Dryer Smells Like Burning — Chicago, Illinois

A burning smell from the dryer is a warning sign that should never be ignored — lint fires cause roughly 2,900 home fires per year in the US alone. The most common cause is a lint buildup inside the exhaust duct, around the heating element, or trapped behind the drum where the felt seal has worn away. A slipping drive belt can also produce a hot-rubber odor as it glazes against the motor pulley, and a failing thermostat or cycling switch may allow the element to overheat. In rare cases, a foreign object such as a pen or plastic button melting against the drum creates the smell. Stop the dryer immediately, unplug it, and do not restart until a technician has cleaned the internal lint path, inspected the heating element for direct lint contact, checked the belt and idler pulley for wear, and verified that the vent duct is clear from the machine to the exterior wall cap.