Most gas dryers no longer use pilot lights
Modern gas dryers almost never have a pilot light. Instead, they use an electric igniter that creates a spark or heats up to light the gas burner only when the dryer is running. This is a major shift from dryers made before the 1990s, which relied on a small flame burning continuously inside the machine.
If your dryer was manufactured in the last 25 years, it almost certainly has an electric igniter rather than a pilot light. The igniter sits near the burner and activates only during the heating cycle, then shuts off when the cycle ends. This design saves gas, reduces fire risk, and is now the standard in every major brand.
The only exception is if you own a very old dryer—typically from the 1980s or earlier—or a commercial laundry dryer. Even then, many older models have been retrofitted with electric igniters over the years.
Key Takeaways
- Gas dryers made after the 1990s use electric igniters instead of pilot lights, which ignite the burner only when needed.
- An electric igniter is a ceramic or metal element that heats up or produces a spark to light the gas, then turns off automatically.
- Pilot lights burn continuously and waste gas, which is why manufacturers switched to electric igniters decades ago.
- If your dryer won't heat, a faulty igniter is one of the most common causes and can be replaced without calling a technician.
- You can tell whether your dryer has an igniter or pilot light by opening the door and looking inside—a pilot light is a small visible flame.
How an electric igniter works instead of a pilot light
When you start a gas dryer with an electric igniter, the control board sends power to the igniter element when the heating cycle begins. The igniter glows red-hot (usually reaching 1,500 to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit) and ignites the gas flowing from the burner. Once the gas is burning, a flame sensor detects the heat and tells the control board the burner is lit. The igniter then shuts off and stays off until the next cycle.
This on-demand approach is much more efficient than a pilot light, which burns all the time whether the dryer is running or not. An electric igniter uses electricity only for a few seconds per cycle, while a pilot light consumes gas continuously. Over the life of a dryer, the fuel savings are substantial.
The igniter itself is a straightforward part—usually a ceramic or metal rod about the size of a spark plug—but it works hard. It cycles on and off hundreds of times, and eventually the element wears out and stops heating. When that happens, the dryer won't heat at all, even though the motor and fan still run normally.
Why manufacturers stopped using pilot lights
Pilot lights were standard in gas dryers for decades because they were straightforward and reliable. A small burner near the main heating chamber burned continuously, always ready to ignite the main burner when the dryer ran. The problem was waste: a pilot light burned gas 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whether the dryer was in use or not.
In the 1990s, as energy costs rose and environmental concerns grew, manufacturers began switching to electric igniters. The change also improved safety—a continuously burning flame inside an appliance poses a small but real fire risk, especially if lint or debris gets near it. An igniter that activates only during use eliminates that hazard.
Today, every major dryer brand—Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, GE, Maytag, Electrolux—uses electric igniters in their gas models. The technology is proven, affordable, and standard across the industry.
Signs your igniter is failing
A failing igniter usually shows one clear symptom: the dryer runs but produces no heat. The drum turns, the fan runs, and you hear the motor working, but the air stays cold. This happens because the igniter can no longer reach the temperature needed to light the gas.
Sometimes an igniter fails gradually. You might notice the dryer takes longer to heat clothes, or it heats unevenly—some loads dry normally while others come out damp. This suggests the igniter is weakening and not reaching full temperature reliably.
A completely dead igniter produces no heat at all, even on the highest setting. If your dryer has power, the motor runs, but there is no warmth after five or ten minutes, the igniter is almost certainly the problem. You can confirm this by looking inside the dryer while it runs—if you see no glow near the burner area, the igniter is not firing.
How to check if your dryer has an igniter or pilot light
The easiest way to tell is to open the dryer door and look inside while the machine is running on a heat cycle. If you see a small, steady flame burning inside the drum area, you have a pilot light—this is rare and means your dryer is quite old. If you see a red glow near the burner (usually at the bottom or back of the drum) that appears only when the dryer is heating, that is an electric igniter.
If you cannot see inside clearly, check your dryer's manual or the model number plate on the back of the machine. Look up the model number online with the words "igniter" or "pilot light" and you will find the specifications. Most manuals from the 1990s onward will mention an electric igniter explicitly.
Another way to check is to turn off the gas supply to the dryer and try to run a heat cycle. If the dryer still attempts to heat (you will hear the igniter trying to work, even though no gas is flowing), you have an electric igniter. A dryer with a pilot light will not attempt to heat at all if the gas is off, because the pilot light itself needs gas to burn.
Replacing a faulty igniter
If your igniter has failed, you have two options: hire a technician or replace it yourself. A professional repair typically costs $150 to $300 in labor plus the part price. A replacement igniter usually costs $30 to $80 depending on the brand and model.
If you are comfortable working with appliances, replacing an igniter is a straightforward job. You will need to unplug the dryer, remove the front or back panel (depending on the model), locate the igniter near the burner, disconnect the wires, and slide out the old part. The new igniter slides in the same way, and you reconnect the wires. The whole process takes 20 to 45 minutes.
Before you order a replacement, confirm the exact model number of your dryer. Igniters are not universal—a part for a Whirlpool dryer will not fit a Samsung, and even within the same brand, different models use different igniters. Order the correct part number from the manufacturer or a parts supplier, and double-check that it matches your model before installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I light my gas dryer manually if the igniter breaks?
No. Modern gas dryers have safety interlocks that prevent the gas valve from opening unless the igniter is working and the flame sensor detects a flame. You cannot manually light the burner, and attempting to do so is dangerous. The dryer must have a working igniter to operate safely.
Do electric igniters use a lot of electricity?
No. An igniter draws power for only a few seconds per cycle—usually less than a minute total. The electricity cost is negligible compared to the gas savings from not running a pilot light continuously. Your electric bill will not noticeably increase because of the igniter.
How long does an igniter usually last?
Most igniters last 5 to 10 years with normal use, though some last longer and some fail sooner. Heavy use—running the dryer multiple times daily—wears out the igniter faster. If your dryer is 8 to 12 years old and stops heating, the igniter is the most likely culprit.
What happens if I use my dryer without heat?
The dryer will tumble and run the fan, but clothes will not dry. You can use the air-fluff or cool-down cycle without heat, which is useful for refreshing clothes or cooling down hot items. However, for actual drying, you need the heat, which requires a working igniter.
Is it cheaper to replace the igniter or buy a new dryer?
Replacing the igniter is almost always cheaper. A new dryer costs $400 to $1,200 or more, while an igniter replacement (parts and labor combined) runs $100 to $300. Unless your dryer is very old or has other major problems, fixing the igniter makes financial sense.