Dryer Not Heating — West Hollywood Repair

What this symptom usually means

A dryer that runs but doesn't heat is one of the most common calls we get, and it's usually one of the fastest repairs — if the right part is diagnosed first. The failure mode is different for electric and gas dryers, but neither one is complicated. Below is a breakdown of the most common causes we find on this exact problem, roughly in order of frequency.

Common causes, in order of likelihood

Blown thermal fuse

A small safety fuse on the blower housing. When the dryer overheats (usually from a clogged vent), it blows. A dryer with a blown thermal fuse won't heat — but it also won't stay working until the airflow problem is fixed too.

Failed heating element (electric)

The coil inside the heating element burns out over time. Easy to visually confirm on disassembly, cheap to replace.

Bad igniter (gas)

On a gas dryer, the igniter glows orange to light the burner. When it weakens or opens, the burner never lights and the dryer tumbles cold.

Bad gas valve coils

The two coils on the gas valve assembly open the gas at the right moment. When one fails, no heat.

Failed high-limit thermostat

Less common but real — a tripped or failed high-limit thermostat cuts power to the heating element.

When it's time to call

Call as soon as the heat stops. Running a no-heat dryer repeatedly doesn't damage anything, but it wastes time — and the fix is usually fast.