Dryer not heating
A dryer that tumbles but doesn't warm has lost heat, not power, and the causes split by fuel.
Soon A cold dryer is an inconvenience, but if the loss of heat came with a burning smell, scorched lint or very hot laundry, treat it as high urgency: a blocked vent is a fire risk and the dryer should stay off until it's cleared.
What this symptom usually means
A dryer that tumbles but doesn't warm has lost heat, not power, and the causes split by fuel. An electric dryer runs on a 240 V circuit with a double breaker: one half runs the motor and the other the heating element. If one half trips, the drum turns and the dryer stays cold; Whirlpool and Maytag both list this first. After that, the most frequent finding is a blown thermal fuse, a one-time safety device that opens when the dryer overheats, almost always because the vent or lint path was restricted. A failed heating element, a high-limit thermostat or a cycling thermostat come next. LG's guidance is that airflow restriction is the most common reason a dryer stops heating or drying properly.
A gas dryer heats with a burner controlled by an igniter, a flame sensor and gas valve coils, and any of those can stop the flame; a closed gas shut-off valve also leaves the dryer running cold. RepairWell does not give homeowners instructions on gas valves, connections or burner parts, and gas dryer heating faults are diagnosed by us and repaired by licensed gas technicians. The one thing everyone should check on either type is the cycle: Air Fluff or Air Only adds no heat, and LG's Energy Saver mode dries with little heat for much of the cycle.
Checks you can do yourself
- Cycle and settingsMake sure the dryer isn't on Air Only, Air Fluff, or an eco or energy-saver mode. Run an empty timed heated cycle for five minutes and feel the drum; Whirlpool uses this test.
- Electric dryers: both breakersFind the dryer's double breaker in the panel. If either half is tripped or sits in the middle, switch it fully off and then on. If it trips again, leave it off and call; don't keep resetting it.
- Lint screenClean the lint screen and wash it if fabric softener has glazed it (water should pass straight through). A blocked screen is the start of every overheating and thermal-fuse story.
- Vent and outside flapUnplug the dryer. Check the duct behind it isn't crushed or kinked, and go outside to confirm the flap opens and lint isn't packed around it. Rigid or semi-rigid metal duct is what manufacturers recommend; long foil duct traps lint. Have the vent professionally cleaned if it's been more than a year or two.
- Gas dryersConfirm the dryer is set to a heated cycle and the lint screen and vent are clean, then stop there. If a gas dryer tumbles but stays cold, book a visit. Do not touch the gas shut-off valve, the connector or anything behind the lower panel.
- Load and moisture sensorWipe the metal sensor bars inside the drum with a damp cloth; residue can end sensor cycles early. Don't overload the drum.
Nothing above involves gas, wiring, refrigerant or removing panels.
What our technician checks
These need panels off, live electrical tests or a licensed trade, so they are left to the technician:
- Any test or replacement of the element, thermal fuse, thermostats or terminal block, all of which involve the 240 V supply
- Everything on a gas dryer's burner, igniter, valve, connector or shut-off
- Confirming the dryer outlet is delivering 240 V, which is an electrician's job
Electric models $89 + tax; gas models, and Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf and Fisher & Paykel models, $129 + tax.
Waived when you proceed with the repair. You get the cause, the price and our repair-or-replace verdict in writing before any work.
Repairs a technician may recommend
After inspection, not from the symptom alone.
Thermal fuse replacement plus vent inspection
When the fuse has opened. The technician also looks for why it overheated, because a new fuse in a blocked dryer will fail again.
Heating element replacement (electric)
When the element has broken or shorted. A moderate repair and usually worth it.
High-limit or cycling thermostat replacement
When a thermostat has failed open or is cycling the heat off early.
Igniter, flame sensor or gas valve coil replacement (gas)
When the burner doesn't light or lights and drops out. We diagnose it; the replacement is done by licensed gas technicians.
Power cord, terminal block or timer/control repair (electric)
When one leg of the 240 V supply isn't reaching the element, or the control never calls for heat.
Vent cleaning or duct replacement
When the duct is packed with lint, crushed or too long; often the underlying cause of everything above.
Brands we see with this problem
Codes, parts and access differ by brand; the brand pages cover where the model label is and what to expect.
Brand-specific repair and error-code guides
Cost, and whether to fix it
What the repair costs depends on the part, the labour and whether a second visit is needed for an ordered part; the written finding gives the total before any work. Our guides on what drives repair costs, dryer repair costs and repair versus replacement explain how to weigh it.
Who to call
RepairWell diagnoses and repairs this in homes and businesses across Ottawa and Gatineau; the diagnostic ($89 + tax for an electric model at home, $129 + tax for a gas model or a business) is waived when you proceed with the repair. If the dryer is still under the manufacturer's warranty, contact the manufacturer first: warranty repairs usually have to go through their authorized network.
When to book
Book if an electric dryer still runs cold after you've confirmed both halves of the breaker are on and the cycle is a heated one, or if the breaker trips again; the likely parts (thermal fuse, element, thermostats) all sit on the 240 V side and aren't homeowner work. Book a visit for any gas dryer that tumbles without heat once the cycle and lint screen are ruled out. If the dryer went cold after a burning smell or a very hot load, say so when you call; we'll treat the vent as part of the job. Tell us electric or gas and the model. The visit is $89 + tax with a written finding, waived if you proceed. See dryer repair and, for gas models, gas dryer repair.
We handle this across Ottawa and Gatineau
Related problems
Dryer not heating: questions
The dryer runs but there's no heat at all. What's most likely?
On an electric dryer, one half of the double breaker, then the thermal fuse, then the element. On a gas dryer, the igniter, flame sensor or valve coils, which only a technician should inspect. In both cases a restricted vent is often the reason the part failed.
Can I replace the thermal fuse myself?
We advise against it. The fuse is on the 240 V side and it opened for a reason; replacing it without fixing the airflow puts the dryer back into the overheating condition that blew it, which is a fire risk.
How do I know if my dryer is gas or electric?
A gas dryer has a gas line (usually a yellow or stainless flexible connector) and a normal three-prong plug. An electric dryer has a large three- or four-prong plug and no gas line. If you're not sure, tell us the model and we'll check.
How often should the vent be cleaned?
Whirlpool says every one to two years or whenever drying slows down; LG suggests annual professional cleaning of the house duct. Long runs, foil duct and pets all shorten that interval.
The dryer heats but takes forever. Is that the same problem?
It's usually the airflow side rather than the heater, and it's covered in dryer taking too long to dry.
Sources
- Whirlpool Product Help: Dryer is not heating
- Maytag Product Help: Not heating, electric dryer
- LG: Why is my dryer not heating, not drying or taking a long time drying?
Sources checked 2026-09-24.
From the repair blog
Repair stories and guides, with real photos from our work.
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- $89 + tax diagnostic$129 + tax for gas or commercial appliances and for Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf or Fisher & Paykel; waived when you proceed with the repair
- Written finding on every visitCause, price and our repair-or-replace verdict
- 90-day warrantyOn parts replaced; labour depends on the work done