Repairing a 20 year old gas dryer is generally not worth it for major repairs due to safety, efficiency, and economic reasons, though minor inexpensive fixes can be justified if you are handy. The average gas dryer lifespan is 10 to 12 years, so at 20 years you have doubled its expected life and critical components like the gas valve, burner assembly, motor, control board, and drum seals are all at end of life and likely to fail soon after one repair. The 50 percent rule applies: if repair cost exceeds 50 percent of a new gas dryer, which costs 700 to 1,200 dollars for a basic model and 1,000 to 1,500 for high-efficiency, replacement is more economical. Minor repairs like a thermal fuse for 90 to 150 dollars, gas valve coils for 120 to 200 dollars, igniter for 130 to 220 dollars, or drum belt for 120 to 200 dollars can make sense to get another year if you do it yourself. However, major repairs like a control board for 250 to 500 dollars, motor for 250 to 450 dollars, or gas valve assembly for 300 to 500 dollars plus labor are not sensible. Additionally, a 20 year old gas dryer lacks modern safety sensors like d80 vent blockage detection, uses more gas, and may have corroded gas lines, deteriorated venting, and outdated carbon monoxide safety. Always have a professional inspect gas connections and install a carbon monoxide detector if you keep it.
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