Dryer displays F20 and may not start or may shut off shortly after starting.

Safety First: Unplug the dryer and shut off gas (if gas model) before servicing. Heating components can be very hot; allow time to cool.

• Step 1 – Visual inspection: Remove the rear panel to access the heating element housing (electric) or burner assembly (gas). Look for burned wires, loose connectors, or signs of overheating.
• Step 2 – Check thermostats and fuses: Using a multimeter, test the high-limit thermostat and thermal cutoff for continuity. Replace any open components with OEM Maytag parts.
• Step 3 – Test heating element (electric models): Disconnect the element leads and measure resistance across the terminals. A typical value is 8–12 ohms; infinite resistance indicates a broken element that must be replaced.
• Step 4 – Inspect wiring to heater relay: At the main control board, verify that the heater relay connections are tight and not burned. Trace the heater circuit wiring for damage.
• Step 5 – Replace faulty parts: Replace any failed thermostats, thermal fuses, or heating element. If all components test good but F20 persists, the heater relay on the main control board is likely defective and the board should be replaced.
• Step 6 – Test cycle: Reassemble panels, restore power, and run a timed high-heat cycle while monitoring for proper heating and absence of error codes.