Why Wont My Dryer Spin? Troubleshooting Guide

If you don’t think about it, your clothes dryer plays a significant role in your daily household activities. However, having a fully functional dryer in your house is a luxury that is often taken for granted until it malfunctions.

There are a variety of reasons why your dryer may not be doing its job properly. The most typical problem is that the dryer won’t start. There are numerous reasons why your dryer won’t spin, but here are a few of the more typical ones.

How Do Dryers Spin?

If you don’t know how a dryer works or why it spins, you won’t be able to figure out why it won’t start spinning. Hot air is blown into the dryer after you’ve washed and dried your garments to evaporate any remaining water.

To avoid re-soaking the clothes, vapor must be pushed away from the garments during the drying process. Exhaust air from the drying machine’s dyer is what causes this to happen.

The act of tumbling or spinning also aids in the removal of moisture vapor from your garments. The clothing are moved around as the drum spins, allowing them to open up and release the vapor. The vapor could be trapped inside the clothes if they were left unmoved during the heating process. Your garments will remain damp if your dryer is not running but is still heating up.

The dryer’s motor is coupled to a belt that spins the drum. To get the drum spinning, the motor drives the belt. The engine and belt are frequently at blame when the dryer won’t spin.

Because a dryer’s ability to spin properly is so crucial, any faults with spinning should be addressed as soon as they arise.

Reasons Why Won’t My Dryer Spin

What’s wrong with my dryer? The following are some of the most common causes of a dryer that won’t spin:

#1. Damaged or loose pulley

A pulley assembly’s job is to regulate the tension of the driving belt. As a result, it will not fall off the drum. In this case, if it is damaged or loose, it will fall off the drum. An arm of metal is attached to a pulley, which features a little plastic or rubber wheel. Pulleys and wheels can malfunction if they are cracked. Drum rotation is unimpeded by a wheel that is difficult or impossible to move. Remove the dryer’s top and front panel after that. The idler pulley can be found next to the motor, so look for it there. The idler pulley is held in position by the tension exerted by the driving belt. Take care not to get too close to the motor while moving the belt. Pull the pulley out with ease. It’s time to get a new pulley and swap out the old one. Idle pulley and motor have been mounted, therefore now is the time to install the drive belt.

#2. Dryer getting power

One of the reasons why the dryer won’t start is a lack of power. Check to see if the dryer is plugged in at all. Plug it back in if it’s not working properly. If you plug in a dryer, be sure to check its circuit breaker. If the breaker trips, you’ll know right away. As you remove the dryer from service, turn off the breaker. If that doesn’t work, call a professional appliance technician.

#3. Damaged drive belt

One of the most common causes of a dryer not spinning is a broken drive belt. The belt’s primary function is to spin the drums. However, before you remove the dryer’s drive belt and open it up, be sure that the drive belt is the source of the problem. You should be able to spin the dryer drum on your own. Spin it after you open its door and spin the drum interior. Check to see if there is any resistance. If, on the other hand, you have no trouble spinning the disc, you may run into problems with the belt. The dryer should then be unplugged or turned off. To remove the clips holding the top and the remainder of the cabinet together, use a putty knife. Removing the dryer’s hood is the first step. Look for the dryer belt to see if you can find it. Pieces of black rubber make up this dryer’s belt. If there is no belt, it is possible that it has already fallen off. You’ll learn why the drum has stopped spinning if you do this. Belts that have been broken or cracked need to be replaced.

#4. Defective thermal fuse

To prevent overheating, the dryer has a thermal fuse that finally turns it off. In addition to shutting down, the motor was also cut off. The machine does not spin because the heating factor is still on.

The thermal fuse can be found on the back of the dryer, adjacent to the motor and the blower. Pull the clothes dryer away from you and reach for the fuse. Remove the back panel of the dryer and unplug it. Remove the screws with a socket wrench or screwdriver. After that, unplug all of the cables from the breaker. Remove the fuse by removing the screw holding it in place. Disconnect the fuse and remove the wires by unscrewing the screws. Take off the screw that holds the fuse in place and throw it out.

Keep in mind that a thermal fuse can be an indication of something more serious. Look elsewhere if it’s entirely blown away. Crossing wires should be avoided at all costs. The heating element must be free of debris and kept spotless at all times. No other metals are allowed to come into touch with this part.

#5.  Problem with the door switch

The clothes dryer has a switch that prevents the dryer from running while the door is open. If the dryer doesn’t work, check the door switch. Make sure the door of the dryer is fully closed. It should be simple to press the door switch. To fix the problem, rapidly adjust the door. When you shut the dryer door, check to see if it activates the dryer switch. If so, you’ll need to check it out as well. Before removing the dryer switch, disconnect the appliance.

After you’ve turned off the dryer’s electricity, it’s time to examine the dryer’s door switch. Next to the door closure, there is a little and white peg. A knife can be used to pop the top of the device’s control panel. If the door switch is open, unhook the cables from it. Using a digital multimeter, you’ll be able to check it out. A door switch assembly kit is all you need to replace it. Consult a repair specialist if you need assistance. To avoid any problems with your dryer, read up on the finest compact washer and dryer.

How to Know if Your Dryer Stopped Spinning

Most people just toss their clothes in the dryer, turn it on, and go about their business. Your dryer may not be working properly if your garments are still wet when you return.

However, it is also possible that your dryer is unable to continue spinning after it has begun the cycle. Once again, if your clothing come out of the dryer wet, you know something is wrong.

The clothing may not be able to simply tumble in your dryer even if the machine is running. This could cause your garments to remain damp even after a complete cycle of the dryer.

Reasons for Dryer Not Spinning and How to Troubleshoot

Your dryer isn’t working properly if it won’t tumble at all or stops spinning after a while. There are a few things you can do in the meanwhile to figure out why your dryer isn’t working and what you can do to get it working again.

Check that Dryer is Getting Power

If you turn on your dryer and nothing happens, there may be a problem with the power supply. Check to see if the dryer is plugged in before you begin drying your clothes. Unplug the device and plug it in to restore power if necessary.

It’s best to check the circuit breakers to make sure the dryer’s breakers haven’t been tripped. If so, turn off the dryer’s breaker and then turn it back on. If this doesn’t work, you might want to consider hiring a professional dryer repairman.

Check the Door Switch

Your clothes dryer has a safety switch that prevents it from running while the door is open. Try resetting the door switch if your dryer won’t start even though it has power.

The first step is to ensure sure the door is fully closed and that the door switch is engaged. You may only need to make a minor modification to the door to solve the problem. It’s time to look at the switch itself after you’ve made sure the door is correctly pushing on it when closed.

Make sure you unplug the dryer before you try to remove the switch. In order to begin examining the door switch, you first need to turn off your dryer’s power.

When the door is closed, the switch is normally a little white cylindrical peg. Using a putty knife, remove the top of the dryer to get to the switch. Disconnect the cables from the door switch while it’s open and use a digital multimeter to check its functionality.

The door switch can be replaced using door switch assembly kits that can be purchased online. If you’re unsure about performing repairs on your own, you should hire a professional.

Check the Drive Belt

A dryer that won’t spin is frequently the result of a worn-out drive belt. Even so, this may not be all that surprising considering the belt’s principal function is to spin the drum.

A simple approach to see if your dryer’s drive belt is the problem before you open up the dryer is to spin the drum manually. Open the dryer door, grab a hold of the drum, and turn it around to dry your clothes. There should be some reluctance on the part of the audience. If you have no difficulty spinning the drum, then the belt is most likely the source of your problem.

• In order to get entry to the belt:

• It is best to use a putty knife to remove any screws or clips that are preventing your dryer from turning on.

Remove the dryer cabinet top to reveal the dryer.

• The dryer’s belt should be easy to find. Dryer belts are normally made of black rubber and are quite thin. As soon as you notice you don’t have a belt, you know why the drum isn’t spinning. It is necessary to replace a broken or damaged belt.

Replace the drive belt by:

• Using a putty knife, remove the clips holding the dryer’s front panel away from the cabinet.

• Remove the front panel and locate the motor and the idler pulley at the back of the drum. Unscrew the belt from both and remove it from the drum.

• The drum should be lifted and moved away from the bearings with care (away from the back of the dryer).

• Remove the drum from the belt by sliding it off.

• To reinstall the dryer, connect the drum to the drum bearing and reattach the dryer belt to its idler and motor pulleys.

Check the Pulley Assembly

When you use your dryer, the pulley assembly ensures that the drive belt is kept taut so that it can grip the drum firmly and not come undone. The belt may not be able to stay on the drum if the pulley assembly is loose or damaged.

The typical dryer pulley consists of a metal arm with little rubber or plastic wheels attached to it. The pulley may malfunction if the wheel or arm of the pulley has cracks. A jammed or difficult-to-move wheel may impede the drum’s rotation.

Using this method, you can get to the pulley assembly.

• Remove the dryer’s top and front panel and locate the motor’s idler pulley. The idler pulley is held in position in large part by the tension generated by the driving belt.

• You should be able to remove the pulley by releasing the belt from the motor.

• Thread the drive belt through the new idler pulley and motor to replace the old pulley assembly.

Check the Thermal Fuse

Thermal fuses are critical to the safety of your dryer, as they prevent the appliance from overheating. Even though it’s supposed to turn off your dryer, a defective thermal fuse can cut off power to the motor, leaving your heating element running. Your dryer may not be spinning for this reason.

The blower and motor are situated behind the thermal fuse in most dryers. To get to the breaker:

• Unplug the dryer by pulling it away from the wall.

• Remove the dryer’s back panel. To remove screws, you may require a screwdriver or socket wrench.

• Remove the screw that secures the fuse by unplugging the wires. The thermal fuse must be replaced.

In most cases, faulty thermal fuses point to an underlying issue. The other sections of the dryer should be checked if the thermal fuse is blown. Inspect the heating element to make sure it is free of debris and not in contact with any other metal.

FAQs

Can you still use a dryer if it doesn’t spin?

Your garments will remain damp if your dryer is not running but is still heating up. The dryer’s motor is coupled to a belt that spins the drum. To get the drum spinning, the motor drives the belt. The engine and belt are frequently at blame when the dryer won’t spin.

What happens when your dryer stops spinning?

There are a number of possible causes for a dryer that won’t spin, including a problem with the rubber drive belt that loops around the drum of the dryer. You may have a broken drive belt if the dryer won’t start.

Why is washer not spinning?

If you haven’t drained your washing machine yet, it won’t go into spin mode. Drainage hoses can become clogged or kinked with clothes debris. The hose will need to be replaced if kinked or crushed.

How much does it cost to replace a belt on a dryer?

Getting a professional to fix a dryer belt for roughly $70 is a reasonable price if the issue is minor. Repairing a cracked drum, for example, may cost more than $400.

Where is the dryer reset button?

The control panel of many dryers has a reset button.

Is it cheaper to fix a dryer or buy a new one?

Any appliance that requires more than half the replacement cost in repairs should be replaced. That’s a general rule of thumb. For roughly $300, you can acquire a basic dryer that isn’t Energy Star rated, but you’ll save very little money on your power bills. It’s a toss-up whether to fix or replace in this situation.

It’s A Wrap!

That explains why my dryer won’t spin. As a result, take the actions outlined in this article to fix the problem. For starters, a dryer is an indispensable tool for household activities. If it doesn’t spin, it’s merely going to be an eyesore. Fixing a broken dryer or finding out why yours won’t spin are two topics you might want to investigate.