Troubleshooting a Gas Dryer Igniter That Is Not Glowing

Turn on your gas dryer. If the inside drum is turning, but there is no heat, the problem lies with the igniter.

Unplug your dryer, shut off the gas line valve and remove the valve from the rear of the unit.

Remove the screws on the back panel of the dryer with a Phillips screwdriver. Remove the back panel. Depending on the model of the gas dryer, the igniter may be accessible via the front panel of the unit. If this is the case, remove the screws holding the dryer door in place and the ones holding the front panel in place. Then remove the door and the panel.

Locate the igniter. It is the metal fork-shaped assembly connected to the drum.

Check the wire where it plugs into the base of the igniter. If the connection is loose, plug it in securely. This could fix the problem. If wiring isn't the problem, proceed to the next step.

Check the metal tip of the igniter for signs of corrosion or breakage. This could mean the igniter has shorted out or cracked. Either way, this will prevent the igniter from glowing and you'll need to replace the whole igniter.

Plug in your dryer and attach the gas line. Turn on the dryer and check the igniter. If it doesn't glow at all, or takes an unusually long time -- more than a few minutes -- to achieve a red glow, then the corrosion and/or damage to the igniter has rendered it defective. Turn off your dryer and unplug the gas line.

Unplug the igniter and remove the screws holding it in place. Install a new igniter in the old one's place and replace the wiring and screws.

Replace the dryer panel.