Dryer not spinning

Common reasons your dryer not spinning

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

32% of the time it's the
Drum Belt

26% of the time it's the
Heating Element

9% of the time it's the
Drum Bearing

33% of the time it's the
Something else

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Common dryer repair parts you may need

Replacing one of these dryer parts may fix your problem.

Drum Belt Replacement

If your dryer isn't turning, a damaged drum belt might be the issue. The drum belt loops around the dryer drum and links to the drive motor pulley. This motor spins the belt to rotate the drum. After a while, the belt can wear out and snap. A safety switch on the idler pulley stops the motor from running if it detects a broken belt. If your dryer won't start, contact a Sears Home Services Technician to inspect and replace the broken drum belt if necessary.

How to replace a dryer drum belt

Heating Element Replacement

If your dryer isn't turning, a malfunctioning heating element might be the issue. The dryer's electronic control board will recognize when the heating element is open or broken. If it detects a faulty heating element, it won't initiate the dryer motor until the problem is resolved. If your dryer isn't spinning, arrange for service with Sears Home Services, and we'll dispatch a technician to your home to repair the dryer.

How to replace a dryer heating element

Drum Bearing Replacement

A worn drum bearing can cause the dryer to stop spinning by overheating the drive motor. Friction from the worn bearing can lead the motor to overheat, triggering the overload protection that safeguards it from harm. Moreover, a worn drum bearing can hinder the rotation of the drum and blower wheel, potentially causing the thermal fuse to blow. If your dryer stops spinning, contact a Sears Home Services Technician to inspect the appliance and replace the worn drum bearing if necessary.

How to replace a dryer drum glide bearing

What to expect when you experience a dryer not spinning issue

How to fix a dryer that is not spinning

Addressing most issues where the dryer isn't spinning typically entails replacing components such as the drum belt, heating element, or drum bearing. However, given the variety of potential causes, a comprehensive diagnosis is crucial for effectively resolving the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential for understanding the cost of the repair.

Sears Home Services advice for a dryer that is not spinning

If your dryer isn't spinning, there could be various reasons behind it. To prevent unnecessary part replacements, we suggest having a Sears Home Services expert conduct diagnostic tests to pinpoint the exact cause of the issue. Our technicians are skilled at diagnosing a wide range of dryer problems.

What to consider with a dryer not spinning diagnosis

Understanding and fixing issues with modern appliances can be hard without the right knowledge and training. If you don't use the correct diagnostic methods, trying to repair your dryer might just involve randomly replacing parts. Appliances, especially those made in the last decade, have become very advanced, with electronic components that are tricky to assess. Doing DIY repairs on the latest models is getting tougher.

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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.

Terry F, Oklahoma City, OK