If clothes come out dry on one side and damp on the other, the heating system is very likely working fine — the problem is usually that the load is not tumbling and rotating freely through the airflow. A clumped load, an overloaded drum, or a drum that is not turning smoothly are the most common causes.
Why unevenness happens
Even drying depends on every item passing through the warm airflow repeatedly as the drum turns. If the load cannot tumble freely — because it is too large, too tangled, or the drum itself is not rotating smoothly — some items get far more exposure to the airflow than others, and the difference shows up as damp patches.
Common causes
| Cause | How likely | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Overloaded drum | Very common | Load fills more than about three-quarters of the drum |
| Sheets, duvet covers or large items twisting into a rope | Very common | Large flat items tangled together after the cycle |
| Mixed fabric weights in one load | Common | Heavy items (towels, jeans) mixed with light items (shirts) |
| Worn drum support roller causing uneven rotation | Occasional | Drum wobbles or turns unevenly, sometimes with noise |
| Lint filter or vent partially restricted | Occasional | Overall drying is slower, not just uneven |
How to fix it
- Reduce the load size
A drum filled more than about three-quarters full cannot tumble items freely. Split large loads, particularly bedding, into smaller ones.
- Separate large flat items
Sheets and duvet covers tangle into a rope shape that traps dry sections inside a twisted bundle. Dry these separately or in a smaller mixed load.
- Avoid mixing very different weights
Heavy items like towels and jeans take longer to dry than light shirts — mixing them in one load means the light items are often over-dried while the heavy ones stay damp, or the cycle ends before the heavy items catch up.
- Check the drum turns smoothly
With the dryer empty and unplugged, turn the drum by hand and feel for roughness, wobble or resistance that could point to a worn support roller.
- Rule out an airflow restriction
If overall drying has also gotten slower, not just uneven, check the lint filter and vent as well — a partial restriction can compound the unevenness.
When to call a professional
If load size and mixing are not the issue and the drum shows signs of rough or uneven rotation, have a technician check the drum support rollers, glides and rear bearing.
Stop and call a qualified appliance technician or electrician if you find scorched or melted wiring, smell burning, see water that has reached electrical components, or if the fault returns immediately after a repair. Never bypass a safety device — thermal fuses, door interlocks and flood switches fail for a reason, and defeating one converts a broken appliance into a fire or flood risk.
