Faulty Cycles: What Happens When Your Dryer Won’t Start? 5 Identifiers Behind the Issue

North Central Indiana is one of Indiana's most desired suburbs. It offers a residential feel while boasting proximity to restaurants, shops, cafés, lush parks, and good schools. If you want a place to live with your family or a community with nightlife and suburban privacy, North Central Indiana is the place for you. But as many communities of homeowners know, owning a home can come with unexpected needs for repairs, upkeep and regular maintenance. With such a vibrant outdoor scene coupled with those chilly falls and winters, you want to make sure your dryer is at the ready for those damp clothes. But what happens when your dryer won't start?

When your common gas dryer or electric dryer won't start, call our Elkhart appliance repair professional for expert dryer repair services. As a guidepost in the appliance repair industry, we have a deep understanding of North Central Indiana’s needs. From a faulty dryer to a broken oven, we possess the skills and expertise to tackle whatever home improvement project you need help with.

In this blog post, we'll explore some of the root causes and common issues behind a clothes dryer that won't start and what you can do about it!

Top 5 Reasons Why Your Clothes Dryer Won't Start

In the colder climes of Indiana, a common dryer that works is an absolute must. From traversing in the snow to the rainy spring season when that chill can settle into the bones, you want your wet clothes to be nice and toasty. But, what can be done when your dryer won't start? Let's explore 5 common reasons behind your clothes dryer not starting and detailed steps on how to fix them:

1. Tripped Circuit Breaker

Problem: When a circuit breaker detects what's called a fault condition, it trips. When this happens, it shuts down to prevent it from overheating and igniting a spark or fire. One reason why the circuit breaker might detect a fault condition in a dryer is if it is not properly ventilated. That's why it's so important to clean out the lint trap after each drying cycle.

Solution: If you suspect you have a tripped circuit breaker, the good news is that it's quite an easy fix. Simply go to the electrical panel in your home and look for any electronic controls in opposing positions to the others. Resetting the circuit breaker should get your dryer going again if this is the issue.

2. Broken Control Board

Problem: The control board of your dryer is essentially the brain of the unit. It controls the heat cycles, the length of the dry cycle and the switch to different functions throughout the drying cycle. But, when the control board has malfunctioned or gone bad, your dryer won’t start.

Solution: The first step to fixing a faulty control board is to test it with a multimeter, which is a tool used to measure various electronic properties. The multimeter can be used to measure the continuity between different sections of the control board. If there is no continuity, then the control board is faulty. At this stage, it's best to call in a dryer repair expert to get the old board replaced with a new one and to avoid incorrect installation.

3. Faulty Start Switch

Problem: It's quite easy to detect if the start switch is faulty on your dryer. Press or turn the switch button. If your dryer doesn't start or makes noise, then it's likely faulty.

Solution: To figure out the problem, use a multimeter to detect continuity. If the multimeter does not have continuity when activated in continuity mode, the start switch will need to be replaced. If the start switch hums when activated, there could be a problem with a faulty drive motor.

4. Broken Or Worn-Out Drive Belt

Problem: Your dryer's drive belt is an essential component of the unit. The belt is responsible for the rotation of the dryer. Without the belt, the dryer drum will not rotate or move at all. When the drum is misaligned, this can also cause further damage to the machine.

Solution: If you have a broken dryer belt, you will need to replace the part. You can do this by shutting off the power, removing the top panel, removing the front panel, removing the old, and installing a new one, reassembling the panel parts and starting up the machine. However, if you don't have experience disassembling and reassembling dryers, we always recommend enlisting the help of an appliance repair person. That way, you can rest assured the job will be done right the first time!

5. Thermal Fuse Issue

Problem: The thermal fuse prevents the dryer from overheating and prevents fire. When the thermal fuse has blown, the dryer will stop running.

Solution: A thermal fuse is a one-time use component, but they are relatively easy to replace. To check if the thermal fuse has blown, unplug the dryer, and remove the fuse, usually located near the exhaust duct. Then, test the fuse with a multimeter. If the fuse has no electrical current, it will need to be replaced.

Why Choose Us? We’re North Central Indiana's Top Choice for Appliance Repair

Now that you know the common causes when your dryer won't start, and how to check the individual parts of the machine, you can rely on our appliance repair service to get those parts replaced for you! We're North Central Indiana's #1 choice appliance repair shop for all your clothes dryer repair needs! With our team of skilled appliance repair technicians, we'll ensure your dryer is back in pristine condition.

Choose Mr. Appliance for guaranteed workmanship and exceptional customer service—book a service appointment today to get started.

Get Those Clothes Toasty Again! When Your Dryer Won't Start, We’ll Help You Get It Working Again!

Don't wait another minute to call in our appliance experts for practical solutions and appliance care when your dryer won't start! Get back to enjoying North Central Indiana's vibrant outdoor life, so when you come home, you'll find your wet load of laundry dry again. We're locally owned and operated and proud to serve North Central Indiana, including the communities of Elkhart, South Bend, Lakeland, Milford, Pinckney, South Lyon, and Whitmore Lake.

When your dryer malfunctions, contact us for all your clothes dryer repair services, broken appliance repair needs, appliance installation, and other simple repairs! Whether you've got complex appliance problems or minor issues, we can help!