# How hot is a clothes dryer supposed to get?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hot-is-a-clothes-dryer-supposed-to-get/367867>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 8, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hot-is-a-clothes-dryer-supposed-to-get/367867 "2006-08-08T16:01:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hot-is-a-clothes-dryer-supposed-to-get/367867/1 "2006-08-08T16:01:51Z")

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Just bought a clothes dryer recently (Frigidaire), and in the process of trying it out/hooking it up I noticed that the back got incredibly hot to the touch. Burning hot as a matter of fact. Never having touched the back of a dryer before I am unsure as to how normal this is.  
I am in the process of calling the seller (The Brick) but I’d be very grateful if someone in the know would tell me if this is normal for dryers or not.

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**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hot-is-a-clothes-dryer-supposed-to-get/367867/2 "2006-08-08T16:20:02Z")

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Electric dryers have a big heating element in them, and no special insulation in most models on the back. They can get very hot, but I can’t tell you what’s normal for yours.