Sears Home Services
Sears Home Advantage
appointment lookup logoAppointment Lookup
telephone logo646-440-2692
RepairHome WarrantyTune-Up & MaintainFencingShop Parts
Resources
RepairHome WarrantyTune-Up & MaintainFencingShop PartsResource CenterGlossaryHelp
sears home advantageSears Home Advantageappointment lookup logoAppointment Lookup
  1. Repair
  2. LG
  3. LG Dryer
  4. Dryer burning smell

LG dryer burning smell

Common reasons your LG dryer has a burning smell

The most common reasons your LG dryer has a burning smell are an open heating element, broken idler assembly or a worn drum bearing.

  • 31%

    31% of the time it's the
    Heating Element

  • 26%

    26% of the time it's the
    Idler Assembly

  • 16%

    16% of the time it's the
    Drum Bearing

  • 27%

    27% of the time it's the
    Something else

  • Schedule your dryer repair now!

    We can help! Our service technicians have repaired over 100,000 LG dryers. We can fix yours no matter where you bought it.

    Call (646) 440-2692 or schedule online now.
    Text (240) 616-1772 to schedule now.

    Most common repairs needed to fix a LG 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 an LG 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 scheduling LG dryer repair with a local Sears Home Services professional who can 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.

    What to do When Your LG Dryer Smells Like Burning Lint or Wire Insulation

    When your LG dryer smells like burning lint or wire insulation, turn it off immediately if safely possible.

    If you suspect that a lint fire already started inside the dryer cabinet, call the fire department and leave your home to stay safe.

    If you smell wire insulation burning, don’t touch the dryer and shut off the house circuit breaker for the dryer to disconnect electrical power. Don’t use the dryer until it is examined and repaired by a service technician. An electric short inside the dryer likely caused the wire insulation burning smell.

    To prevent lint fires in your dryer, clean the lint screen before each load and wash the lint screen with water monthly to remove residue. Clean the flexible exhaust hose behind your dryer and the lint duct system going to the outside of your home every few months. Have your dryer professionally cleaned and maintained by a Sears Home Services technician every year to prevent lint buildup inside the dryer cabinet.

    Having your dryer professionally cleaned and maintained every year will also prevent electrical shorts that can cause your LG dryer to smell like burning wire insulation.

    Schedule dryer repair service anytime you smell a burning odor coming from your LG dryer so it continues to operate safely.

    What our customers say about us

    With more than 1.3 Million 5 Star Reviews, you don't have to take our word for it

    Excellent service from Daniel

    Daniel provided excellent service and was very quick to perform the repair. I have nothing good to say about the warranty program and the LACK of customer service and the inability to contact a human being to talk.


    Tammy M, Hilton, NY

    Satisfied customer

    Excellent technician Very thorough and detail oriented Would be happy to have him work on appliances again He managed to find our ranch headquarters in the middle of the desert


    Rose W, Las Cruces, NM

    Dryer service

    He was professional and polite. I didn't call back later that afternoon, although he replaced a thermostat the smart dry timer doesn't work as I was still having the same issue. The lady said she would email him and have him return. Never heard from anyone else.


    Terry F, Oklahoma City, OK

    Repair Dryer Resources

    Title image for blog article "How Do Electric Dryers Work?"
    9 min readDec. 02

    Learn how an electric dryer works to get your clothes dry.

    Title image for blog article "How Do Steam Dryers Work?"
    6 min readNov. 29

    Learn how steam dryers work and how to keep them working smoothly.

    Title image for blog article "How Does a Gas Dryer Work?"
    8 min readNov. 20

    Learn how a gas dryer works so you can use it safely and efficiently.

    A ventless dryer fits into small spaces and spaces without venting infrastructure.
    11 min readNov. 13

    Discover how ventless dryers work and if they're right for your home. Learn about energy-saving designs, types, benefits, and maintenance tips.

    Glossary Terms

    Natural gas is a fossil fuel used primarily for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It's a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting mainly of methane, but it also contains smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and sometimes sulfur compounds.

    A gas dryer is a laundry appliance that uses natural gas or propane to generate heat to dry clothes.

    A French-door refrigerator features two doors that open side-by-side on the top section for the refrigerator compartment, with a bottom freezer drawer, combining style, efficiency, and easy access to both refrigerated and frozen goods.

    A furnace is a major appliance that heats air distributed throughout a home or building via a ductwork system.

    Additional possible LG dryer symptoms you may experience