Gas dryer repair
A gas dryer shares almost everything with an electric one: the drum, belt, rollers, blower, thermostats and the vent. What it doesn't share is the heat source. Instead of an element there is a burner with an igniter, a flame sensor and a pair of solenoid coils on the gas valve, fed by a 120 V outlet and a gas line. That is why this page exists: the no-heat diagnosis is different, and everything on the gas side is done only by certified technicians.
RepairWell repairs natural gas and propane dryers in Ottawa and Gatineau homes. For the drum, belt, noise and airflow faults that gas dryers share with electric ones, see dryer repair.
Online booking is a request; we confirm a window by text or phone within 1 business hour.
Types and configurations we service
- Natural gas dryers — The common type in Ottawa suburbs served by Enbridge; burner components are standardized across many brands.
- Propane dryers — Common in rural Gatineau and Ottawa's outskirts; converted from natural gas with a different orifice, which affects parts and diagnosis.
- Stacked gas laundry centres — Gas dryer above a washer; the burner sits low and the whole stack may need to be moved to reach it.
Symptoms we're called for
Possible causes
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis; the technician confirms the cause on site.
- A weak or broken igniter that never reaches the temperature needed for the flame sensor to open the valve
- A flame sensor that has failed, so the igniter glows and nothing follows
- Gas valve coils that open when cold but drop out once warm, which produces the heats-then-stops pattern
- A thermal fuse or high-limit thermostat opened by restricted airflow
- The gas supply valve behind the dryer closed after a move or a renovation; GE's own check for a new installation
- No power at the 120 V outlet; the dryer needs a dedicated outlet and the burner electronics need it even though the heat is gas
- A blocked vent, which affects gas dryers exactly as it does electric ones
Repairs a technician may recommend
- Replace the igniter (certified technician)
- Replace the flame sensor (certified technician)
- Replace the gas valve solenoid coils (certified technician)
- Replace the thermal fuse and high-limit thermostat and correct the vent that caused them to open
- Clean the burner assembly and inspect the flame for proper colour and pattern
- Replace the cycling thermostat or thermistor
- Belt, roller, blower and switch repairs as on an electric dryer
Typical components involved: burner assembly with igniter and flame sensor, gas valve and solenoid coils, thermal fuse and high-limit thermostat, cycling thermostat and thermistor, flexible gas connector and shut-off valve (technician-only), drum, belt, rollers and blower (shared with electric dryers).
Safe checks before you book
- Confirm the dryer is set to a heat cycle, not air fluff or cool down, as GE notes
- Test the 120 V outlet with a lamp; a gas dryer with no power runs nothing
- Clean the lint screen and check the vent run and outside flap, exactly as for an electric dryer
- If the dryer was recently moved or installed, ask whoever connected it whether the gas shut-off was reopened; do not operate the valve yourself if you are unsure
- Do not open the burner access panel or touch the gas connector; those checks are for the technician
Stop using it if
- Any smell of gas: turn the dryer off, don't operate light switches nearby, open windows, leave, and call the gas utility
- A yellow or sooty flame visible through the burner window, or soot marks on clothes
- A burning smell or scorched clothing
- The dryer keeps running with the flame lit after the cycle should have ended
Never work on gas lines, wiring, refrigerant or microwave components yourself.
What to expect during diagnosis and repair
A certified technician checks power, airflow and the vent first, because those decide many gas-dryer calls too. Then the burner access panel is opened and the burner is watched through an entire cycle: the igniter glowing, the flame sensor opening, the valve coils holding. A valve that drops out after a few minutes of heat is identified by watching, not guessing. The gas connector and shut-off are inspected for condition. You get a written finding with the total before any part is fitted. Igniters, flame sensors and coil kits for the common burner designs are often on the truck.
Repair or replace?
Gas dryers are worth repairing at almost any age: the burner components are inexpensive, shared across many models, and the rest of the dryer is the same simple machine as an electric one. A gas dryer also costs more to replace and needs a licensed gas fitter to connect the new one, which tilts the decision further toward repair. The exceptions are a dryer that is rusting through, a motor and control failure on top of a burner fault, or a model whose burner parts are no longer available; the finding will say so.
Our repair-versus-replacement method →
Pricing factors
The diagnostic visit is $89, waived when you go ahead with the repair, and the quote is given on the spot. What moves the repair price:
- Igniter, flame sensor or coil kit, individually or together
- Whether the thermal fuse and vent also need attention
- Stacked units that have to be moved to reach the burner
- Propane conversion parts where applicable: [CONVERSION SERVICE TO BE CONFIRMED]
- Second appliance on the same visit: If a second appliance is diagnosed on the same visit, it is $45 instead of the full $89.
Brands we service for gas dryers
Brand list subject to confirmation: most major brands, including LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, Bosch, GE, Maytag, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, Electrolux, Kenmore, Amana, Inglis, Miele, Jenn-Air, Fisher & Paykel, Haier and Danby. Independent service; no manufacturer affiliation implied.
Gas dryer questions
Why does my gas dryer heat for a few minutes and then go cold?
That pattern is often the gas valve coils dropping out once they warm, but a thermostat or airflow fault can look similar. The technician watches the burner through a cycle to confirm it.
Who does gas dryer repairs at RepairWell?
Only certified technicians work on the burner, valve and gas connection. [GAS CERTIFICATION TO BE CONFIRMED — Ontario TSSA gas technician; Quebec RBQ or Emploi-Québec qualification]
Can I check the igniter myself?
No. It sits inside the burner assembly next to the gas valve, and we don't give instructions for that area. The safe checks are power, cycle selection, the lint screen and the vent.
Do you connect or disconnect the gas line when replacing a dryer?
Gas connections are made by a certified gas contractor we work with, not by our own technicians. Connection of a new gas appliance is licensed gas-fitter work in both Ontario and Quebec; see washer and dryer installation.
Are gas dryer parts different for propane?
The burner uses a different orifice and sometimes a different regulator setting for propane; igniters, sensors and coils are usually the same. Tell us which fuel you have when you book.
Related guides and pages
- Dryer not heating
- Dryer taking too long to dry
- Dryer shutting off mid-cycle
- Dryer making unusual noises
- Dryer drum not turning
- Washer and dryer installation
- Dryer
Service areas: Ottawa (central), Nepean, Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Orléans, Gloucester, Manotick and Riverside South, Gatineau (secteur Gatineau), Hull, Aylmer, Buckingham and Masson-Angers, Chelsea and Cantley.
Sources
- GE Appliances: Gas Dryer - Runs But Does Not Heat
- LG Support: Why is my dryer not heating, not drying or taking a long time drying?
Reviewed 2026-09-24.
Book a gas dryer diagnostic
Tell us the symptom and your postal code. You'll get a confirmed window, then a written finding before any repair.
Online booking is a request. We confirm the appointment by text or phone within 1 business hour.