Dryer Running but Not Heating? Rule Out Power and Gas First
Two free checks come before any repair visit. Whirlpool explains that an electric dryer runs on a 240-volt, 30-amp circuit fused on both sides of the line, so there are two breakers: one side can keep the motor turning while the other, feeding the heating element, has tripped. Unplug the dryer, flip both halves of the double breaker fully off and back on, then try again.
On a gas dryer, look at the shutoff valve on the supply pipe behind the machine. Whirlpool's rule is simple: the handle parallel to the pipe means open, perpendicular means closed. A closed valve lets the drum spin normally with no heat at all, and a valve can get bumped when a dryer is pulled out for cleaning or moved into a new house.
If power and gas are fine, the fault is inside the cabinet. Whirlpool notes that reaching the heating element or thermal fuse means disassembling the dryer, which is usually the point to call a technician. A technician will typically test the fuse, the high-limit and cycling thermostats, and then either the element or the ignition parts, depending on the fuel.
Electric vs Gas Dryer: Which Parts Stop the Heat
The drum, belt and motor work the same way on both. The heat source is where they part ways, and HomeGuide says gas appliances typically cost 10% to 20% more to repair than electric ones.
Electric dryers
- A coiled heating element warms the air. When the coil breaks, the dryer runs cold; replacement is $150 to $350 nationally.
- The element part itself ranges from about $15 generic to $200 for an OEM part.
- A half-tripped breaker or a loose terminal at the cord block can mimic a dead element.
- A high-limit thermostat that trips repeatedly usually points to restricted airflow.
Gas dryers
- A hot-surface igniter glows to light the burner; replacement runs $100 to $250 nationally.
- If the igniter glows but the flame never catches, weak gas valve coils are a common cause.
- A faulty flame sensor can leave the igniter glowing on and on while no gas flows.
- Any work on the gas connection falls under Texas plumbing law (see the note further down).
Long Dry Times, Squeals and Other Dryer Problems
Once heat is ruled in or out, the rest of the diagnosis usually follows one of these patterns.
- Heats, but a load takes two cycles
- The CPSC names long drying times as a warning sign of a blocked lint screen or exhaust duct. Whirlpool adds two causes that aren't faults at all: an overstuffed drum and clothes that went in dripping because the washer didn't spin them out. If loads come out of the washer soaking, the washer repair guide is the better starting point. Run the dryer and step outside. A healthy vent pushes the flap open with a steady stream of warm, moist air.
- Stopped heating right after the vent was blocked
- That sequence fits a blown thermal fuse. It's a one-time safety device that cuts heat when the exhaust gets too hot, and HomeGuide notes that a blocked dryer vent typically causes it to blow. The part is cheap ($75 to $150 installed), but a new fuse on the same clogged vent tends to blow again.
- Squealing, thumping or a scraping drum
- Worn drum rollers, a glazed or stretched belt, or an idler pulley with a dry bearing. Rollers run $100 to $300 nationally and an idler pulley $200 to $350. A rhythmic thump often means a roller with a flat spot.
- Motor hums but the drum doesn't turn
- A snapped belt lets the motor spin freely; a seized idler or motor bearing hums and struggles. Cut the power quickly if you hear straining, since a stalled motor heats up fast. Motor replacement runs $150 to $400.
- Shuts off mid-cycle, or the top feels unusually hot
- Overheating trips the cycling or high-limit thermostat, and the usual root cause is restricted airflow. Rule out the vent before paying for a control board, which runs $250 to $500 nationally. A scorched smell with a hot cabinet means stop using the dryer until the vent has been checked end to end.
- Dead: no lights, no hum
- Check the breaker and the door switch first. On many models a blown thermal fuse also cuts power to the motor, so a dryer that won't start at all can still be an airflow story. Samsung dryers report door faults as dC, dE or dF.
Dryer Vent Rules From the Residential Code
The International Residential Code is a model code that cities and states adopt, often with local amendments, and it sets out how a dryer exhaust should be built. These are the 2021 IRC figures (ICC text, as adopted in the 2021 codes shown on UpCodes); your city's adopted edition and your dryer's installation manual take priority.
- Duct material
- Metal with a smooth interior, at least 0.0157 inch thick (No. 28 gage), 4 inches in diameter
- Connector behind the dryer
- One length of transition duct listed to UL 2158A, no longer than 8 feet, never hidden inside a wall or ceiling
- Maximum run
- 35 feet from the transition duct to the outside terminal, reduced for every elbow, unless the dryer maker allows a longer run
- Fasteners
- Screws may not protrude more than 1/8 inch into the duct, because they snag lint
- Why it matters
- About 2,900 residential dryer fires a year, with failure to clean the leading factor at 34%, per the U.S. Fire Administration (2008 to 2010 data)
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Houston: How Often and What to Ask
Whirlpool recommends cleaning the vent run to the outside every one to two years, sooner if drying performance drops, and deep-cleaning the lint screen itself every six months with hot water, liquid detergent and a nylon brush. A screen that looks clean can still be glazed with residue that blocks air, so hold it under a running tap: if water pools on the mesh instead of passing through, it needs scrubbing.
HomeGuide puts professional vent cleaning at $80 to $185 nationally and duct replacement at $100 to $300. The price climbs with length and access, and a second-floor laundry room venting through the roof is a very different job from a 5-foot run straight out a back wall. Ask whether the quote covers the whole run to the terminal, including the flap or roof cap, and whether any crushed foil or plastic connector will be swapped for a listed transition duct.
Some Samsung dryers run their own vent blockage test and report the result as C8, C9, Clg or a similar code. Samsung's advice for those, and for its tE and hE heat codes, starts with cleaning the lint filter and the exhaust vent. The appliance error code library lists the rest of Samsung's dryer codes.
What Dryer Repairs Cost Nationally
HomeGuide's national typical ranges with parts and labor; it puts the average dryer repair around $200. Repair companies in Houston quote their own prices, so use these as a benchmark.
| Repair | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Service call and diagnosis | $70 to $130 | |
| Thermal fuse | $75 to $150 | Part $5 to $10 generic, up to $60 OEM |
| Gas igniter | $100 to $250 | |
| Belt | $100 to $250 | |
| Drum rollers | $100 to $300 | |
| Timer | $120 to $300 | |
| Heating element | $150 to $350 | Electric models |
| Motor | $150 to $400 | |
| Idler pulley | $200 to $350 | |
| Drum | $200 to $500 | |
| Control board | $250 to $500 | |
| Vent cleaning | $80 to $185 | Duct replacement $100 to $300 |
By the same source a new dryer runs $800 to $1,200. The appliance repair cost guide has the ranges for washers, refrigerators and kitchen appliances.
Sources: HomeGuide: Dryer repair cost · HomeGuide: Appliance repair cost
When an Older Dryer Is Still Worth Fixing
Dryers are simple machines that last. NAHB's 2007 study of home component lifespans, based on 2005 industry data, gives gas and electric dryers about 13 years each, longer than the washer beside them. Most dryer parts also sit at the low end of the price table, so a belt, fuse, roller kit or igniter on a 10-year-old dryer is usually money well spent.
The math turns against repair when the big parts go. A $500 control board or drum on a 12-year-old dryer is roughly half the $800 to $1,200 price of a new one, which is where HomeGuide and Consumer Reports both draw the line. Maytag's 10-year limited parts warranty, which lists the dryer drum on machines made after 2017, can shift that answer, so check the model before you decide. The repair or replace guide walks through the same test for other appliances, and brand coverage is on the Maytag appliance repair page.
Dryer Brands and Service Area
When you call, give the brand, whether it's gas or electric, and roughly how long a load takes now; then ask whether the repair company works on that brand. Whirlpool Corporation owns the Maytag, Amana and KitchenAid brands. Calls are taken for about 60 Houston ZIP codes and from Stafford 77477, Sugar Land 77478, Missouri City and Bellaire.
Dryer Repair and Vent Questions
How do I know if my dryer vent is too long?
The 2021 IRC caps the exhaust duct at 35 feet from the transition duct to the outside terminal, and each elbow shortens that allowance unless your dryer's manual permits a longer run. A laundry room in the middle of the house, venting through the roof, can reach the limit quickly. Measure the run, count the elbows and compare the result with the manual.
Can I use my dryer if the vent is clogged?
It's a bad idea. A restricted vent pushes exhaust temperatures up, trips safety devices and, per the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor in residential dryer fires. Clean the lint screen, pull the dryer out, and check the duct for crushing and the outside flap for lint before running another load.
Is a plastic or foil dryer vent hose allowed?
The 2021 International Residential Code calls for a smooth metal exhaust duct and, behind the dryer, a single transition duct listed to UL 2158A and no longer than 8 feet. An old white vinyl hose, or any connector without a UL 2158A listing, doesn't meet that. Check the listing label on whatever connector you buy, and your dryer's installation manual.
Why does my gas dryer heat for a while and then go cold?
A pattern of heating, going cold mid-cycle and not relighting often points to weak gas valve coils, which may open the valve when cool and fail once they warm up. A cycling thermostat or a vent restriction that trips the high-limit can look similar, so the technician will usually test airflow and the coils together.