Gas clothes dryer not getting hot?

[Homerboy]

So a week or so ago my wife said the dryer "ran forever" and didn't get hot. But she reloaded it and it worked fine. I just chalked it up to her putting it on the wrong setting or something.

Well today I went down to empty the dryer, and while it was stopped, the clothes were still damp. So I fired it up again and it was running fine (When I went into our kitchen I could see through the window the steam outside from the exhaust pipe). So it ran. I then went downstairs by the dryer and noticed is wasn't hot. Ran it again -- no heat.

When I asked my wife she said it did several loads the day earlier just fine, with no issues.

So it seems to be intermittent at best.

Anyone have any ideas what might be the problem? It's an older, very simple/basic dyer (10+ years).

 

[Lazarus52980]

I had this happen to me not that long ago. It was the heating coil that went out. I would call a repair person, since it was not all that expensive to fix ($175 or so).

 

[Homerboy]

I had this happen to me not that long ago. It was the heating coil that went out. I would call a repair person, since it was not all that expensive to fix ($175 or so).

I don't think gas dryers have heating coils -- that's be an electric dyer. And it wouldn't be intermittent either I don't think.

 

[Lazarus52980]

Maybe it was the igniter? (Shows how little I know about mechanical huh?)

 

[Homerboy]

Maybe it was the igniter? (Shows how little I know about mechanical huh?)

Well the odd thing there is that it did work this morning for ~5mins or so. So it DID ignite...

 

[Scarpozzi]

I don't have one of these, but here are typical gas parts that I've seen....

1. Igniter could be failing....Simple...it's not starting when turned on.
2. Flame could be going out and it's not set to re-ignite once on...? There's a lot of moving air in the unit...
3. If the unit has a thermocoupler, the gas won't come on unless the thermocoupler gets hot enough....This could be failing and causing the gas to stop flowing while the unit is running.

Your best bet is to pay someone to look at it or take the assembly apart to clean it if you're brave. Carbon deposits could be built up and simply causing it to have problems.

 

[Mixolydian]

Had this same problem about a year ago. Turned out that the gas supply line was partially clogged (with whatever sealant they used on the fittings). Once it was cleaned out the problem went away.

 

[jaedaliu]

Scarpoozi's got some knowledge.

You can hear a click when the ignitor goes off.

Mixolydian's description sounds very reasonable. Also sounds like a waste of gas as it's mixing with your clothes and venting.

 

[Pheran]

I had a similar problem a few years back, it turned out the be the gas valve solenoids, which were very easy to replace on my dryer. This part is what actually opens the gas valve. There should be a small cap somewhere on the front of your dryer - if you remove it you will be able to observe the operation of the igniter and see the gas flame. If the igniter glows but you never actually get a flame, you may have a solenoid problem. In my case, the solenoids would only work when cold, so the flame would come on at first, but then fail on subsequent heating cycles, so be sure to observe more than just the first ignition when the dryer is turned on.

EDIT: This is what I ordered back then, but obviously this may not be the right part for your dryer.

Gas Valve Solenoid

 

[mikeford]

LG had a bunch of problems with gas valves that shut off incorrectly so it took forever to dry anything.

Google the model info and something like no heat or slow dry and you should get a load of hits from DIY appliance repair places.

BTW had LG service come out on mine 4 times and NEVER fixed the problem, paying for that would suck.

 

[Fritzo]

I don't think gas dryers have heating coils -- that's be an electric dyer. And it wouldn't be intermittent either I don't think.

Issues with gas dryers not heating are almost always something to do with an ignitor. Could be a fuse or the entire ignition unit.

Anyway, my view is repair techs don't have advanced degrees, and if they can fix something onsite, then you can too Hit YouTube and look for repair videos.

 

[NesuD]

Thermal fuse easy to change and cheap check that first.

 

[Homerboy]

Issues with gas dryers not heating are almost always something to do with an ignitor. Could be a fuse or the entire ignition unit.

Anyway, my view is repair techs don't have advanced degrees, and if they can fix something onsite, then you can too Hit YouTube and look for repair videos.

Oh yeah, trust me, I'm not PAYING somebody to fix this. It's probably 15 years old now, and was a cheap dryer back then. $150+ for somebody to LOOK at it? I may as well just buy a new one.

I'm a DIY'er so I'll be checking out everything everyone has suggested here as soon as I get home tonight.

 

[Homerboy]

Some googling I read said that it could be caused by a clogged vent or even the dryer not being level. Any truth to that?

 

[Fritzo]

Oh yeah, trust me, I'm not PAYING somebody to fix this. It's probably 15 years old now, and was a cheap dryer back then. $150+ for somebody to LOOK at it? I may as well just buy a new one.

I'm a DIY'er so I'll be checking out everything everyone has suggested here as soon as I get home tonight.

I'm fixing the roller pulleys and belt on my dryer tonight. My wife was ready to go out and buy a new one when it only needed a $30 tuneup kit

 

[Newell Steamer]

Gas clothes dryer not getting hot?

Plant a few kisses on the neck, that always gets mine going.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Some googling I read said that it could be caused by a clogged vent or even the dryer not being level. Any truth to that?

I don't know what failsafes those things have...

The thermocoupler I was talking about is common on gas appliances because it cuts the gas off if there's no heat/flame.

The basics are....does it have spark/air/fuel? Then figure out which of those you don't have or lose while it's on that's killing the flame.

 

[Cerebus451]

Some googling I read said that it could be caused by a clogged vent or even the dryer not being level. Any truth to that?

If the dryer gets hot inside, but the clothes don't get dry, that would be a clogged vent. If the dryer is not getting hot inside, then you are looking at the igniter or gas supply.

The dryer not being level would cause it to never work, rather than being intermittent, I would think (if that were the issue).

 

[Phoenix86]

Gas clothes dryer not getting hot?

Plant a few kisses on the neck, that always gets mine going.

But then you have to deal with the gas. :whiste:

 

[cbrsurfr]

Check the ducting and filter first. Every now and then I get a softball size build up in the duct that will cause this.

If you you have to start taking it apart and its 15 years old I would suggest you pickup a maintenance kit for it. Should include a new belt, tensioner, rollers. You can also think about just doing an ignitor while you're in there. Probably about $45 total if you order online ahead of time, double if you have to go to an appliance parts store.

They don't make them like they used to, keep that one running as long as you can.

 

[Squisher]

My money is on the solenoids. $18 at repairclinic.com This such a frequent repair and I seem to be the designated repair person in the family that I keep a set at the ready. The same two coils seem to fit every brand of gas dryer.

 

[Homerboy]

OK so here's some more data....

Got home. Fired right up. Full flame, no problems at all.
Ran for a while, flame went out.
Started glowing again, but didn't fire up. No flame.
Letting it cool now.

Diagnosis?

 

[Homerboy]

Yeah. Solenoids.

 

[Homerboy]

Now if I could just find a damned parts store around me that is actually OPEN.
Does Home Depot carry such things?

 

[jaedaliu]

Generally, no. You'll have to find a parts supplier.

Something like this http://www.coastparts.com/ in your neck of the woods.

If you don't have an equivalent, some repair shops will sell to you for a minimal mark up. Or online.