Frigidaire dryer burning smell
Common reasons your Frigidaire dryer has a burning smell
The most common reasons your Frigidaire dryer has a burning smell are an open heating element, broken idler assembly or a worn drum bearing.
64% of the time it's the
Heating Element
15% of the time it's the
Idler Assembly
14% of the time it's the
Drum Bearing
7% of the time it's the
Something else
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Most common repairs needed to fix a Frigidaire dryer
Heating Element Replacement
An open heating element could cause a burning smell in your dryer if the element shorts against metal inside the cabinet. You may smell a metallic odor or wiring insulation burning when the broken element touches metal. When you smell a burning odor coming from the dryer, shut the dryer off and have a Sears Home Services Technician visit your home and examine the dryer. The technician will check the heating element and replace it if it’s broken.
Idler Assembly Replacement
When you smell a burning odor coming from your dryer, a worn or broken idler assembly could be causing the smell. A bad idler assembly won’t tension the drive belt on the drum properly so the belt will slip across the drum and get hot quickly. When you smell a rubbery burning odor coming from the dryer, you’ll need to have a Sears Home Services Technician visit your home and examine the dryer. The technician will replace the idler assembly if it’s broken.
Drum Bearing Replacement
A burning smell coming from your dryer could be caused by a worn drum bearing. The drum bearing normally prevents friction between the drum and the cabinet as the drum spins. When the drum bearing wears out, friction between the drum and the cabinet can cause remnants of the worn drum bearing to get hot and start smelling like burning metal or plastic. When you smell a burning odor coming from your dryer, have a Sears Home Services Technician visit your home and replace the drum bearing if it’s worn out.
What to expect when you experience a Frigidaire dryer burning smell issue
How is the burning smell problem fixed?
Correcting most burning smell problems usually involves replacing the heating element, idler assembly or drum bearing. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.
Sears Home Services recommendations for a dryer burning smell
When the dryer has a burning smell it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of dryer failures.
What to look out for with a dryer burning smell diagnosis
Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your dryer problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.
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Glossary Terms
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A gas dryer is a laundry appliance that uses natural gas or propane to generate heat to dry clothes.
A furnace blower motor is a crucial component of a home heating system that drives the fan responsible for circulating air throughout the HVAC system and into the living spaces of the home.
A furnace condensate pump is a device installed in HVAC systems, particularly high-efficiency furnaces, to collect and automatically remove the water (condensate) produced during the heating process.