Dryer Smells Like It’s Burning? Don’t Ignore It — Do This First
If you suddenly feel a strange burning smell from the dryer when it is running, don’t delay. This is an urgent reason to contact our appliance repair service! A burning odor while the appliance is running may indicate a malfunction, which can pose a serious fire hazard. Now we will discuss what to do when your dryer smells like it’s burning and evaluate whether regular maintenance is necessary to prevent risks and ensure its safety and efficiency.
A brief instruction on what to do if your dryer smells like burning:
- turn off the dryer as soon as possible: if you hear a burning smell, stop the dryer immediately and disconnect it from the power supply;
- allow the appliance to cool down: wait 10–15 minutes until the appliance has cooled down completely;
- check the lint trap: the lint in the filter may accumulate and overheat, causing you to smell a characteristic odor. If this happens, the filter should be cleaned and rinsed;
- inspect the hose and vents: there may be lint, dust, or other obstructions in the vents and hoses. If such a problem is detected, the air duct should be cleaned;
- check the drum for any foreign objects: there may be plastic, rubber, or synthetic objects inside the dryer that can melt when exposed to heat. Check the drum for burnt or melted debris;
- contact our service: our specialists will help you determine the cause of the odor or fire and will tell you how to prevent such problems in the future.
Based on this, we can conclude that regular maintenance is necessary: a clogged dryer without cleaning can lead to very unpleasant results. Even a small malfunction can lead to serious problems, like a fire. If you feel the smell of burning from the dryer – don’t ignore it. Follow the instructions to keep yourself and your home safe, and then be sure to call a professional. Alex&Brothers will quickly identify the cause of the odor and help to avoid a repeat of the situation in the future.
If you’re asking yourself, ‘Is it safe to use a dryer that smells burnt?’ — the answer is no. A burning smell can signal a serious issue, and continuing to use the dryer could be dangerous. A burning smell can indicate overheating, lint buildup, or even melting plastic inside the drum — all of which are serious dryer fire hazards. Continuing to run a dryer that smells burnt increases the risk of internal damage or even a blaze. Firstly, you need to follow all safety steps: disconnect power, check the lint trap, and inspect all vents. Then it is necessary to call our professional to diagnose the cause and ensure it’s safe to use again.
Oftentimes we notice that many owners of dryers don’t think about maintaining them until problems arise. But regular preventive maintenance is the best way to avoid the dangers of overheating, burning odors, and fire. Even if your device is working properly, lint, dust, and dirt can accumulate inside over time — especially in hard-to-reach areas like hoses, vents, and around the motor. These small residues can easily ignite at high temperatures, creating a dangerous situation.
Regularly maintaining the dryer is a smart investment that helps prevent serious problems down the road — not an additional expense. Spending a little on maintenance now can save you from big repair bills later. The simple cleaning of ventilation ducts and checking the condition of basic parts costs much less than replacing a burned-out motor, thermostat, or control board. Clogging in the ventilation system puts additional stress on the engine, which causes it to wear out more quickly and may cause it to break down. To avoid fire and damage, schedule your dryer maintenance today! Alex&Brothers is always ready to help!
