Burning smell or smoke from your dryer? Turn it off, unplug it or switch off the breaker, and call us. If you smell gas, leave the home and call the gas company or 911 from outside.
How a dryer dries
A dryer has three main jobs: spin, heat and move air. A motor and belt turn the drum. A heating element (on electric models) or a gas burner (on gas models) warms the air. A blower pushes that warm, damp air out through the vent hose to the outside.
Safety switches called thermal fuses and thermostats shut off the heat if things get too hot. When one of them trips, the drum may still turn but the air stays cold.
Common dryer problems
- Runs but no heat. A blown thermal fuse, a burnt-out heating element, or on gas models, a failed igniter or gas valve coils.
- Takes two or three cycles to dry. Usually a blocked vent. Lint packs into the hose and wall duct and traps moist air.
- Will not start. A door switch, a thermal fuse, a broken belt, or a tripped breaker.
- Squealing, thumping or grinding. Worn drum rollers, a worn idler pulley, or a failing motor.
- Shuts off too soon. A moisture sensor coated with fabric softener film, or a heat problem tied to poor airflow.
Safe checks first
Unplug the dryer or switch off its breaker before you check anything.
- Clean the lint screen. Then look at the slot it sits in for built-up lint.
- Electric dryers use a double breaker. Check that both halves are on.
- Go outside and look at the vent cap while the dryer runs. You should feel strong, warm air.
- Make sure the vent hose behind the dryer is not crushed or kinked.
- Wipe the metal moisture sensor bars inside the drum with a damp cloth.
If you have a gas dryer, don't touch the gas line or valve. Leave all gas work to us.
What we do at your home
We tell you the visit price on the phone before we come. At the visit, we test the heat source, fuses, thermostats, motor and belt. We also look at airflow, since a clogged vent is behind many "no heat" calls.
You get an upfront quote. Once you approve it, we make the repair, and it is covered by our warranty.
Repair or replace?
Dryers are simple machines, so repair is often the sensible choice. Belts, rollers, fuses, elements and igniters are routine parts.
A new dryer may make sense if the drum is rusted through, the motor has failed on a much older unit, or the control board is no longer made. We give you an honest view and you decide.
Dryers in a Florida climate
Our humid air keeps clothes heavier with moisture, so a dryer leans hard on good airflow. A partly blocked vent can stretch drying times a lot. Lint buildup is also a fire risk, so keep the screen and vent clean.
Summer storms can bring power outages and surges. Extension experts at UF/IFAS recommend surge protectors, or simply unplugging appliances you don't need, during storms. If your dryer's display goes dark or acts odd after a storm, call us before you keep using it.
Brands we repair
We work on Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Maytag, GE, Frigidaire, KitchenAid and Bosch dryers, both gas and electric. Visit our Whirlpool page for more on that brand.
Dryer repair in your area
Our service area reaches about 20 miles out from Land O' Lakes, including Wesley Chapel, Trinity and Carrollwood. See local pages for Land O' Lakes, Lutz and Odessa. If the washer is the real problem and clothes come out soaking, see washer repair.