COmmon Dryer Repairs
Choose Your Dryer Problem Below to Get Started
Most Common Dryer Problems are the following:
Dryer won’t heat
Dryer won’t start
Dryer won’t spin
Dryer makes a lot of noise
Dryer starts then stops
Important:
Before doing tests or repairs, unplug the dryer to keep from being shocked. If you have a gas dryer, also shut off the gas supply and disconnect it to give you more room.
These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your dryer.
Learn the troubleshooting steps to take when your dryer doesn't start, doesn't heat or when it's making loud noises.
Dryer Repair Guides
Our repair guides and videos provide step-by-step instructions for replacing thermal fuses, door switches, heating elements and gas valve coils on your gas or electric dryer.
How does a dryer work?
A dryer uses a simple system to dry your clothes:
An inner drum rotates wet clothes while circulating heated air through them to collect the moisture and then carry it out through the exhaust hose. Like most people, you probably use your dryer at least once a week. When you find the dryer not working, you want to fix the problem as quickly as you can.
GAS Dryer Not Heating?
If the drive belt breaks, the motor runs but the drum won't rotate. These step-by-step instructions guide you through the repair process.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 90 minutes or less
The igniter in a gas dryer glows white hot during the to light the gas that heats the air in the dryer. If the dryer air doesn't warm up, the igniter could be the problem. This guide shows how to replace it.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 60 minutes or less
The thermistor senses the air temperature in the dryer. If your dryer overheats or doesn't heat at all, the thermistor could be the problem.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 30 minutes or less
If the dryer heats initially but then stops heating, the problem is usually the gas valve coils. This step-by-step guide explains how to replace the gas valve coils in a gas dryer.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 90 minutes or less
When the air in a gas dryer overheats—usually because the vent is clogged—the thermal fuse blows, stopping the dryer from heating. You can't reset the fuse; you must replace it.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 60 minutes or less
The thermal cut-off fuse shuts off the heat if the dryer overheats when the high-limit thermostat fails. The thermal cut-off fuse kit includes both parts.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 30 minutes or less
An electric dryer not heating, even though it’s running, is often due to a faulty dryer heating element. You can test the element with a tool called a multimeter.
The tool tells you if there are breaks in the electrical path.
The reading should be about 15 ohms. If there is no measure of continuity on the meter, replace the dryer heating element.
A gas dryer will run but won’t heat if its thermal fuse blows because the dryer overheated (usually because the vent is clogged, so check the vent path). Use a multimeter to check the thermal fuse and replace the thermal fuse if you don’t’ find continuity.
Dryer Not Spinning?
If the dryer starts but the dryer drum won’t turn, the dryer might have a worn drum bearing or dryer belt. To test the bearing, remove the belt and try to turn the drum with your hand.
If the drum doesn’t turn, the bearing needs to be replaced or greased.
If you hear the dryer motor running but the dryer drum doesn’t turn, the drive belt could be broken. Unplug the dryer, check the drive belt and replace it if it’s broken. Even if the belt isn’t the cause of your dryer problems, it’s a good time to replace an old belt that could cause problems later.
When you press the start button do you hear a buzzing or humming sound? Or does your dryer only work for a little bit but when you come back its off and you have to wait like 20 mins or longer and then it will start again?
If so it is most likely you have a damaged motor, defective drive motor struggles to rotate the drum or might not turn the drum at all.
Follow the steps in this dryer repair guide to replace a drive motor. Always make sure there isn't something stuck inside the blower wheel housing before you change the motor.
Difficulty:
Like baking a cake
Time:
60-90 minutes or less
Tools needed:
Nut driver set
Phillips screwdriver
Putty knife
Slot screwdriver
Vacuum cleaner or shop vac
Wrench set - SAE
Adjustable wrenches
Work gloves
Dryer Not Starting?
It's time for a new timer if the timer doesn't move during the cycle or doesn't shut off the dryer when time runs out. Follow these steps to replace it yourself.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 60 minutes or less
When you press the start button do you hear a buzzing or humming sound? Or does your dryer only work for a little bit but when you come back its off and you have to wait like 20 mins or longer and then it will start again?
If so it is most likely you have a damaged motor, defective drive motor struggles to rotate the drum or might not turn the drum at all.
Follow the steps in this dryer repair guide to replace a drive motor. Always make sure there isn't something stuck inside the blower wheel housing before you change the motor.
watch step by step video
Difficulty:
Like baking a cake
Time:
60-90 minutes or less
Tools needed:
Nut driver set
Phillips screwdriver
Putty knife
Slot screwdriver
Vacuum cleaner or shop vac
Wrench set - SAE
Adjustable wrenches
Work gloves
There are numerous reasons for a dryer not starting.
Check the power source first, because it could be the problem, rather than the dryer itself. If the dryer is completely plugged in, check the circuit breaker for your dryer.
A gas dryer has one breaker, while an electric dryer has two breakers which often are clipped together.
Because you can’t always tell whether a breaker tripped, flip the breaker off then back on.
Common dryer issues include a faulty door switch or start switch and control problems such as a broken dryer timer or faulty electronic control board
Problems with the door switch can prevent the dryer from starting. Shut the dryer door fully to activate the door switch. To test the switch, open the door press in the door switch lever.
If the drum light doesn’t turn off, a failed door switch is the likely reason the dryer won’t start.
A blown thermal fuse often prevents an electric dryer from starting. You’ll find the thermal fuse on the blower housing. Unplug the dryer and check the thermal fuse for continuity. Replace the thermal fuse if the multimeter measures no continuity.
Check the exhaust vent because a clog in the vent likely caused the thermal fuse to blow.
For dryers with a dial timer, a broken push-to-start switch can prevent the motor from running. Use a multimeter to check for continuity through the push-to-start switch. Replace the push-to-start switch if you don’t measure continuity through the wires between the push-to-start switch and motor. It could instead be that the timer has a broken motor switch contact.
Following the wiring diagram for the dryer, test for continuity through the wires between the timer and motor. If you don’t have the wiring diagram or this tasks sounds too complicated to do on your own, have a service technician check the timer.
Electronically controlled dryers have a circuit board that operates the dryer’s components. A faulty circuit board prevents the dryer from starting. Unplug the dryer and then find the circuit board in the main control panel.
It might have burn marks or areas that are shorted out.
If the dryer doesn't start when you push the button, or starts even if you don't push the button, replace the push-to-start switch.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 30 minutes or less
Dryer Making Noises?
If your dryer thumps or squeals, replace the drum support roller to restore quiet to your home.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 60 minutes or less
Replace the drum glide bearing if the drum makes a scraping noise and doesn't turn smoothly. Just follow the steps in this repair guide.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 60 minutes or less
If your dryer is making squeaking or squealing noises, the idler pulley assembly may be the cause. This assembly controls the tension on the drum belt through friction. Over time, the idler pulley may fail.
Regular dryer maintenance such as removing lint, cleaning the vent tube and drum cleaning are recommended to keep your dryer in good shape.
A rattling noise or lack of air flow through the dryer could indicate that the blower wheel is damaged. Follow the steps in this repair guide to replace the blower wheel in your dryer.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 60 minutes or less
Dryer Starts Then Stop?
It's time for a new timer if the timer doesn't move during the cycle or doesn't shut off the dryer when time runs out. Follow these steps to replace it yourself.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 60 minutes or less
It can be surprising when you start an electric dryer only to come back a few hours later to find your clothes are still wet. If your electric dryer starts and then stops too soon, a dryer thermal fuse could be the culprit if you have an electric dryer.
The dryer thermal fuse is a safety mechanism that detects the temperature of air flowing to the outside vent. If the air too hot, the fuse blows, stopping an electric dryer (a gas dryer keeps running but won’t heat). Unfortunately, if the thermal fuse trips, it must be replaced before the dryer will work again.
To keep your dryer running the way it should, pay attention to signs that the machine may be starting to fail. A dryer not drying well today may signal that it is time to make needed repairs.
When the air in the dryer overheats—usually because the vent is clogged—the thermal fuse blows, stopping the dryer. You can't reset the fuse; you must replace it.
Difficulty: Simple
Time required: 60 minutes or less
The heating element in an electric dryer generates the dryer's heat—it's one of the first things to check if the air in the dryer doesn't get warm. If it's damaged, this repair guide will show you how to replace the heating element.
Dryer Not Working
A dryer not drying clothes may because of a broken part or because the dryer isn’t getting enough power to operate. Before you start looking at the interior of the dryer, check the plug, power cord and breakers:
Make sure the dryer is securely plugged in and that there is no damage or wear to the plug or cord.
If you have an electric dryer, check the breaker box to make sure the breaker hasn’t been thrown. Since your dryer operates on 240 volts, only one-half of a double breaker may be thrown. This could explain a dryer not heating even though it is running.
If you have a gas dryer not heating (or not running at all) you should check the breaker and do the gas dryer fast check. Once you do the fast check you can then know more or less what's wrong and know how to fix your dryer much much easier and efficiently