Why Is My Dryer Not Heating?

A dryer that tumbles normally but produces cold air is one of the more frustrating appliance issues, since everything appears to be working except the one thing you actually need. The cause depends heavily on whether your dryer is electric or gas.

Electric dryers

On an electric dryer, the heating element is the most common point of failure — it's a coil that heats up as current passes through it, and like any heating element, it can burn out over time. A dryer that runs but never warms up is often a sign this component has failed.

Less commonly, a thermal fuse or thermostat can fail in a way that cuts power to the heating circuit as a safety measure, especially if there's been a venting issue in the past.

Gas dryers

Gas dryers add a few more components to the mix. The igniter has to glow hot enough to ignite the gas at the burner — if it's weakened or failing, it may not draw enough current to open the gas valve, so no flame is produced even though the dryer runs. A faulty gas valve coil can cause a similar symptom.

Don't rule out the vent

Before assuming a part has failed, it's worth checking the exhaust vent. A significantly restricted vent can sometimes trip a high-temperature safety cutoff, which will stop heat production as a protective measure even though the heating element or igniter itself is fine.

What to do next

If your dryer in Bend has stopped heating, check that the vent isn't visibly blocked or overly packed with lint. If that's not the issue, diagnosing an electric heating element versus a gas igniter or valve requires testing the specific components, which is where a repair visit comes in.