Repair or replace your dryer in Ottawa?

Dryer stopped heating, stopped turning or started screaming on every load, and you are wondering whether to fix it or buy a new one? This is the math B&M Canada Appliances uses when a technician stands in front of a dryer in Kanata, Barrhaven, Orléans or Hull and has to give an honest answer.

The classic rule of thumb: once a repair would cost over half of what a comparable new machine costs, replace instead. The rule is sound; what makes dryers different is that almost no dryer repair gets anywhere near 50%. A mid-range electric dryer in Ottawa runs roughly $800 to $1,200 new, while the parts that fail on a dryer are among the cheapest in any appliance and the labour is quick. A dryer is a motor, a drum, a heat source and a handful of safety switches: there is very little to wear out expensively, and a well-maintained one runs fifteen to twenty years.

• Drive belt (drum doesn’t turn, motor runs): a cheap part and a quick job. See dryer not spinning in Ottawa.
• Thermal fuse or cycling thermostat (runs, no heat): usually triggered by a clogged vent, which the technician checks at the same visit. See dryer not heating in Ottawa.
• Heating element (electric) or igniter, flame sensor and valve coils (gas): mid-range parts on a machine that will run another decade. See gas dryer repair in Ottawa.
• Drum rollers, idler pulley and glides (squeal, thump, grinding): a full roller kit is a modest repair that makes the dryer quiet again. See dryer making noise in Ottawa.
• Door switch, start switch or timer knob: trivial.
• Vent and airflow problems (takes too long, overheats): not a part at all, and the single most common reason a dryer “seems dead.” See dryer takes too long in Ottawa and dryer not drying clothes.

Drive motor. The most expensive mechanical part. On a dryer under twelve years it is still clearly worth replacing. Past that, look at what else is worn: if the rollers, belt and element are also tired, the combined bill starts to approach 50% and the conversation changes.

Control board. On newer electronic dryers, the board is the one part that can cost as much as a motor. Under ten years, repair; on an older dryer, compare. Some boards for discontinued models are no longer available, and we tell you straight away when that is the case.

Drum bearing or the drum itself. Rare, but a cracked drum or a worn-out rear bearing on an older dryer is labour-heavy. Age decides.

Condenser and heat-pump dryers. These ventless models have pricier parts and electronics than a vented dryer (a heat-pump dryer also has a sealed refrigerant circuit), but they cost more new as well, so the 50% line sits higher in dollars. They are still usually worth repairing under ten years.

Typical Ottawa repair ranges by part are on our dryer repair cost in Ottawa page.

Four signs to replace

1. A second expensive part on the same visit. A motor and a board is a different decision from a motor alone.
2. A burning smell that turns out to be a scorched cabinet or wiring harness. Repairable, but on an old dryer it is a sign the machine has been running hot for years.
3. A discontinued part. Ask whether the part is still available before you approve the quote; if the board or motor is no longer made, that decides it.
4. A change you were planning anyway. If you were about to switch from gas to electric or move to a stacked pair for a condo, put the repair money into the new set and have it installed properly; see washer and dryer installation in Ottawa.

Four signs to repair

1. The fault is on the “pay for themselves” list above. That covers most dryer calls.
2. The dryer matches a washer you are keeping. Replacing one half of a pair costs more than it looks when the new dryer won’t stack or match.
3. It is a Speed Queen, a commercial-grade unit, or an older Whirlpool or Maytag with a simple mechanical timer. These are built to be repaired for decades.
4. Delivery, haul-away and hook-up. The sticker price of a new dryer is not the whole price; a proper vent and cord installation is part of it.

The technician finds the fault, checks the vent and airflow, and looks at the belt, rollers, element or burner and motor for wear. You then get two figures to compare: a written repair quote, and a realistic price for a comparable new dryer. The decision is yours, with no pressure either way; since we both repair and install dryers, we gain nothing by steering you.

The diagnostic is $89 + tax for an electric dryer, applied toward the approved repair if you go ahead, and $129 + tax for a gas dryer or commercial equipment. If you decide to replace instead, the fee covers the visit and the assessment. If a gas dryer ever smells of gas, leave the home and call Enbridge Gas (Gazifère in Gatineau) or 911 from outside before booking. Repairs carry a 3-month warranty on parts and labour. A visit booked for 9 PM to 7 AM adds a $100 flat after-hours fee, and addresses more than 30 km from downtown Ottawa may carry a travel charge, confirmed when you book.

Whirlpool and Maytag dryers share a platform whose parts are cheap and everywhere; repair them into their late teens. Samsung and LG dryers have more electronics, and their boards and sensors are the parts that decide the math past ten years. GE and Frigidaire sit in between. Across the river the same rules apply; see dryer repair in Gatineau or, in French, réparation de sécheuse à Gatineau.