Heating Element
Electric dryers heat with a coil. When it breaks, the drum turns but the air stays cold.
Damp towels after an hour-long cycle? A drum that won't turn? If you're searching for dryer repair near me, our Pacifica team repairs gas and electric dryers, usually the same day. Burning smells or overheating are an emergency, and our phone line answers 24 hours a day.
Dryers usually give clear warning signs before they quit. Fixing them early saves money and keeps your home safe.
Dryers have two jobs: make heat and turn the drum. When one job fails, laundry stalls. Here's what we test.
Electric dryers heat with a coil. When it breaks, the drum turns but the air stays cold.
Gas dryers light a burner with a hot igniter. A weak igniter or bad sensor stops the flame.
Safety parts that shut off heat if the dryer overheats. A blown fuse usually means the vent needs cleaning.
Turn the drum. A snapped belt means the motor runs but nothing moves.
Support the drum as it spins. Worn rollers cause squeaks and thumps.
Door switches, start switches, timers and control boards that tell the dryer when to run.
Lint is very easy to burn. When it builds up inside the dryer cabinet or vent, it sits right next to parts that get hot. Fire safety groups list lint buildup as a top cause of home dryer fires.
On every dryer repair, we clean lint from inside the cabinet near the heater. For the vent line running outside, book our dryer vent cleaning service. Pacifica's damp air makes lint clump faster, so yearly cleaning is a smart habit.
A dryer that smells like burning or a gas dryer that smells like gas needs fast action. Here's what to do first.
Turn the dryer off and unplug it. Leave the door open so the drum cools. Don't restart it to test it.
Leave the home right away and call PG&E or 911 from outside. Don't flip switches or use flames. We can repair the dryer once it's safe.
For burning smells, overheating or a dryer that won't stop, call (650) 491-1179. Learn more about our emergency appliance repair.
Both dryer types tumble clothes the same way. The difference is how they make heat.
Use a 240-volt outlet and a heating coil. Common repairs: heating elements, thermal fuses, cycling thermostats and two-breaker power issues.
Use a gas line and a burner. Common repairs: igniters, flame sensors, gas valve coils and burner tubes.
Common in Pacifica condos and townhomes. Smaller vents and tight spaces make lint buildup more likely.
| Symptom | Likely Cause |
|---|---|
| No heat (electric) | Thermal fuse, element or thermostat |
| No heat (gas) | Igniter, flame sensor or valve coils |
| Long dry times | Blocked vent or bad moisture sensor |
| Drum won't turn | Broken belt or idler pulley |
| Squeaking or thumping | Worn drum rollers or glides |
| Won't start | Door switch, start switch or fuse |
Go outside while the dryer runs and hold your hand near the vent hood. You should feel strong, warm airflow. Weak airflow means the vent is blocked.
We repair dryers from all the brands you'll find in Pacifica laundry rooms.
Whirlpool and Maytag dryers share many parts, so we stock rollers, belts and fuses for both. See our Whirlpool appliance repair page.
We fix dryers in every Pacifica neighborhood, from West Sharp Park to Vallemar, and in these nearby cities.
Not on the list? Call us. We serve much more of the Peninsula and Coastside.
View All Service AreasKeep the rest of your laundry room in good working order.
Each dryer repair includes our written warranty on parts and labor. If the same problem returns during the warranty period, we come back and fix it at no added cost.
Guides, related repairs and nearby cities picked for dryer repair customers.
On an electric dryer, the usual causes are a blown thermal fuse, a broken heating element or a bad high-limit thermostat. On a gas dryer, it's often a weak igniter, a failed flame sensor or worn gas valve coils. A blown thermal fuse is often a sign the vent is clogged.
Nine times out of ten, the vent is partly blocked with lint, so damp air can't escape. Clean the lint screen and check the vent hood outside. If that doesn't help, book our dryer vent cleaning service, then we can test the heating parts.
Squeaks usually come from worn drum rollers, an idler pulley or drum glides. A thumping sound can mean a flat spot on a roller or a damaged belt. These parts are inexpensive and quick to replace.
Check that the door is fully closed and the breaker hasn't tripped. Electric dryers use two breakers, so one can trip while the light still works. Other causes are a bad door switch, start switch or thermal fuse.
No. Stop the dryer and unplug it. A burning smell often means lint is touching a hot part or a motor is overheating. Lint buildup is a leading cause of home dryer fires, so have it checked before using it again.
Dryers are simple machines and usually last 10 to 13 years. Most parts, like belts, rollers, fuses and elements, are affordable. Repair is almost always the better choice unless the drum or motor fails on a very old unit.
Yes. Our technicians repair gas dryers, including igniters, flame sensors and gas valve coils. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call PG&E or 911 before calling us.
Stop running two cycles for one load. Call our Pacifica dryer repair team for same-day help, or request a visit online. See all appliance repair services, go back to the homepage, or meet our technicians.