LG Dryer Not Heating: Igniter and Flame Sensor Fix
On a recent call in Anaheim Hills, an LG gas dryer was running but not heating. The cause was a burned-out igniter combined with a failed flame sensor. Replacing both parts restored the gas ignition and got the dryer heating again. When the igniter fails on a gas dryer, the burner never lights, so clothes tumble cold.
The customer’s complaint was simple: the dryer doesn’t work. It would run, but the drum stayed cold and clothes came out damp. That pointed me at the heating side of the machine rather than the motor or controls.
What was wrong with this LG dryer?
The igniter had burned out, and the flame sensor had also failed. On a gas dryer, the igniter is a small element that glows hot to light the gas at the burner. The flame sensor sits next to it and confirms ignition happened. If the sensor fails, the system can’t verify a flame, and that failure ended up taking the igniter with it. With those two parts down, gas never lights and the dryer produces no heat at all.
How did I fix it?
I replaced both parts inside the dryer, the igniter and the flame sensor. Replacing only the igniter would not have solved it, since the bad sensor was the reason it burned out in the first place. With both new parts installed, the burner lit and the dryer heated normally again.
One note on doing this yourself: this is a gas appliance. Diagnosing and replacing parts on the burner assembly means working around the gas system, and that is a job for a professional. If your LG dryer is not heating, the safe move is to have a technician open it up.
FAQ
Why does my LG dryer run but not heat?
On a gas model, the most common reasons are ignition parts that have failed, like the igniter or flame sensor, since the burner can’t light without them. The motor and drum are on a separate circuit from the heating system, which is why the dryer can spin and sound normal while producing no heat.
Should I replace the igniter or the flame sensor first?
If one caused the other to fail, both need to go. In this Anaheim Hills job, the failed flame sensor is what killed the igniter, so installing a new igniter alone would have left the underlying problem in place and risked burning out the new part. A proper diagnosis checks both components before anything gets ordered or installed.
Is it worth repairing a gas dryer that won’t heat?
Usually yes, when the problem is in the ignition system. The igniter and flame sensor are standard replaceable parts, and swapping them is far cheaper than buying a new dryer. If a machine runs and tumbles fine and only lacks heat, the rest of it is generally in working order, which makes repair the sensible option in most cases.
If your LG dryer is not heating in Anaheim Hills or nearby, give us a call and we’ll diagnose it on site.
