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  1. Repair
  2. Samsung
  3. Dryer not spinning

Samsung dryer not spinning

Common reasons your Samsung dryer is not spinning

The most common reasons your Samsung dryer is not spinning are a broken drum belt, open heating element or a worn drum bearing.

  • 32%

    32% of the time it's the
    Drum Belt

  • 26%

    26% of the time it's the
    Heating Element

  • 9%

    9% of the time it's the
    Drum Bearing

  • 33%

    33% of the time it's the
    Something else

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    Most common repairs needed to fix a Samsung dryer

    Drum Belt Replacement

    When your dryer is not spinning, a broken drum belt could be causing the problem. The drum belt wraps around the dryer drum and connects to the drive motor pulley. The drive motor rotates the belt to spin the drum. Over time, the drum belt becomes worn and can break. A switch on the idler pulley prevents the motor from starting when it senses that the drive belt is broken. When the dryer won’t start, have a Sears Home Services Technician check your dryer and replace the drum belt if it’s broken.


    Heating Element Replacement

    If your dryer is not spinning, an open heating element could be causing the problem. The electronic control board on the dryer will detect when the heating element is open (or broken). When the control senses a bad heating element, it won’t start the dryer motor until the bad heating element is replaced. When your dryer is not spinning, schedule service through Sears Home Services and we’ll send a technician to your home to fix the dryer.

    Drum Bearing Replacement

    A worn drum bearing can stop the dryer from spinning by overheating the dryer drive motor. Friction caused by a worn drum bearing will cause the drive motor to overheat and trip the overload that protects the motor from damage. A worn drum bearing can also slow the rotation of the drum and blower wheel so the thermal fuse blows. When your dryer stops spinning, have a Sears Home Services Technician examine the dryer and replace the drum bearing if it’s worn.

    What to expect when you experience a Samsung dryer not spinning issue

    How is the not spinning problem fixed?

    Correcting most not spinning problems usually involves replacing the drum belt, heating element or drum bearing. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

    Sears Home Services recommendations for a dryer that is not spinning

    When the dryer is not spinning it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of dryer failures.

    What to look out for with a dryer not spinning diagnosis

    Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your dryer problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

    Samsung Dryer is Not Spinning

    When your Samsung dryer is not spinning, a broken or disconnected drum belt could be causing the failure. Most Samsung dryers have a belt switch that prevents the motor from running then the belt is broken or disconnected from the drum, idler pulley and drive motor pulley.

    If you’re completely confident in your ability to safely remove the top panel of the dryer, unplug the dryer power cord to disconnect electrical power from the dryer. Shut off the gas supply if you have a gas dryer. Follow these steps to open the top panel and check the drive belt in your Samsung dryer.

    Dryer with a Front Control Panel

    1. Remove the screws at the back edge of the control panel.
    2. Pull the top panel back to release the front lip from the control panel.
    3. Lift the top panel up and off the dryer cabinet.

    Dryer with a Rear Console above the Top Panel

    1. Locate the clips under the top panel that are located about 5-inches in from each side of the dryer cabinet.
    2. Push a putty knife into the gap between the top panel and front panel to release the first clip and lift the top panel up slightly.
    3. Release the 2nd clip on the other side of the dryer while lifting up on the front of the top panel. The top panel will hinge up and back. Lean the top panel on the wall behind the dryer.

    If the drum belt is broken or disconnected, you’ve found the cause of your Samsung dryer not spinning.

    Schedule dryer repair service to have a technician repair or replace the belt and other components as needed to fix the dryer.

    Samsung Dryer Stopped Spinning

    If your Samsung dryer stopped spinning, check for an error code being displayed on the control panel. The dryer will often stop when the control detects a component failure in the dryer that needs attention. Check the owner’s manual to determine the cause of the error code. You likely won’t find an explanation of all error codes in the owner’s manual so look up the error code on our Sears PartsDirect dryer error code charts and follow the troubleshooting tips to fix the dryer if the troubleshooting is within your capabilities. If you’re not completely confident that you troubleshoot and fix a problem causing the error code yourself, schedule dryer repair service and we’ll send a technician to your home to repair the dryer.

    If you see no error code in the display, see if the dryer door popped open. The dryer will stop if the door opens up during the cycle.

    Other problems that can cause the dryer to stop during a cycle include:

    • Defective control board.
    • Overheated or failed drive motor.
    • Bad door switch.
    • Broken drum belt.
    • Wiring failure.

    Samsung Dryer Turns on but Won’t Spin

    Make sure that the door is firmly closed when your Samsung dryer turns on but won’t spin. Press in on the door to make sure it’s fully shut.

    If the dryer won’t shut, check for obstructions such a garment blocking the door from closing. Remove any obstructions from opening of the dryer.

    Check for damage to the door strike. Replace the door strike if it’s damaged.

    Look for debris or deposits in the door catch. Unplug the dryer and clear any media or debris out of the door catch.

    These tips may help you fix the problem when your Samsung dryer turns on but won’t spin.
    If you’re unable to fix the dryer starting failure yourself, schedule dryer repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to repair the dryer.

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    Daniel provided excellent service and was very quick to perform the repair. I have nothing good to say about the warranty program and the LACK of customer service and the inability to contact a human being to talk.


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    Excellent technician Very thorough and detail oriented Would be happy to have him work on appliances again He managed to find our ranch headquarters in the middle of the desert


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    Dryer service

    He was professional and polite. I didn't call back later that afternoon, although he replaced a thermostat the smart dry timer doesn't work as I was still having the same issue. The lady said she would email him and have him return. Never heard from anyone else.


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