Run one test load after cleaning. If it dries normally — you are done.
Stop here. Removing panels, cleaning the heat exchanger deep inside and testing the compressor, fans, sensors or board is technician work. Bent heat exchanger fins or a damaged refrigerant line can ruin the heat pump.
How we fix it
We start with airflow: filters, the heat exchanger and the air path. Then we check the compressor, the fans, the sensors and the drainage system. You get the cause and the price before any work starts.
Prices (labour only, parts extra)
| Repair | Labour |
|---|---|
| Service call & diagnosis | $85 (included in labour if you go ahead) |
| Main control board replacement | $150–180 + board |
| Belt, idler pulley, rollers | $150–200 |
| Drive motor | $175–250 |
| Heat exchanger cleaning | Quoted on diagnosis |
GST applies. Full list: Appliance repair prices
FAQ
How long should a Blomberg heat pump dryer take to dry?
Longer than a vented dryer — a full cotton load can take around two hours or more depending on the program and load. If it takes much longer than it used to, airflow is usually the reason.
Why are my clothes warm but damp?
Usually clogged filters, an overfilled drum or the wrong program. Clean both filters and try a half load on a cotton program.
Where is the second filter on a Blomberg heat pump dryer?
On most models it is at the bottom front, behind a small cover, often as a sponge filter. Your user manual shows the exact location.
Does a cold room affect a heat pump dryer?
Yes. The heat pump uses heat from the room air, so a cold space makes drying much slower.
Should a heat pump dryer get hot?
No. It runs much cooler than a vented dryer. Warm, not hot, is normal.
Can you clean the heat exchanger?
Yes. If the dryer still doesn’t dry after cleaning the filters, we clean the heat exchanger and check the rest of the system.
Need a technician in Burnaby, Surrey or New Westminster?
We serve Metro Vancouver: Burnaby, Surrey, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, Richmond, Delta and Langley.
Call 604-729-0499 — 8 am to 8 pm, every day. $85 service call, included in labour when the repair goes ahead.
10% off labour on Blomberg dryer repair until February 28, 2027 — see the offer.
More: Blomberg Dryer Repair · Blomberg dryer won’t turn on · Blomberg brand page
