Dryer not heating?

The drum turns but the clothes come out damp and cool. The most common cause is a blocked lint screen or vent, and the rest depend on whether your dryer is electric or gas. Check the airflow first: it's free, and a blocked vent is also a fire risk.

Not sure which one it is? Snap your dryer and we’ll narrow it down.

Does the drum not turn at all, or does nothing happen when you press start?

That's a starting problem rather than a heating one. Dryer won't start

Likely causes

  1. Blocked lint screen or vent duct

    Most commonEasy DIY

    Clothes take more than one cycle to dry, the top or back of the dryer is very hot, the laundry room is humid, or little air comes out where the vent leaves the house. Both gas and electric.

  2. Heat setting on Air Fluff or a low-heat cycle

    CommonEasy DIY

    The cycle is set to Air Fluff, No Heat or Delicate, or a sensor-dry cycle ends early on a large load.

  3. Tripped half of the 240-volt breaker (electric)

    CommonEasy DIY

    The drum turns and the lights work, but there's no heat at all. An electric dryer uses a double breaker, and one half can trip while the other still powers the drum.

  4. Blown thermal fuse (electric or gas)

    CommonModerate DIY

    No heat, and on some models the dryer won't run at all. A fuse that blew is usually a symptom of a blocked vent, so clear the vent before replacing it. Never bypass it.

    Part: $5–18

  5. Failed thermostat (high-limit or cycling, electric)

    CommonModerate DIY

    Heat that cuts out partway through a cycle, or never comes on, with the vent clear.

    Part: $15–60

  6. Burned-out heating element (electric)

    CommonModerate DIY

    The drum turns with no heat, the breaker is fine, and the fuse and thermostats test good. A pro or a multimeter confirms it.

  7. Failed igniter (gas)

    CommonCall a pro

    The igniter glows orange but no flame appears, or it never glows. Gas work is for a pro.

  8. Worn gas valve coils (gas)

    Less commonCall a pro

    The burner lights, then goes out after a short time, and the cycle repeats without drying the load.

  9. Closed gas supply valve (gas)

    Less commonEasy DIY

    The igniter glows but there is no flame, and the valve on the gas line behind the dryer is turned crosswise to the pipe.

Quick checks

A blocked lint screen or vent makes the dryer overheat and is a fire risk, so clean the lint screen every load and the vent duct at least once a year. Use a rigid or semi-rigid metal vent duct, not plastic or vinyl foil. Unplug the dryer, or switch off its breaker (electric dryers are 240-volt), before opening any panel. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call the gas company or 911 from outside, and don't touch switches. Gas valve and igniter work is for a pro.

  1. Clean the lint screen, and wipe lint from the slot it slides into. Wash the screen with soap and water if dryer sheets have left a film.
  2. Set the cycle to a normal heat setting, not Air Fluff or No Heat.
  3. Check the breaker panel: an electric dryer has a double breaker, so switch it fully off and back on.
  4. Pull the dryer out a little and look at the vent hose behind it for kinks or crushing. Run the dryer and feel for strong airflow where the vent leaves the house.
  5. Gas dryers: confirm the gas valve on the supply line is open (handle in line with the pipe).
  6. Run a small load. If it dries, the first full load may just have been too large or too wet.
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Snap one of these:

  • the lint screen and the opening it slides into
  • the vent hose behind the dryer and where it leaves the house
  • the model label inside the door or on the back

Add a note or more photos next. Nobody calls you.

When to call a pro

The vent is clear and the breaker is fine but there's still no heat, a gas dryer's igniter glows without a flame or the burner keeps going out, you smell gas or burning, or the vent run is long or hard to reach. Replace rather than repair when the repair would cost more than half the price of a new dryer. For lifespan and upkeep, see the dryer guide. If the dryer won't turn on at all, see dryer won't start; if the washer is leaving clothes soaked, see washer won't spin.

Typical cost: $80–420 for a "not heating" repair including the service call (a dryer repair averages about $180 overall). Service calls run $50–80 and labor $50–100 an hour. Vent repair runs $75–150 and vent replacement $100–300.

Sources: Angi: how much does dryer repair cost? (updated September 18, 2026), NFPA: dryer fire safety fact sheet (via City of Semmes, AL)

After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.

Related problems

  • Dryer won't start?

    Dryer

    Nothing happens when you press start, or the motor runs but the drum doesn't turn, which is usually the door switch, a thermal fuse, or the drive belt.

  • Furnace won't heat?

    FurnaceFall

    The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.

  • Heat pump not heating?

    Heat pumpFall

    The heat pump runs but the house stays cold, which is usually thermostat settings, a clogged filter, or an iced-over outdoor unit.

  • Washer won't drain?

    Washer

    Water is left in the drum after the cycle, which is usually a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose.

Fixology helps you understand your home — it isn't a substitute for a licensed pro on serious gas, electrical, or structural work.