Why Won't My Dryer Spin?

by Michael Franco
Why Won't My Dryer Spin?

Oh, the joy of doing laundry: Piles of dirty clothes, towels and sheets that seem to multiply every time you blink. Even at its best, laundry feels like a chore that’s easy to fall behind on; and if your dryer breaks? Then boy, oh boy, do things start to pile up. Literally.

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While there are many reasons your dryer may have stopped functioning properly, one of the most common issues homeowners face is a dryer that won’t spin. If your dryer has stopped spinning, use these tips to get the thing going again. Because the only thing worse than doing laundry is having nothing clean to wear.

An important note before you begin: As with other appliance repairs, you’ll need to disconnect the dryer from the power source before you tackle any of these fixes. You can either unplug the appliance from the power source, or flip the corresponding breaker on the circuit panel.

Reason 1: The Drive Belt’s Broken

A broken drive belt is one of the most common reasons a dryer won’t spin. All dryers have rubber belts that loop around the tub of the dryer. In most dryer models, the belt wraps around the drum and around the idler pulley that’s connected to the dryer’s electric motor. When the motor runs, the idler pulley puts tension on the belt in order to turn the drum. Over time, the drive belt can either get stretched out or even break. When this normal wear-and-tear occurs, you’ll need to replace the dryer’s drive belt.

How to Repair a Broken Dryer Belt:

Luckily, replacing a broken drive belt is surprisingly simple. Doing it yourself can save you the cost of having to hire a professional appliance technician to do it for you.

Most dryers have metal clips that secure the top panel in place. Remove those in order to gain access to the drum and the belt. When the top panel is open, remove the old belt from both the drum and the idler pulley that’s attached to the motor. Then, simply loop the replacement belt back around the drum and the motor pulley. Once the replacement belt has been secured around the drum, reassemble the top panel and reconnect the appliance to the power source.

Reason 2: Worn Drum Rollers

Another common reason for a dryer not spinning properly is that the dryer’s drum rollers are worn-out. Drum rollers hold the dryer drum in place when it turns. Generally speaking, a damaged or worn-out drum roller will make a scraping or screeching sound, along with a loud rumbling sound coming from the drum. Eventually, the drum will quit spinning completely. To determine if your drum rollers are worn-out, you can remove the dryer belt and try to turn the drum by hand. If the drum is difficult to turn, or turns with significant wobbling, you’ll need to replace the drum rollers. Fortunately, this is also a doable DIY repair.

How to Replace Worn Drum Rollers

Regardless of your dryer’s make and model, drum support rollers are typically located directly below the drum. To access them, remove the top panel of the dryer and examine the drum rollers. Even if only one of the rollers looks more worn than the other, it’s important that you replace both rollers at the same time.

Remove each roller by removing the spring clip or nut holding it in place. Discard the old rollers and replace them with the new ones. Once installed, you can add a small drop of 30-weight oil to the drum bearing, but take care not to overoil. Then, replace the drum, close the top panel, reconnect the power and give it a test run.

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Reason 3: Broken Door Switch

Most dryers have a switch to ensure the dryer doesn’t run when the door is open. If your dryer is plugged in and just won’t start, it might indicate an issue with the door switch. First, double-check that the door is completely closed, as sometimes the smallest piece of protruding clothing could keep your dryer from working. If you’re sure that the door is completely closed, then there could be an issue with the door switch.

Before replacing, make sure you take a look at the switch first. It’s typically a small, white peg near the door. Sometimes, just by taking a close look, you can tell that the peg has sustained some form of damage. It could be that the switch has simply popped out of place. If this is the case, just reconnect the switch. However, a damaged door switch can be a bit more complicated than an out-of-place peg.

How to Fix a Broken Door Switch

The door switch is directly connected to the electrical system of your dryer, so be extra careful when you’re replacing it. Start by removing the dryer’s top panel. Then, once you locate your dryer’s door switch, you should be able to pop the switch out by pulling it or popping it out with a screwdriver. Remove the door switch wire connectors and then remove the switch. Try not to pull the wires directly. Instead, use a pair of pliers to help you grasp the connectors themselves. When the switch is removed, replace it with the new one. Replace the top panel, restore power to your unit and give it a test run.