Appliance · Dryer

Dryer repair in Ottawa and Gatineau, electric and gas

Electric and gas dryers, including stacked units. Gas work is done by licensed gas technicians. Free diagnostic when you go ahead with the repair.

Book online Call 613-880-3013

Dryer with its front panel removed during a repair — Dryer opened from the front for repair · RepairWell job photo

Proudly CanadianOttawa-based team
BBB accreditedRepairWell, our operator
15+ yearsin appliance repair
Insured technicianslicensed for gas work
Satisfaction guaranteed90-day warranty on replaced parts
Free diagnosticwhen you go ahead with the repair

What we repair

No heat, or weak heat
Loads need two or three cycles
Won't start, or drum doesn't turn
Squealing, thumping or scraping
Shuts off mid-cycle
Gas igniter and valve faults

Repair or replace?

Most dryer faults are worth repairing: fuses, belts, rollers, elements and igniters are modest parts. If the vent is the real cause, the finding says so, because fixing the dryer without fixing the airflow means the same part fails again.

Northway doesn't sell appliances, so the recommendation is only about your machine. Most major brands are covered; units still under the manufacturer's warranty should go to the manufacturer first.

Common dryer problems we fix

What each symptom usually means. The technician confirms the cause with tests before replacing anything, and the finding names the part.

Runs but doesn't heat

On electric dryers a heating element, thermal fuse or cycling thermostat; on gas dryers an igniter or the gas valve coils. A blocked vent is often the reason the fuse blew in the first place. Read the full guide

Takes two or three cycles to dry

Almost always airflow: lint in the vent run, a crushed transition duct, or a blocked outside hood. A faulty moisture sensor can also end the cycle too early. Read the full guide

Won't start

Door switch, a blown thermal fuse (on many models it cuts power to the motor too), the start switch, or the motor. Read the full guide

Squealing

A dry idler pulley bearing or worn drum glides. Worth fixing early, before a seized pulley shreds the belt. Read the full guide

Thumping or rumbling

Flat spots on the drum rollers or a worn drum bearing. Heavy items like rugs make it worse. Read the full guide

Grinding or scraping

Worn felt seals, broken glides, or a small object caught between the drum and the front bulkhead. Read the full guide

Stops in the middle of a cycle

Motors that overheat and trip, vents restricted enough to trip a safety thermostat, or a failing door switch. Read the full guide

Burning smell or hot to the touch

Stop using it. Lint near the burner or element, a seized roller or a restricted vent can all run the dryer hotter than it should. Read the full guide

Vent is clogged

Lint collects along the whole vent run, faster with long or bendy runs and foil duct. We check airflow at the outside hood. Read the full guide

Door won't latch or stay shut

A worn catch or strike, or a door switch that no longer clicks. Many dryers won't start until the switch closes. Read the full guide

Won't stop running

A stuck timer or relay on the control, or a moisture sensor that never reports dry. Unplug it until it's checked. Read the full guide

Shows an error code

Codes for vent restriction, temperature sensors and power supply are the most common. See the dryer code guide. See the dryer code guide

Seeing an error code? Look it up in the dryer error code guide, then tell us the code when you book.

Real dryer repairs by our team

Dryer cabinet with the drum removed showing the motor and blower — Dryer with the drum out: motor, blower and heater duct · RepairWell job photo

Dryer drive motor, idler pulley and duct with the drum removed — Dryer motor and idler with the drum out · RepairWell job photo

Dryer drive motor with its switch and wiring — Dryer drive motor being tested · RepairWell job photo

Close-up of a dryer heater housing and thermal cut-off — Dryer heater housing and thermal cut-off · RepairWell job photo

Thermostat and wiring on a dryer housing — Checking a dryer thermostat on a no-heat call · RepairWell job photo

Dryer timer terminals with wiring attached — Dryer timer terminals under test · RepairWell job photo

Stacked washer-dryer laundry centre with the lower panel removed — Stacked laundry centre opened from the front · RepairWell job photo

Dryer problem guides

Dryer not heatingThe drum turns, the timer counts down, and the clothes come out as wet as they went in. The cause is usually…Dryer takes too long to dryIf the dryer heats but loads still take forever, the problem is usually the air path rather than the dryer…Dryer won't start or drum won't turnTwo different faults with similar symptoms. A dryer that does nothing is usually power, the door switch or a…Dryer squealing or squeakingA high-pitched squeal that rises and falls with the drum is almost always a worn moving part in the drive…Dryer thumping or bangingA rhythmic thump usually means a support part has a flat spot or has worn through. Occasional bangs are often…Dryer grinding or scrapingGrinding is the noise to take seriously: something metal is rubbing, and running it longer usually makes the…Dryer shuts off mid-cycleA dryer that runs for a while and then stops is often protecting itself from heat. The other common cause is…Dryer overheating or burning smellTreat this as a safety problem first. Lint is very flammable, and a dryer that runs too hot usually has a…Dryer vent cloggedA blocked vent makes every load take longer, wears out heating parts early and raises the fire risk. It is…Dryer door won't stay shut or dryer won't start with door closedIf the dryer won't start unless you hold the door, or the door pops open, the latch or the door switch is the…Dryer won't stop or overdriesA dryer that runs long after the clothes are dry usually has a timer or sensor problem, which wastes energy…

Repairs we do on dryers

Dryer belt replacementThe belt wraps around the drum and connects it to the motor. Without it the motor runs but the drum…Dryer drum roller replacementRollers at the back (and on some models the front) carry the weight of the drum as it…Dryer idler pulley replacementThe idler pulley keeps tension on the belt so it grips the motor…Dryer thermal fuse replacementA one-time safety fuse on the exhaust or heater housing. It opens if the dryer overheats, cutting…Dryer heating element replacementOn electric dryers, a coil of resistance wire in a housing heats the…Gas dryer igniter and valve coil repairGas dryers light the burner with a glowing igniter; solenoid coils on the gas valve open the gas…Dryer motor replacementThe motor turns the drum and, on most dryers, the blower fan that moves…Dryer door switch and catch repairThe door switch tells the control the door is closed; the catch holds the door…Dryer moisture sensor repairTwo metal bars inside the drum detect moisture in the load so sensor cycles end when clothes are…Dryer vent and duct serviceThe vent carries hot, moist, lint-laden air outside. Restricted airflow is behind many dryer…

How a visit works

You send a request. Your phone, email and the service address are all we need. Add the appliance and what's wrong if you like.
A technician gets in touch. As soon as possible, by phone or text, to set a time that works for you.
The technician diagnoses. They find the cause and write it down: what failed, the parts, labour and total price, and whether the repair is worth doing.
You decide. Approve the written quote and the diagnostic is free: it comes off when the repair is completed. Say no, and you pay only the diagnostic ($89 + tax for a home electric appliance).

Brands we service

Most major brands are covered. Independent service: not an authorized manufacturer service centre.

Where we come to you

Other appliances

Dryer repair questions

How much does dryer repair cost in Ottawa?

The diagnostic is free when you go ahead with the repair. If you decide not to, it's $89 + tax for a home electric appliance; or $149 + tax for a gas appliance. Either way, you get the full repair price in writing before any work.

Do you repair gas dryers?

Yes. Gas dryers are repaired by licensed gas technicians. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside first.

Why does my dryer take so long to dry?

In most cases air can't get out: lint in the vent, a crushed duct behind the dryer, or a blocked outside hood. Fixing a part without fixing the airflow usually means the part fails again.

Is a noisy dryer dangerous?

Squeals and thumps usually mean wear rather than danger, but a seized pulley or roller adds friction and heat. A burning smell is different: stop using the dryer until it's checked.

Do you clean dryer vents?

We check and clear the transition duct and the accessible part of the vent as part of a dryer repair. Long runs through walls or roofs may need a dedicated vent-cleaning company, and we'll tell you if so.

Is it worth repairing an old dryer?

Dryers are simple machines, and most repairs (belts, rollers, fuses, elements, igniters) are worth doing even on older units. A failed motor on a very old dryer is the one case where replacing it can make more sense.

How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?

At least once a year for most homes, more often with long runs, pets or heavy use. Check the outside flap opens freely when the dryer runs, and clear snow from it in winter.

Ready to book?

Free diagnostic when you go ahead with the repair. Insured technicians, satisfaction guaranteed.

Book online Call or text 613-880-3013