Dryer Not Heating: Electric and Gas Dryer Troubleshooting
A dryer that tumbles but stays cold may have a tripped breaker, a blown thermal fuse from restricted airflow, a failed heating element, or a gas supply or igniter problem.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- 30–90 minutes
- Typical cost
- $0 for a breaker reset; thermal fuses and elements cost more
When a dryer spins but the clothes come out as wet as they went in, the heat source has stopped working. Electric dryers heat with a coiled element on a 240-volt circuit; gas dryers use a burner with an igniter. Both have safety devices that cut the heat if the dryer overheats, and overheating is usually caused by a clogged vent. That connection is the most important thing to understand before buying parts.
Diagnose by dryer type
| Dryer | Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | Drum turns, no heat | One leg of the 240-volt breaker tripped, thermal fuse, heating element, cycling thermostat |
| Electric | Dryer will not start at all | Thermal fuse (on many models), door switch, power |
| Gas | Drum turns, no heat | Gas valve closed, igniter, flame sensor, gas valve coils |
| Either | Heat comes and goes, long drying | Restricted vent, failing thermostat |
| Either | Burning smell | Lint buildup near the heater: stop using it |
Step 1: Check the breaker (electric dryers)
Electric dryers use a double breaker. If one half trips, the motor (which runs on 120 volts) still turns the drum, but the element (which needs 240 volts) gets no power. Switch the breaker fully off and back on. The Electrical Safety Foundation International notes that breakers trip when current exceeds safe levels; if it trips again, have the dryer and circuit checked.
Step 2: Check the gas supply (gas dryers)
Make sure the gas valve behind the dryer is open, with the handle in line with the pipe, and that other gas appliances work. If you smell gas, do not operate any switches; leave and call the gas utility from outside.
Step 3: Clear the vent first
Before testing parts, clean the lint filter, duct and outside vent. Fire officials report that failure to clean is the leading factor in home dryer fires, and they recommend cleaning the lint filter every load and the vent pipe at least yearly. A blocked vent makes the dryer overheat, which blows the thermal fuse or trips the high-limit thermostat. Replacing the fuse without clearing the vent means it will blow again, and the underlying fire risk remains.
Step 4: Test the heating parts
Unplug the dryer (and turn off the gas on a gas model) before opening any panel. Use the wiring diagram, usually stored inside the cabinet, to find the parts.
- Thermal fuse: a small one-time safety fuse on the blower housing or exhaust duct. With the wires disconnected, a multimeter should show continuity. No continuity means it has blown.
- Heating element (electric): a coil inside a metal housing. Check for visible breaks and test for continuity.
- High-limit and cycling thermostats: test for continuity at room temperature.
- Igniter (gas): on many models, it should glow when the dryer calls for heat. Viewing it may require removing a front panel. An igniter that glows but no flame follows points to the flame sensor or gas valve coils.
Replace failed parts with ones matched to your model number.
Read the symptom before buying parts
A dryer that will not start at all after it stopped heating often has a blown thermal fuse in the motor circuit, which many models use to shut everything down after overheating. A dryer that heats briefly and then cycles cold points toward a cycling thermostat or a restricted vent making the high-limit trip. A dryer that never heats from the first minute, with power confirmed, points toward the element or igniter. Matching the symptom to the part avoids replacing parts that were fine.
Carbon monoxide and gas dryers
Gas dryers must vent to the outdoors. The EPA lists back-drafting and poorly maintained combustion appliances among sources of carbon monoxide in homes. Never vent a gas dryer indoors, and keep a working CO alarm in the home.
Common mistakes
- Replacing a thermal fuse without fixing airflow.
- Bypassing a thermal fuse with a wire. It removes a fire safety device.
- Working with the dryer plugged in.
- Moving a gas dryer without care for the flexible gas connector.
When to call a technician
Call an appliance technician for any gas valve, burner or gas connector work, if a breaker trips repeatedly, if you smell burning, or if parts test good but there is still no heat. A qualified technician should also confirm a gas dryer’s venting and connection after any repair. If the vent is long, runs through the roof or is packed with lint, a dryer vent cleaning service can clear it safely.