How to Determine if the Ignitor Is Bad on My Dryer?

If your gas dryer tumbles the clothes but doesn't dry them, it may have a bad ignitor. The ignitor on a dryer is responsible for igniting the gas to produce heat. Periodically, it may burn out. Ignitors that function properly emit a glow, so often a visual check will determine if your ignitor is working. If the ignitor doesn't glow, check for voltage with a multimeter. A lack of voltage indicates that you need to replace the ignitor.

Screwdriver
Multimeter

Instructions

- 1
  Unscrew and remove the front access panel of the dryer.
- 2
  Turn on the dryer and examine the ignitor. Dryer ignitors are typically 2 inches long. They are shaped like cones, and have two wires leading out of them. If the ignitor is glowing when the dryer is turned on, it is working.
- 3
  Turn off the gas supply to the dryer if the ignitor doesn't glow. Shut off the gas valve and unplug the unit.
- 4
  Unscrew and remove the burner assembly.
- 5
  Adjust the setting on a multimeter to the lowest setting.
- 6
  Connect one of the probes on the multimeter to one of the terminals on the ignitor. Do the same for the other probe and the other terminal so that both probes are connected at the same time. If the multimeter doesn't register a change in the reading on the display, the ignitor is bad.

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