Dryer Smells Like Burning: What to Do

If your dryer smells like something is burning, stop the cycle, unplug it, and let it cool before you do anything else. On a new dryer, a light hot smell during the first few loads can be normal. On a dryer you have used for a while, a burning smell usually points to lint near the heat source or a blocked vent, and both are fire risks that need attention before the next load.

First: what to do right now

1. Stop the dryer and, once it is safe to reach, unplug it.
2. If you see smoke or flames, do not try to deal with the load. NFPA's home fire guidance is to get out, close doors behind you, stay out, and call the fire department from outside.
3. If what you smell is gas rather than burning, it is a different emergency. Natural gas is odorized to smell like rotten eggs. Connecticut's utility regulator advises leaving the building, not touching light switches, phones or appliance controls near the smell, and calling the gas company from outside or a neighbor's home.
4. If the smell was faint and there is no smoke, leave the dryer off and unplugged until you have checked the lint screen and vent below.

Do not leave a dryer running while you are asleep or away from home. NFPA and South Carolina's state fire marshal both make that point.

Common causes of a burning smell

Lint near the heater

CPSC staff note that lint can build up inside the dryer cabinet even if you clean the lint screen after every load, and lint that comes into contact with the heater can ignite. LG also says lint, dust or other material inside the dryer can be pulled toward the motor area by circulating hot air and burn. This is the most important cause to rule out.

A clogged lint screen or vent

The CPSC explains that lint in the dryer or exhaust duct blocks airflow and lets heat build up, which can lead to a fire in some dryers. A dryer that smells hot and also takes longer to dry is a strong hint that the vent is restricted. See our guide to a clogged dryer vent.

A new dryer

LG says a new dryer can give off an odor as plastic, rubber and insulation parts heat up for the first time, and that this fades with use. Open the door and ventilate the room. LG's advice changes for an older machine: if a burning smell keeps happening on a dryer that is not new, have it serviced. Owners can also check our LG dryer repair listings.

Clothes with oils or chemicals

The CPSC warns that clothing soiled with gasoline, cooking oil, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains needs extra care. Wash those items more than once and air-dry them if you can. If you must machine-dry them, use the lowest heat with a cool-down period, and do not leave the dried items piled in the dryer or a basket, because they can ignite on their own.

Detergent residue or a foreign object

LG notes that too much detergent can leave residue on clothes that smells when heated. Small items left in pockets, or something caught between the drum and the cabinet, can also scorch.

What you can safely check yourself

Unplug the dryer first. Gas dryers have a power cord too. If at any point you smell gas, stop and follow the gas steps above.

• Lint screen. Clean it, and look into the screen opening for lint that has fallen past it. Never run the dryer without the screen in place (USFA, NFPA).
• Drum. Look and feel for anything stuck in the drum or along the door seal. NFPA recommends removing lint that collects around the drum.
• Behind the dryer. Pull it out carefully and remove lint from the floor and the back of the unit. Keep boxes, clothes and other combustibles away from it.
• The duct. Look for crushed, kinked or plastic and foil duct. The CPSC recommends rigid or semi-rigid metal.
• The outside vent. Once the other checks are done, plug the dryer back in, run it briefly on an air-only setting, and check that air comes out and the flap opens. Whirlpool's long-dry-time guide also tells owners to clear nests and debris from the hood.

If the smell came with slow drying, our dryer not drying guide walks through the rest of the airflow checks.

Likely failed parts and what a technician checks

When a burning smell keeps coming back after the screen and vent are clean, the problem is usually inside the cabinet. A technician will typically:

• Open the cabinet and clean out lint around the heater or burner, the blower and the motor. The CPSC recommends having a qualified service person clean the inside of the chassis periodically.
• Check the safety controls. CPSC staff describe how a blocked duct, blocked screen or overloaded drum can make the dryer cycle on its high-limit thermostat to prevent overheating. A tech tests the thermostats and the thermal fuse; if the fuse has blown, our dryer thermal fuse guide explains why fixing the airflow matters.
• Inspect moving parts. A worn drive belt, drum rollers or a struggling motor can create friction and a hot rubber smell, often along with new noises. See dryer squeaking or loud noise.
• Check the heat source. On electric models, the heating element and its housing; on gas dryers, the burner area and, per NFPA, the gas line and connection for leaks.
• Look at wiring and the power cord for scorched or loose connections at the terminal block.

When to stop DIY and call a pro

Call a professional, and keep the dryer unplugged, if you saw smoke or sparks, if the smell returns after you cleaned the lint screen and vent, if the cabinet or cord is hot to the touch, if the smell seems electrical, or if you have a gas dryer and suspect anything wrong with the burner or gas line. NFPA and USFA both recommend professional installation and service for dryers.

Browse local dryer repair companies, start from your state on the states page, or see a city page such as dryer repair in Los Angeles.

Rough cost

HomeAdvisor puts typical dryer repair at about $100 to $400, and This Old House reports service call or diagnostic fees of about $40 to $200. If the cause turns out to be the vent, HomeAdvisor lists a normal range of about $104 to $188 for professional dryer vent cleaning. See our dryer repair cost guide for more.