Common Dryer Problems and How to Fix Them

DIY Tips for Troubleshooting Your Home’s Dryer

Nothing beats the convenience of having a washer and dryer in your own home. Just turn a few knobs and presto, your work is done. But what happens when your dryer goes off the rails? Your clothes come out soaking wet, or maybe your dryer just stops working all together. If you’re having trouble with your dryer, use these tips to see if you can fix the problem yourself.

Dryer Spins But There’s No Heat

Before you examine or tinker with anything, make sure that the dryer is unplugged and at room temperature. If your dryer refuses to heat up during a normal cycle, there’s probably a connectivity issue or something wrong with the appliance’s internal temperature monitor.

Broken Fuse

Now, take a look at the machine’s back panel. You should be able to remove it using a small screwdriver. You should see a small fuse connected to the back. If it appears broken or frayed, you’ll need to replace it with a new fuse.

Checking the Thermostat

You should find the thermometer located on the back panel. Connect an A/C voltage multimeter to the thermometer and you should get a reading of 0. If not, you’ll need to replace your thermostat with a new one.

Checking the Temperature Switch

The same thing goes for the machine’s temperature switch. Remove the top button on your temperature switch and connect the multimeter. Adjust the switch and see if there is any change in the meter’s readout. If not, your temperature switch will need to be replaced.

Dryer Turns On But It Won’t Spin

If the machine turns on, but refuses to spin, chances are that you have a broken belt on your hands. Buy a replacement and open the back of the machine. Remove the old belt and insert the new one. Slide it through the motor pulley until the new belt is firmly in place. If that doesn’t fix the problem, keep troubleshooting.

Replacing the Roller

You should also see a roller underneath the belt next to the tumbler. Take out the roller and inspect it for any damage. Rollers can easily get worn out, especially if your machine is more than 10 years old. Swap out the roller for a new one to see if that fixes the problem.

Replacing the Motor

If you’re still out of luck, you probably need a new motor. In order to replace the motor, you’ll have to pull out the air duct and the blower wheel and then slide in a new motor. You might want to take photos of the inside of the machine before you begin tearing it apart.

Trapped Heat

If your dryer refuses to turn on all together or is getting too hot during a normal cycle, your air vent could be clogged. Empty out the lint trap and inspect the vent. Clear away any debris that might be blocking the airflow.

Taking apart your home’s dryer can be a labor-intensive endeavor. If you don’t feel comfortable troubleshooting such a large piece of machinery, you’re better off calling the pros at Absolute Appliances Repair, offering reliable washer dryer repair to the entire Bay Area, including San Francisco, Mill Valley, Marin County, Novato, and Larkspur.