Dryer
Dryer Not Heating? Gas and Electric Checks in Order
Interactive diagnostic
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Answer one question at a time. This tool helps you choose what to read; it cannot inspect your appliance.
Question 1 of up to 5
Prefer to read it? Quick checklist
- Is an air-only, Air Fluff or Eco Dry setting selected?
- Yes: An air-only or energy-saving cycle limits heat: Air Only, Air Fluff, Eco Dry or another cycle setting appears on the controls. (likely)
- No: Is the lint filter or accessible vent visibly restricted?
- Yes: The exhaust vent is restricted: The lint filter is clear but drying is slow, heat is weak or the vent test reports a blockage. (likely)
- No: Is this an electric dryer that runs without heat?
- Yes: Does the external breaker appear tripped or has it tripped again?
- Yes or unsure: One side of the electric dryer's supply may have tripped: The drum runs but a two-pole breaker appears tripped or partially tripped. (possible)
- No, but nobody has verified the dryer's 240 V supply: The electric dryer may not have its required supply: The dryer runs without heat and the model requires a 240-volt supply. (possible)
- No, and a professional confirmed the supply: After a professional diagnosis, which internal cause was confirmed?
- Thermal fuse or cutoff: A thermal fuse or cutoff may have opened: The cycle and vent checks are clear but the dryer still has no heat. (possible)
- Heating element: The electric heating element may have failed: A professional confirms the supply is correct but the electric dryer still does not heat. (possible)
- Gas ignition system: The gas ignition system may need service: The gas dryer has no heat after settings and airflow are ruled out. (possible)
- Control or timer: A control or timer fault may need diagnosis: The cycle is correct, airflow is clear and a professional has ruled out supply and heating components. (possible)
- No, it is gas: Has a technician diagnosed the gas supply?
- A supply fault was confirmed: The gas supply may be shut off: A gas dryer tumbles but does not heat and the gas shutoff may be closed. (possible)
- Not yet: Call a qualified technician. A gas dryer with no heat needs a qualified technician to inspect the gas supply and ignition system.
- Yes: Does the external breaker appear tripped or has it tripped again?
Last updated
If your dryer is not heating, check the cycle and lint filter before assuming a part failed. An air-only setting can intentionally omit heat, and a restricted vent can reduce drying performance. Gas components and the electric dryer’s high-voltage supply are technician work; keep the cabinet closed.
What to check in two minutes
Read the selected cycle. Air Only and Air Fluff do not add heat. Samsung says Eco Dry can leave parts of a cycle without heat, and its test guidance says to turn Eco Dry off for a brief heat check. Maytag and Whirlpool recommend a timed heated cycle rather than an air-only cycle. Do not run a test if the dryer smells hot, the vent is damaged or a gas concern is present.
Clean the lint filter after each load and look at the accessible vent hose for a crush, sharp bend or disconnected section. Do not pull the dryer forward if it is hardwired, gas-connected or too heavy to move safely. Restricted airflow is a common cause in the manufacturer guidance. The dryer vent cleaning guide explains which outside checks are appropriate.
Identify whether the dryer is gas or electric from its model label or installation paperwork. An electric dryer needs its specified supply; a gas dryer has a separate gas system. If the drum turns but there is no heat, that clue does not identify the failed part. Do not open the machine to find out.
The dryer warm-but-not-hot guide covers weak heat and vent restrictions. If the dryer has no power or will not start, use dryer won’t start. The published Whirlpool dryer guide adds its cycle, control-lock and starting checks. Samsung’s cited support pages are summarized below; do not treat a display code as permission to open the appliance.
Causes in order, from settings to technician diagnosis
1. Air-only or Eco Dry is selected
An air-only or energy-saving cycle limits heat
Air Only, Air Fluff, Eco Dry or another cycle setting appears on the controls.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 3 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
Air Only and Air Fluff are designed not to add heat. Samsung says Eco Dry can leave parts of the cycle without heat. A no-heat symptom on one of those settings may be expected rather than a failed heater.
Choose a heat cycle suited to the fabric and confirm the display. If you run the manufacturer-described brief test, stay beside the dryer and stop if you notice smoke, a burning smell or abnormal noise. A cycle change will not fix a blocked vent or supply fault.
2. One side of the electric supply may have tripped
One side of the electric dryer's supply may have tripped
The drum runs but a two-pole breaker appears tripped or partially tripped.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
Samsung and GE explain that an electric dryer can run its drum while one side of its power supply has tripped. GE says a breaker can be partially tripped even when it does not look tripped. Samsung describes two circuits: one for the motor and one for the heater.
Do not remove the electrical-panel cover or touch a breaker with wet hands. If the external breaker position is unclear, or if a breaker trips again, stop and call a licensed electrician. A repeated trip is not a reason to keep resetting it.
3. The electric dryer may not have the required 240-volt supply
The electric dryer may not have its required supply
The dryer runs without heat and the model requires a 240-volt supply.
- Difficulty
- Pro
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
Maytag says electric dryers require a 240-volt power supply. GE says some dryers can run at 120 volts without heating. The drum moving therefore does not prove the heater has the correct supply.
Do not measure the outlet, open the terminal block or inspect live wiring. A licensed electrician can verify the household supply; a qualified appliance technician can inspect the dryer. LG says an nP code indicates no current to the heater and directs the owner to electrical service if the listed breaker check does not resolve it.
4. The exhaust vent is restricted
The exhaust vent is restricted
The lint filter is clear but drying is slow, heat is weak or the vent test reports a blockage.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Tools
- vacuum, appliance vent brush
- Part cost
- $75–$150Source: Dryer Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026
Samsung, GE and LG all identify airflow as a heat or drying concern. A clogged filter, crushed hose, blocked outside flap or lint-filled duct can keep the dryer from moving air correctly. Samsung describes a code-based vent test on supported models.
Clean the lint filter and inspect only the accessible hose and outside flap. Do not push a brush into a wall cavity or operate a gas dryer without its exhaust connected. The $75–$150Source: Dryer Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026 entry is a secondary planning figure, not a diagnosis or a quote.
5. A gas shutoff may be closed
The gas supply may be shut off
A gas dryer tumbles but does not heat and the gas shutoff may be closed.
- Difficulty
- Pro
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
Whirlpool says a gas dryer drum can turn without heat if the gas shutoff is closed. That statement describes a possible cause; it is not an instruction to operate the valve.
Do not touch gas piping, a valve, burner or igniter. Ask a qualified appliance technician to check the gas supply. If you smell gas, leave the home without touching switches and call the gas utility from outside.
6. A thermal fuse or cutoff may have opened
A thermal fuse or cutoff may have opened
The cycle and vent checks are clear but the dryer still has no heat.
- Difficulty
- Pro
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
iFixit lists a thermal fuse and thermal cutoff among possible electric-dryer causes after settings and supply are considered. These are internal protective components. A fuse that opens can also point to an airflow or overheating problem that must be addressed.
Do not remove panels or test a fuse. A technician should find why it opened and verify the vent and related controls before replacing it. Replacing a fuse without identifying the cause may leave the underlying fault in place.
7. The electric heating element may have failed
The electric heating element may have failed
A professional confirms the supply is correct but the electric dryer still does not heat.
- Difficulty
- Pro
- Time
- 60 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
- Part cost
- $150–$350Source: Dryer Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026
If the cycle is correct, the vent is clear and a professional has verified the supply, a heating element is one possible internal cause. iFixit lists it among the parts a technician may inspect. The source’s resistance figure is not an owner test and is intentionally not presented as a procedure.
$150–$350Source: Dryer Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026 is a secondary estimate recorded from Fixr. Ask the technician whether the quote is for repair or replacement and whether it includes labor.
8. The gas ignition system may need service
The gas ignition system may need service
The gas dryer has no heat after settings and airflow are ruled out.
- Difficulty
- Pro
- Time
- 60 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
- Part cost
- $100–$250Source: Dryer Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026
A gas dryer with no heat after the safe checks may have an ignition-system fault. The manufacturer pages direct persistent no-heat symptoms to service; they do not provide a safe owner procedure for the igniter or burner.
Do not remove a burner cover or attempt to relight or test the ignition system. $100–$250Source: Dryer Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026 is Fixr’s planning range for an igniter replacement, not proof that your dryer needs one.
9. A control or timer fault may need diagnosis
A control or timer fault may need diagnosis
The cycle is correct, airflow is clear and a professional has ruled out supply and heating components.
- Difficulty
- Pro
- Time
- 60 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
A timer or control is a later possibility after the cycle, airflow and supply have been checked. iFixit lists a timer among possible electric-dryer causes. The sources do not give a safe owner test that isolates it from other components.
Ask a technician to identify the failed part and provide an itemized estimate. Do not open the control panel or probe wiring.
- Lint Filter
- Drum
- Belt
- Motor
- Heating Element
- Gas Burner Assembly
- Thermal Fuse
- High Limit Thermostat
- Blower
- Vent Hose
- Wall Vent
- Exhaust Hood
- Door Switch
Gas and 240-volt faults stop here
For an electric dryer, a missing 240-volt supply, damaged cord, terminal block or repeated breaker trip belongs with a licensed electrician or appliance technician. For a gas dryer, a closed supply, ignition fault, burner concern or gas odor belongs with the gas utility or a qualified professional. Do not attempt those repairs.
GE says a gas dryer must not run without its exhaust duct because combustion can produce carbon monoxide. Keep the vent connected. If the exhaust path is damaged or disconnected, stop the dryer until it is corrected.
What a service quote should answer
Tell the technician whether the dryer is gas or electric, which cycle was selected, whether the drum turns, whether the vent test showed a blockage and whether a code appeared. Ask which component failed, what evidence confirmed it, whether the quote includes labor and what caused any thermal cutoff to open.
For a gas repair, ask the technician to identify the ignition or supply issue without attempting a homeowner test. For an electric repair, ask whether the household supply was verified by a licensed electrician or the appliance technician. A running drum does not prove the heater circuit is receiving the required voltage.
Brand-specific dryer checks
Samsung’s support pages describe Eco Dry, lint-filter care, vent testing and an occasional two-line breaker trip. Whirlpool’s electric and gas pages make separate distinctions between cycles, power and fuel; see the published Whirlpool guide for those model-specific checks. LG’s page lists airflow as the most likely issue and describes nP as a heating-supply message. The LG guide covers that code without directing you to test the outlet.
These brand pages do not replace the shared checks here. They explain differences in the way each manufacturer labels a cycle, code or test. Use the model number and its manual whenever the control panel does not match the examples.
Read the clue before choosing a repair
| What you observe | What it supports | What it cannot prove |
|---|---|---|
| Heat is absent only on Air Only or Air Fluff | The selected cycle may be designed not to heat. Maytag and Whirlpool describe those settings as air-only. | It does not rule out a second fault if a heated cycle also stays cold. |
| A Samsung test changes when Eco Dry is off | Samsung says Eco Dry can reduce heat output. Compare the same model’s test instructions and cycle. | It does not establish that every no-heat complaint is caused by Eco Dry. |
| The drum turns on an electric dryer but there is no heat | GE and Samsung describe a two-line supply where a drum can run with a heater-side fault. | The sound of a running motor does not identify which circuit or part failed. |
| Clothes remain damp and the vent test reports restriction | Samsung provides vent-test results on supported models; GE and LG identify airflow as relevant to drying. | A code does not tell you to dismantle a wall duct or open the dryer. |
| An LG display shows nP | LG describes nP as no current to the heater and directs the owner toward the supply check and electrical service. | It is not a safe instruction to test a 240-volt outlet or terminal block. |
| A gas dryer tumbles without heat | Whirlpool lists a closed shutoff as one possible explanation. | It is not a reason to touch the valve, burner or gas line. Have a qualified technician check it. |
| Heat is still absent after the cycle and airflow checks | Internal fuse, cutoff, thermostat, element, ignition or control faults may require diagnosis. | The symptom alone cannot distinguish among those parts. Do not replace one by guesswork. |
This comparison keeps the easy observations separate from the diagnosis. A cycle label is visible to an owner; a circuit fault, opened thermal cutoff or ignition failure is not. Record the model, cycle, display code, vent-test result and whether the drum turns. Give those details to the technician. For questions about weak heat rather than complete heat loss, use the warm-but-not-hot guide.
Samsung also publishes model-specific exhaust limits. Its guidance calls for a sealed metal duct, rejects plastic and foil, and warns against sharp bends. Each 90-degree turn reduces the listed maximum vent length by six feet. Use the length limit for the exact model and count the turns; do not use a generic online maximum for a different dryer.
The dryer manual remains the reference when the installation has several elbows or a long route. A visible crushed hose is a reason to stop and correct the airflow; it is not proof that the heating element has failed.
Frequently asked questions
Can an electric dryer spin with only one breaker tripped?
Yes. Samsung says a two-line supply can leave the drum running while the heating circuit is unavailable. Do not open the panel; have a licensed professional check a tripped or repeatedly tripping circuit.
Should I disconnect the vent to test the dryer?
GE describes that test only for electric dryers. Do not use it for a gas dryer, and do not operate a gas dryer without its exhaust. If the vent is inside a wall or cannot be safely accessed, use a vent professional.
Is the heating element the most likely cause?
Not before checking the cycle, lint filter, vent and supply. Manufacturer guidance identifies those checks first. A technician should confirm an internal component before it is replaced.
Can I check whether the gas valve is open?
Do not operate or inspect gas parts as a troubleshooting step. If the gas dryer does not heat or you smell gas, stop and call a qualified professional or the gas utility from outside.
Sources
- Dryer is Not Heating, Maytag Product Help.
- Not Heating – Gas Dryer, Whirlpool Product Help.
- Clothes Are Not Dry, Samsung Support.
- Dryer Not Heating, Samsung Support.
- Dryer Runs but Does Not Heat, GE Appliances.
- LG Dryer Not Heating, Not Drying, or Taking a Long Time, LG Support.
- Electric Dryer Not Heating, iFixit (secondary repair source).
Brand-specific guides
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dryer run but not heat?
An air-only or Eco Dry cycle may limit heat. On an electric model, a partially tripped circuit or missing 240-volt supply can also leave the drum running without heat. Check the cycle first; leave electrical diagnosis to a licensed professional.
Can a clogged vent make a dryer stop heating?
Yes. Samsung, GE and LG identify restricted airflow as a cause of weak heat or slow drying. Clean the lint filter and inspect accessible vent sections; leave wall cavities and unsafe connections to a professional.
Can I check a gas dryer's valve or igniter?
No. Do not operate or inspect gas components. A gas supply or ignition concern needs a qualified appliance technician.
Should I open the terminal block on an electric dryer?
No. The dryer uses high-voltage power. A damaged cord, terminal block or missing supply needs a licensed electrician or appliance technician.
Sources
- Dryer is Not HeatingMaytag Product Help
- Not Heating – Gas DryerWhirlpool Product Help
- Clothes Are Not DrySamsung Support
- Dryer Not HeatingSamsung Support
- Dryer Runs but Does Not HeatGE Appliances
- LG Dryer Not Heating, Not Drying, or Taking a Long TimeLG Support
- Electric Dryer Not HeatingiFixit (secondary repair source)