Why Is My Dryer Not Spinning? [SOLVED] – Let’s Fix It

You wash your clothes, put them in the dryer only to find the Dryer not spinning. Darn! That pile of wet laundry is not what you want to see. But many times this kind of issue is not too difficult to repair, though in few cases you might have to call the experts.

Most of the time, this dryer not spinning issue can be resolved by yourself, which is not bad- it’s quick from the comfort of your home. But occasionally, it may be severe enough to need an expert to take a look or fix it in the shop. In that case, the good news is that 90% of the time, it can be easily fixed without much cost.

Check Electrical Connection

If your dryer isn’t turning on, there may be a power issue. The first thing to check is if it is plugged in. If it is not plugged in, plug the cord into the outlet to restore power.

If your dryer isn’t working, it could be due to a few different things. If the dryer is plugged in, make sure the circuit breaker is still on. If the breakers for the dryer have been tripped, reset them by flipping them off then back on. If this doesn’t work, consider calling a professional.

Check the Door Switch

You love your clothes dryer, but it won’t tumble even with power! We have the answer. If the dryer has a door switch, it may be something simple. As a safety precaution, the switch is designed to turn off the dryer if the door is opened. To test it out, open the door and close it firmly again to see if the tumbling resumes.

To troubleshoot the issue, first, check to make sure the door is shutting fully. If not, adjust the door to close all the way. Next, check to see if the door is engaging the switch. If not, it might be time for a switch replacement.

Before you begin to remove the dryer switch, make sure to unplug the dryer. Then, turn off the power to the dryer before checking the door switch.

Here’s how you can figure out if your dryer door switch is broken. First, trace the wires attached to the switch, then remove the top of the appliance using a putty knife. Now, disconnect the wires coming from the door switch. Insert your multimeter’s probes into each wire, and test the circuit by flipping the switch up and down.

If you’re feeling a little bit do-it-yourself, you can replace a door switch with a replacement kit found online. If you’re not confident in your abilities, call an expert.

Broken Drive Belt

Broken dryer belts are a common problem in older machines. Oftentimes, your dryer will make an abnormal noise as a result of a faulty belt. In some cases, the noise is coming from a dryer with a broken belt that will always occur at a time when you’re least able to deal with it.

Regardless of the reason, you can fix the problem by following the directions below. It’s not hard work, and anyone who can wield a screwdriver should be able to take care of it on their own.

An often-overlooked part of the dryer is the drive belt. The belt drives the dryer drum. Snapping of the drive belt is a common issue with dryers. This can be due to age and wear of the belt, or it can be because it is missing or broken. To replace the old belt, you will need to find the correct belt for your dryer; this information can be found on the manufacturer’s website by entering your dryer’s model number and pressing enter.

If your dryer belt has broken, you need to get a new one. Rather than let a lame belt ruin your day, follow these next steps to change the old one out:

1. Remove the front of the dryer and the bulkhead.
2. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for popping in a new belt.

Broken Idler Pulley

Your dryer’s pulley assembly is a small, but important piece of hardware. It keeps tension on the drive belt so that it can stay on the drum and not slip off. If the pulley assembly is either loose or damaged, the belt may not be able to stay on the drum surface resulting in the Dryer Not Spinning Issue.

To access the pulley assembly, please follow the below instructions:

1. Finding the idler pulley on a dryer is straightforward: just remove the top and front panels and you’ll find it next to the motor. This piece of equipment is what keeps the belt around the drum in place.
2. Slip the belt from around the motor, and then you can pull the pulley out.
3. Replace the pulley with a new one. To do this, thread the belt through the idler pulley and then reconnect it to the motor.

Worn Out Drum Roller

It’s likely your dryer has a worn out drum roller. Your dryer requires drum rollers to function properly. Almost all dryers have two drum support rollers, but some also have four more on the front of the drum. These drum rollers need to be spinning freely in order for your laundry machine to work properly. If they don’t, the motor will become overworked and the machine will stop.

Drum rollers will make a big difference in the function of your dryer. If they are worn, the drum won’t turn as easily as it should. To find out if the support rollers are at their end, take off the belt from the dryer and try turning the drum by hand. If it doesn’t turn as smoothly as you think it should, check the rollers for wear.

When one or more of the rollers are worn, it’s best to replace them all together to avoid any future problems.

Damaged Drum Glide

If the dryer doesn’t turn during a cycle, it may be because the drum slides (also called glides) are worn out. These small pieces of plastic support the front of the drum as it rotates. As they wear over time, the drum glides stop working and the drum won’t turn.

If your dryer drum is starting to feel stiff, you might need to replace the glides. Drum glides come in pairs, so you might need to replace them all. Drum glides are what allow the drum to move freely. If the glides are worn out, the dryer motor will shut down because of strain. Inspect your glides to see if they are worn out. If they are, replace them with a new one

Worn Out Drum Bearing

The drum bearing is in the back of the dryer drum. It supports the weight of the drum. Overexertion wears it out, which can lead to other problems. If this happens, then the motor might be putting too much strain on itself, which leads to the dryer not spinning/working.

If you’re hearing a strange sound or noticing that something is not functioning properly, take note of what you’re hearing or experiencing, and replace it as soon as possible to avoid any further problems.

To figure out if the drum bearing is causing your dryer belt not to work, take off the belt and turn the drum by hand to see if it rotates freely. If it’s easy for you to turn and it doesn’t make any squealing or grinding noises, then the bearing is probably still good. If it’s hard for you to turn and makes squealing or grinding noises, then you’ll need to replace the drum bearing.

Faulty Drive Motor

The drive motor is a component of the dryer that is designed to turn the drum and the blower wheel. If the dryer is running, pauses, and then resumes, this indicates the motor is overheating. As a result, the dryer will stop until the motor cools down.

First, remove the belt from the motor and check if the blower wheel is clear. If it is clear, try rotating the drum by hand. If the drum does not turn with your hand, then you will need to investigate what is slowing it down. After that, put the belt back on and turn on the motor to see if it works. Measure the belt to see if it’s too tight or too loose. If you checked all of that and the belt still isn’t the problem, then you might need to get a new drive motor.

Dryness Control Board

The dryness control board is meant to shut off the dryer when the clothes are the right level of dry. It may stop too early if it is defective, but that rarely happens. If you are experiencing this, try to fix the other parts before replacing it. If your parts are working well, replace the dryness control board.

Check the Thermal Fuse

The thermal fuse is meant to protect the dryer by cutting power if it gets too hot. If it’s broken, your dryer will continue to heat up but the spinning won’t happen because the motor isn’t running.

Let’s find the thermal fuse. It should be located right behind the blower and motor at the back of the dryer.

1. Unplug and move your dryer away from the wall.
2. Remove the back of the dryer with a screwdriver or socket wrench.
3. Unhook wires from the thermal fuse, then remove the screw that holds it in place.
4. Replace the thermal fuse, then put everything back together.

A thermal fuse is a way of preventing an overheated dryer from starting a fire. A blown fuse may be the sign of another problem. If your thermal fuse is blown, check other components, such as wiring or the heating element, for damage. Make sure they are clear of debris and are not touching other metals.

Your laundry room is the key to keeping your house clean. Without a dryer that’s not spinning, you’ll need to do more work around the house. We hope this guide helps you get your dryer back up and running.