GE Dryer Not Heating?

Unplug the dryer before removing any access panels. The heating element terminals carry 240V when the dryer is plugged in. For gas dryers, if you smell gas at any point, leave the area and call your gas company.

Remove the lint screen and clean it. Then use a long flexible brush to clean inside the lint trap housing. Also disconnect the vent hose from the back of the dryer and clear any lint buildup in the vent run to the outside. A restricted vent is the single most common cause of GE dryer no-heat calls.

GE electric dryers need 240 volts. If half the circuit breaker trips, you get 120V — enough to tumble but not heat. Find the double breaker labeled "Dryer" in your breaker panel, switch it fully off, then back on. If it trips repeatedly, call an electrician.

Ensure the gas shutoff valve behind the dryer is in the open position (handle parallel to the pipe). If you just moved into a new home, the gas may have been turned off. On GE gas dryers, the igniter should glow orange when heating — look through the small opening at the bottom front.

GE dryers have a thermal fuse on the heater housing or exhaust pathway. When it blows, the dryer tumbles but produces no heat. It’s a one-time safety device. Use a multimeter to test for continuity. If it reads open, replace it — and always fix the cause of overheating (usually a clogged vent).

The heating element in GE dryers is a coiled wire inside a metal can, usually at the rear. Unplug the dryer and remove the back panel to access it. Look for visible breaks in the coil. Test with a multimeter — you should read 10–30 ohms between the terminals. An open reading means the element is burned out.