Need dryer repair near you? Call (437) 524-1053 — same-day service, 90-day parts & labour warranty. Your dryer is tumbling, the motor is running, the timer is counting — but after 60 minutes the clothes are just as wet as they went in. A dryer that runs without heat is one of the most common appliance repair calls in the Greater Toronto Area, and the causes are usually specific and identifiable. This guide breaks down every common cause, explains what is safe to check yourself, and tells you when a technician near you in the GTA is the right call.
The Most Common Causes — Electric vs Gas
Electric and gas dryers fail to heat for different reasons, so it helps to know which type you have. If your dryer plugs into a 240-volt outlet (a large three or four-prong plug), it is electric. If it has a gas line running to it, it is gas.
Electric Dryer Not Heating
Blown Thermal Fuse — Most Common
The thermal fuse is a one-time safety device that trips permanently if the dryer overheats. It is cheap to replace ($15–$30 part) but it always blows for a reason — usually a blocked exhaust vent. If you replace the fuse without cleaning the vent, the new fuse will blow within weeks. A technician near you will replace the fuse and inspect the vent system during the same visit.
Repair cost near you: $110–$160Failed Heating Element
The heating element is a coil of resistance wire that generates heat when electricity passes through it. Over time (typically 8–12 years with regular use), the element develops a break in the coil and stops generating heat entirely. Unlike a thermal fuse, a failed element is usually due to normal wear rather than an underlying ventilation problem. This repair requires accessing the dryer interior and is best handled by a certified tech.
Repair cost near you: $150–$240Faulty Cycling Thermostat
The cycling thermostat controls the operating temperature inside the drum. When it fails, it may either allow the dryer to overheat (which then trips the thermal fuse) or prevent the heating element from activating at all. This component is tested with a multimeter and replaced easily by a technician.
Repair cost near you: $120–$200Gas Dryer Not Heating
Failed Gas Valve Coils
Gas dryers use a set of solenoid coils to open the gas valve during the heating cycle. When one or more coils fail, the valve stays closed and no gas flows to the burner — meaning the dryer runs but produces no heat. You may notice the burner ignites briefly then shuts off immediately, repeating this cycle. This is one of the most reliable diagnostic signs of failed gas valve coils.
Repair cost near you: $130–$220Cracked or Failed Igniter
The igniter glows hot enough to ignite the gas when the valve opens. If the igniter is cracked, it may glow but not get hot enough to ignite the gas, or it may fail to glow at all. Watch your dryer in a darkened room during startup — if the igniter should glow orange-red but does not, or glows but goes out without the burner lighting, the igniter is likely the issue.
Repair cost near you: $130–$210The Blocked Vent — A Fire Risk You Should Not Ignore
Fire Safety Warning: According to Health Canada, dryer vent fires cause millions in property damage annually across Canada. A blocked dryer vent is the root cause of the majority of dryer heating failures (thermal fuse trips) and represents a genuine house fire risk. Clean your dryer vent duct at minimum once per year. If you have not had yours professionally cleaned in over 2 years, schedule a vent cleaning alongside any dryer repair.
A blocked vent is usually caused by lint accumulation in the exhaust duct — the flexible hose or rigid duct that runs from the back of your dryer through the wall to the exterior. Even with regular lint trap cleaning, lint escapes and accumulates in the duct over time. Other causes include bird nests at the exterior vent cap (common in spring in the GTA), crushed or kinked flexible ducting behind the dryer, and excessively long or curved duct runs.
You can test for a blocked vent by feeling the airflow at the exterior vent cap while the dryer runs on air (no heat). It should be a strong, steady flow. A weak or absent flow means the duct is blocked.
DIY vs Professional — Where Is the Line?
You can safely do yourself:
- Clean the lint trap before every load (prevents thermal fuse trips)
- Check and clean the exterior vent cap for lint blockage
- Ensure the flexible duct behind the dryer is not kinked or crushed
- Check the circuit breaker for electric dryers (a tripped second leg can cause the motor to run but the heat element to fail)
Call a technician near you for:
- Replacing the thermal fuse, heating element, or gas valve coils
- Diagnosing thermostat or control board failures
- Professional dryer vent duct cleaning (especially for dryers in second-floor laundry rooms with long duct runs)
- Any gas-related work — gas appliance repairs should always involve a certified technician
For dryer not heating repair near you or full dryer repair near you in the GTA, our certified technicians are available same-day across Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, Scarborough, and all surrounding areas.
Dryer tumbling but no heat? Call (437) 524-1053 — same-day service available across all of Toronto and the GTA. Most dryer heating repairs completed on the first visit. 90-day warranty included.