Heating, Cooling and HVAC

If your dryer still doesn’t heat, make sure the gas valve is open (handle parallel to pipe) and that the dryer is plugged in and getting power. In most cases, one of these repairs will solve the problem.All the repairs we show are simple. You remove a screw or two and plug in a new part. The trick is figuring out which part to replace.

Start by removing the round plug on the front of the dryer or front access panel. Pull out on the lower corners of the panel to remove it. Some panels are held on by screws. Then, with the dryer plugged in and turned on, observe the igniter for clues. Normally the igniter heats up and glows, igniting the gas burner.

…………………………………

If the igniter doesn’t heat up:
First test for a burned-out thermofuse. The thermofuse is a safety device that shuts off power to the burner if the dryer overheats. When the thermofuse burns out, it must be replaced. With the dryer plugged in and turned on, test for power to the burner. If there’s no power, unplug the dryer and pull it away from the wall and remove the back panel. If you have a flexible gas connection, you may be able to avoid disconnecting the gas. Otherwise shut off the gas valve and disconnect the gas line where it enters the dryer. Then directly test the thermofuse and replace it if needed. Also look for a charred thermostat and burned connections at the thermostats and if you see any, replace the thermostats, too. Reassemble the dryer and test it. Replacing the thermofuse or bad thermostats should correct the no-power problem. If not, call a repair service.

CAUTION: You’ll smell an initial whiff of gas when you disconnect the line. If the gas smell continues, or you smell gas after reconnecting your appliance, leave the house immediately. Do not use a cell phone or switch any lights on or off. Any spark could cause an explosion. Move away from the house and call the gas company or dial 911 for help.

Second, test for a bad igniter. If the test shows there’s power to the burner but the igniter isn’t glowing, the problem could be a bad igniter. The igniter is easier to test and replace if you remove the entire burner assembly. If you don’t feel confident working with gas, call a repair service for this repair. Turn off the gas to the dryer and shut off the gas valve located near the burner. Make sure the dryer is unplugged. Then unscrew the large nut that connects the burner to the gas valve. Remove the two screws in front that hold the burner assembly in place. There’s one additional screw under the burner that you may have to loosen or remove.

With the burner assembly removed, test the igniter with a multimeter. If you don’t get any reading on the multimeter, the igniter is bad. Install a new igniter.

If the multimeter test shows that the igniter is good, but it still won’t glow, it could be a bad flame sensor. Test the flame sensor with a multimeter and replace it if you don’t get a reading.

If the igniter comes on, but the burner still doesn’t light:
If the igniter comes on and stays on but the burner doesn’t light, the flame sensor is probably stuck in the closed position, preventing any gas from getting to the burner. A multimeter test won’t help here, so just replace the flame sensor. Unplug the dryer for this repair.

Finally, if the igniter comes on for about 30 seconds and then shuts off and there’s no flame, it could indicate bad coils. The coils are electromagnets that open the gas valves when the igniter heats the flame sensor. Usually you can hear the coils click when the igniter comes on. If the igniter comes on and glows but you don’t hear a click and the burner won’t light, then replace the coils.

For all these fixes, when you find the problem part, remove it and take it with you to the appliance parts store to buy the correct replacement.

Then, after making the necessary repairs, reinstall the burner assembly. Firmly tighten the nut connecting the burner to the gas valve. Then open both gas valves and test for leaks at the burner/valve joint by swabbing on a solution of 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to 1 cup of water. Watch for bubbles, which indicate a leak. If you see bubbles or smell gas, tighten the connection and retest. If this doesn’t solve the problem, shut off both valves and call the gas company or an appliance repair service for help.

Sourc: The Family Handyman