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I smell gas when opening the dryer door but do not smell gas when dryer is shut. The dryer vent seems clear as there is good air exhaust. Is this likely a problem with a gas valve shutoff on the dryer or a gas connection to the dryer?
Is this a good question?
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Funny smell from a gas dryer:
If you are having trouble with a funny smell inside your dryer or on your clothes, consider this...have you painted or varnished anything inside the home recently? Your gas dryer uses a lot of air, not just the air that blows out the vent but the air used to burn the gas ( natural or propane ) as well, anything like paint fumes or varnish fumes in the air will be picked up in the air used by the burner flame and burnt....this is often described by customers as - burnt fabric softener smell ..... - burnt soap smell .... - burnt medicine smell. Open your windows, air out the basement/home as well as possible, most people tell me this will go away after a week or so once everything is dried and all the fumes are gone. Remember, if you smell gas....turn off the gas valve to the dryer and call for service!!
A tip from ( A Fire Marshal ) - This is sometimes caused by the filter not being completely clean. By this I am referring to the clogging of the screen from the use of fabric softener sheets. The chemicals in these sheets will, over a period of time, impair the air flow through the screen and cause the "gas odor" to become prominent – not to mention the temperature to rise within the dryer. I clean my filter with soapy water and a tooth brush about every other month and it keeps this from occurring.
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THank you! I just had my floors refinished and I painted my living room this past week. This makes sense!
It's always nice to hear that an unexpected answer, like this one, really answered the problem ;-)
Thank you so much! Just used polyurethane on a table in the house.
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Hi Edward,
I think the issue you are facing with the gas dryer is the lack of "make up air". This issue is often overlooked in dryer and other vented applications like stove hoods and bathroom vents. The issue is that these devices need to receive enough air to work properly, and if the house (or closet) is very air tight (which is the trend), then the dryer will starve for air. The result is incomplete venting of the dryer exhaust. This is less of an issue in an electric dryer as there is no combustion. But in a gas dryer, you will need to provide some make up air. One solution is to just open the window. But a better solution is a vent with a flapper on it that allows air to enter when the dryer begins to run.
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I think "make-up air" might be my problem. Are you referring to the vent on the outside of the house? I don't see how it allows air to enter since the flaps only open when the dryer is in use allowing air to be pushed out. I have an unfinished basement so no painting or staining has been done. The basement window can't be opened. My gas dryer and the pipes are new and completely free of lint, etc. but clothes smell burnt even after using this dryer for a couple months. Might you have any other suggestions?
Rep: 13
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Had a gas smell inside drum and from outer vent during recent use.
1) Cleaned removable filter/screen with soapy water.
2) Disassembled and removed filter/screen chassis inside drum for access to chassis sump and front of duct.
3) Removed a surprising amount of debris; lint, coins, bits of paper of about a 1/2 cup in volume with some density but no actual blockage.
4) Removed and cleaned vent tube from back of dryer to wall; nothing of note.
5) Rubbed and vacuumed internal duct from filter/screen chassis to back of dryer; nothing of note.
6) Reassembled.
Ran a load. Seems fine.
Thank you for posting.
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Rep: 13
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I know I was having some problems with my Kenmore dryer and the scent of burning and gas got me all worked up about fires. I went outside moved the flap for my dryer vent all around, and checked in the vent tube to see if anything was stuck. When I went back in looked all-around in every dryer crevice/spot both inside and out to see if something was up in there. I took my central vac and stuck it into every area to auck all debris or anything that could have been stuck out of it. After vacuuming the whole dryer + reattaching the vent to the back of the dryer(in a more secure way instead of a clamp) I fired it back up and all seemed to be running well and still is, but the screen inback of dryer (with the little round holes in it) was all burnt. If something was heating up it definitely came through that back area. Cross fingers it stays good. It could have been real bad. Maybe I got some good dust build up or something out of it all together after the vacuum.
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You might want to take a look at this page: Dryer Smells Like Gas It addresses the whole range of these problems.
There are a few model specific issues as well which are less common. Older dryers with the two solenoid side by side gas valve (Whirlpool/Kenmore and others) can occasionally have problems with the seals on the plungers inside the valve developing cracks which allow gas to seep through. These can leak even when the dryer is off. Replacing the coils won't fix this. A new gas valve is the best bet
Some LG models from about 10+years ago had an occasional problem with the control board failing and allowing the gas to turn on without the igniter turning on as well.
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5 Comments
Is it the mercaptan smell or a carbon smell?
by mayer
mercaptan (gas) not a carbon (burnt) smell
by Edward DePauw
I also have this problem in the unit I'm renting. (I'm an engineer, I like to tinker with and fix things. Don't have to, but I like it.) The dryer is about 20 years old. Any suggestions? This weekend I may take it mostly apart and slather all connections and the flame nozzle (what is the right industry term there?) with the gas leak fluid from the hardware store. Then I can update this post with the gas source. I suspect it'll be the nozzle. If that is the case... what can be done? New valve? New dryer? I replaced the igniter about a year ago, and that breathed new life into it. Cheap and easy fix (identified with help of this site!). Later on I took it completely apart (every last piece that could be opened up was) and cleaned it out well... much better airflow after that, much happier dryer. Been like this for a while (long before tear-down), though it varies, sometimes goes away for a week, then comes right back. Just makes me wonder about valve seals/seats and if they eventually wear out.
by John Baldauf
I have the same problem from my kenmore dryer.
Could you share how did you fix it ?
Thank you! :)
by Megan
Our LG Dryer model #DLGX2371W purchased in 2/14 has had same problem. The smell of gas or whatever is very bad and our clothes have the same smell. My husband took out the screen and thoroughly cleaned the entire assembly where screen goes in. Also cleaned out the back vent and we still have the same problem. We have turned gas off to dryer and not using until we solve the problem. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
by Dennis