How to Repair Household Appliances - Problem 3: Gas dryer won't heat—The igniter doesn't heat up

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

Photo 1: Test the wires
Unplug the dryer and disconnect the wires
leading from the back of the dryer to the
burner assembly. Plug the dryer back in
and turn it on. Press the leads of a voltage tester
 into the two terminals. If the tester doesn't light,
 test the thermofuse (Photo 2).

Photo 2: Test the thermofuse
Unplug the dryer and disconnect the two wires
from the thermofuse. Set the multimeter to RX-1
 and place the leads onto each terminal. If you don't get any
reading on the dial, replace the thermofuse.

Photo 3: Lift out the burner assembly
First turn off the gas to the dryer and shut off the gas valve near the burner.
Then unscrew the large nut, remove two or three screws, and lift out the burner assembly.

Photo 4: Test the igniter
Disconnect the igniter wires. Set the multimeter to RX-1
and touch the tips of the probes to the two igniter leads.
 If you don't get a reading, the igniter is bad.

Photo 5: Replace the igniter
Loosen the screw that holds the bad igniter and slide it out.
Slide the new one in, being careful not to touch the charcoal-colored part with your fingers.
Tighten the screw gently. Reinstall the burner and plug in the wires.

Photo 6: Test the flame sensor
Test the flame sensor if the igniter stays on continuously or
the igniter tests “good” but still doesn't glow.
Remove the screw that secures the flame sensor and unplug the wires.
Install a new flame sensor and connect the wires.

Solutions
If your gas dryer isn't heating enough to dry your clothes, first try the simple solutions. Clean the lint screen by washing it in hot soapy water to remove invisible fabric softener buildup. Clogged air passages may cause the dryer to shut down. Also check to make sure the vent isn't clogged with lint where it exits through the wall. Finally, clean out the vent pipe by running a plumber's snake through the outside vent to the dryer opening. Tie a rag on the snake and pull it back through the vent to remove lint buildup.

If your dryer still doesn’t heat, make sure the gas valve is open (handle parallel to pipe) and that the dryer is plugged in and getting power. Then follow the steps shown in the photos 1 - 6. In most cases, one of these repairs will solve the problem. All the repairs we show are simple. You remove a screw or two and plug in a new part. The trick is figuring out which part to replace.

Start by removing the round plug on the front of the dryer or front access panel. Pull out on the lower corners of the panel to remove it. Some panels are held on by screws. Then, with the dryer plugged in and turned on, observe the igniter for clues (Figure C and Photo 4). Normally the igniter heats up and glows, igniting the gas burner.

If the igniter doesn't heat up
First test for a burned-out thermofuse. The thermofuse is a safety device that shuts off power to the burner if the dryer overheats. When the thermofuse burns out, it must be replaced. With the dryer plugged in and turned on, test for power to the burner (Photo 1). If there's no power, unplug the dryer and pull it away from the wall and remove the back panel. If you have a flexible gas connection, you may be able to avoid disconnecting the gas. Otherwise shut off the gas valve and disconnect the gas line where it enters the dryer. Then directly test the thermofuse (Photo 2) and replace it if needed. Also look for a charred thermostat and burned connections at the thermostats and if you see any, replace the thermostats, too. Reassemble the dryer and test it. Replacing the thermofuse or bad thermostats should correct the no-power problem. If not, call a repair service.

Second, test for a bad igniter. If the test in Photo 1 shows there's power to the burner but the igniter isn't glowing, the problem could be a bad igniter. The igniter is easier to test and replace if you remove the entire burner assembly. If you don't feel confident working with gas, call a repair service for this repair. Turn off the gas to the dryer and shut off the gas valve located near the burner (see Photo 3). Make sure the dryer is unplugged. Then unscrew the large nut that connects the burner to the gas valve. Remove the two screws in front that hold the burner assembly in place. There's one additional screw under the burner that you may have to loosen or remove.

With the burner assembly removed, test the igniter with a multimeter (Photo 4). If you don't get any reading on the multimeter, the igniter is bad. Install a new igniter (Photo 5). If the multimeter test shows that the igniter is good, but it still won't glow, it could be a bad flame sensor. Test the flame sensor with a multimeter and replace it if you don't get a reading (Photo 6).

Figure C: Gas dryer details
You'll find the lighter and other parts under the drum

CAUTION!

You'll smell an initial whiff of gas when you disconnect the line. If the gas smell continues, or you smell gas after reconnecting your appliance, leave the house immediately. Do not use a cell phone or switch any lights on or off. Any spark could cause an explosion. Move away from the house and call the gas company or dial 911 for help.