Dryer Won't Start? What to Check Before You Call

A dryer that will not start has lost one of three things: power, a signal that the door is shut, or a working motor. The first two can be checked at home in a few minutes. The third, and most of what sits behind it, needs a technician.

Why won't my dryer start when I press the button?

Start with what the machine does when you press start, because the symptom narrows the cause quickly.

• Nothing at all, no lights or display. The dryer is not getting power, or a fuse or the control board behind the display has failed.
• Lights come on but the drum does not move. The machine has power, so it is either not detecting a closed door or the motor circuit is not completing.
• A hum or buzz with no movement. The motor is being asked to turn and cannot, which points at the motor, its start components or a jammed drum.
• It starts, runs a few seconds and stops. That is usually the door switch dropping out or the machine overheating. If the dryer runs but the clothes stay damp, see dryer not heating or taking too long to dry.

Is it getting power?

Plug a lamp or phone charger into the same wall socket. If that is dead as well, check the circuit breaker and the safety switch at your switchboard. Dryers draw a lot of current, and a worn dryer that has tripped the safety switch will keep tripping it until the fault is dealt with. A dryer that trips the safety switch every time it runs needs a technician, not repeated resets.

Check the plug and cord for scorch marks or a loose pin. If the dryer is on an extension lead or a double adaptor, plug it straight into the wall. A dryer should not run through a lead.

Does the dryer know the door is shut?

A dryer will not run unless a switch confirms the door is closed. The switch is operated by the door latch, and the catch wears with years of doors being pushed shut with a hip or a full basket.

Open the door and shut it firmly. Listen for the latch click. If the machine starts only when you hold the door against the frame, the latch or switch is worn. Check the latch and the edge of the door for a lint build-up that stops it seating fully. If the door is closing and the switch is not registering, the switch needs replacing, which is a small part.

What if the drum hums but will not turn?

Switch the dryer off at the wall and try turning the drum by hand. A drum that spins freely and a motor that hums points to a motor start component or the motor itself. A drum that is stiff, or catches, points to a jam: a sock or small item wedged between the drum and the front or rear panel, or a seized drum roller. A drum that spins with almost no resistance and a motor that runs without moving it points to a snapped drive belt.

Our dryer drum not turning guide goes through the belt, roller and motor checks in more detail.

Could the thermal fuse be the cause?

On some models, yes. A thermal fuse is a one-shot safety device, and on some dryers it sits in the motor circuit, so when it blows the motor will not start at all. A fuse that has blown is a sign the dryer ran too hot at some point, usually from restricted airflow. Replacing the fuse without clearing the lint filter and the vent leaves the same fault in place. Why the thermal fuse keeps blowing explains the airflow checks.

What can I safely check myself?

• Test the power point with another appliance, and check the breaker and safety switch.
• Plug the dryer straight into the wall, with no lead or adaptor.
• Clean the lint filter and wipe the door seal and latch area.
• Open and shut the door firmly and listen for the click.
• Pull the dryer out and check the vent hose is not crushed behind it.

Do not open the dryer with it plugged in. The motor, the element and the wiring all run at mains voltage, and the control board can hold a charge.

Is a dryer that won't start worth repairing?

Usually, on a vented or condenser dryer. Door switches, thermal fuses, motor start parts and belts are inexpensive parts on a machine that is otherwise sound. A failed control board or motor costs more, and the repair-or-replace decision depends on the age of the dryer and the quote. The Australian Government's clothes dryer energy rating page describes vented dryers as cheap to buy and expensive to run, which is worth weighing if yours is an old vented model needing a larger repair.

Vented, condenser and heat pump dryers are all repaired across the Illawarra and South Coast, in and out of warranty. Fisher & Paykel, Electrolux and Beko are among the brands we are authorised to repair. The assessment is $125 in the Illawarra and $145 further out on the South Coast, with a quote before any repair begins. Fault list and FAQs are on the dryer repair page.

Book online or call 02 4229 3777 with the make, the model and which of the symptoms above matches yours.