Dryer Repair Cost: What You Really Pay to Fix Your Dryer

When your dryer, a home appliance that removes moisture from clothes using heat and airflow. Also known as clothes dryer, it stops working, the first question isn’t can it be fixed—it’s how much will it cost. Dryer repair costs vary wildly depending on the problem, but most common fixes fall between $100 and $300. A broken heating element? That’s usually $150–$250. A faulty thermal fuse? Around $100–$180. And if the drum roller or belt is worn out, you’re looking at $120–$200. These aren’t guesses—they’re real prices from repairs done in the Bridgewater area over the last year.

What drives the cost? It’s not just parts. Labor makes up nearly half the bill. A simple fuse replacement might take 30 minutes, but diagnosing why the fuse blew in the first place? That’s where the time adds up. Many people assume their dryer needs a full reset or a new control board, but 7 out of 10 dryer repair jobs we’ve done in Bridgewater were caused by something simpler: a clogged vent, a broken belt, or a worn-out thermostat. And here’s the thing—dryer repair parts, the individual components that keep a clothes dryer running, like heating elements, thermostats, and belts—are often cheap. But if you don’t know how to test them, you’ll pay for someone who does. That’s why DIY fixes only work if you’ve got the right tools and a clear diagnostic path. Most homeowners don’t.

dryer not heating, a common failure mode where the dryer tumbles but doesn’t produce warm air is the #1 reason people call for help. It’s not always the heating element. Could be the thermal cutoff, the high-limit thermostat, or even a broken door switch. And if your dryer runs but takes forever to dry? That’s usually airflow—not heat. A clogged vent or lint trap can make your dryer work twice as hard, wear out parts faster, and raise your energy bill. Fixing that costs less than $50 in parts and maybe an hour of your time—if you’re lucky.

So when does repair make sense? If your dryer is under 8 years old and the repair is under $250, it’s usually worth it. But if you’re paying $300+ for a part that’s already worn out from age, you’re just delaying the inevitable. We’ve seen dryers from 2012 with $400 in repairs and still break again six months later. That’s not a fix—it’s a money trap. The real question isn’t just about cost. It’s about value. And that’s why we’ve collected real repair stories, part prices, and step-by-step checks from the last 200 jobs we’ve done. Below, you’ll find honest breakdowns of what actually goes wrong, what it costs to fix, and when you should walk away.