You might be tempted to think that your dryer is just a simple machine that you use for laundry.
But it actually contains a variety of complex mechanisms that work together to ensure that the dryer functions correctly.
Damage to any of those components can hinder the dryer’s overall objective.
It is therefore in your best interest to know what these parts are and how to repair them when necessary.
One such piece that is invaluable in the dryer’s functioning is the igniter – and by relation, the burner assembly.
Repairing them is often required to ensure that the dryer can work as it should.
By knowing how they work and how to repair them you’ll be prepared for tackling that challenge when the time for it comes around.
Why the Igniter and Burner Matter
Photo credit to YouTube
The igniter and burner are not found in all dryers, just the ones that use gas for power and heat.
The igniter is, to put it in simple terms, the device that ignites the gas for heat in the dryer. It is just one of several parts in the overall burner assembly, which also encompasses components such as the coils, gas valves, and sensors.
If functioning right, the igniter will light the provided gas when directed.
Given how the gas is what makes a gas dryer work, and keeping in mind that uncontrolled gas – not to mention the use of flames for ignition – can be dangerous, the entire burner assembly is a critical piece of the dryer and needs to be maintained with utmost care.
If your dryer starts having problems, particularly with lighting the gas, the burner assembly should one of the first places you look for trouble.
Checking the Burner Assembly
Photo credit to The Family Handyman
Since the burner assembly is such an integral part of the dryer, you should regularly check it to make sure that the igniter and all the other components are in good shape.
Before you try to access the burner assembly, it is important that you shut off and unplug the entire machine, and you should also move it into a position where you can easily access the parts accordingly.
Since the gas valve is one of the components of the burner assembly as a whole, accessing the igniter and other parts are done in much the same way as with the gas valve.
You remove the front panel and other key parts to access the valve and other components and then carefully examine the pieces to see how they appear to be doing overall.
Repairing the Burner
When the burner assembly goes completely bad, you should, of course, replace it. But it is important to keep in mind that the burner assembly involves multiple devices working together.
Therefore, it is possible that only certain parts of the burner will need to be replaced. It is also possible that you won’t even need to remove them at all. Instead, you can try to fix the pieces and leave them in place.
Carefully examine each individual component and try to determine if the damage is limited to such a degree that you can repair it. Or if it must be replaced, just replace it and leave the rest of the burner assembly in place.
Photo credit to Discover
Burner Replacement
The process of replacing the burner assembly is much like how you would replace the gas valve, only that you are instead of removing the entire apparatus.
You will likely have already disassembled the front panel(s) of the dryer in order to access and check on the burner assembly, so you should be in the position to remove the system.
Make sure you are careful when disconnecting the full set of components.
When you are ready to add in the replacements, you need to be careful so that everything goes in the right place.
You will be handling multiple parts, including the igniter, so you’ll want to make sure that everything connects right or all your hard work will be for nothing.
Once you are confident that the burner assembly is implanted correctly, though, you can reassemble the dryer and test it out.
Photo credit to Home Appliances
A Complex System of Parts
The way in which the igniter is a part of the larger burner assembly, which in turn is a part of the dryer as a whole.
This just goes to show how the complex pieces of the machines are all required to work together for the optimal functioning of the dryer.
Fixing your dryer ultimately comes down to knowing all those different parts and how they relate to one another so you can accurately address the problem.
When you need help with understanding the aspects of different dryer parts and how to fix them, Dryernotheating.net is here to help. We have all the how-to’s, repair hacks, and tips in general for dryers, so check us out to learn more.