3 Common Tumble Dryer Faults & How To Fix Them

September 18, 2015 | Appliances and Appliance Care  |  Tumble Dryer | No comments

Common Tumble Dryer Faults

Come rain or shine, your tumble dryer can be an invaluable appliance within the home – particularly during the winter months when it isn’t possible to hang the washing out. But, as with all appliances, your tumble dryer is susceptible to faults. Below we look at 3 of the most common tumble dryer faults and explain how to fix them.

Drum Doesn’t Spin but Motor Works:

To effectively dry your laundry, your tumble dryer not only needs to provide heat but the drum also needs to rotate, enabling your laundry to tumble. However, a common fault with tumble dryers is the drum doesn’t rotate.

If this is a fault you’re currently experiencing, there is a good chance the drive belt has become worn or snapped. To test your tumble dryer’s drive belt, we recommend you manually spin the drum. If it is stiff and difficult to move, the drive belt is ok, if it is easy to move, there’s a good chance the drive belt is the fault.

You can confirm your suspicions by removing the top of your tumble dryer and visually checking the belt. If it has snapped or is looking significantly worn, you will need to replace it – and at BuySpares not only do we have a wide selection of replacement tumble dryer drive belts but our video below explains how to fix the issue.

If the drive belt on your tumble dryer is in good condition, there may be a fault with the motor or jockey wheels.

No Heat from Tumble Dryer:

The most common fault experienced with a tumble dryer is that it is no longer providing any heat. Thankfully in the majority of situations, this is also the easiest fault to rectify as it often requires little more than resetting the tumble dryer, which can be done by pressing the reset button usually found at the back of the appliance.

If pressing the reset button doesn’t work, other areas which could be causing the issue include:

  • Failed heating element – this can fail and although it may sound like an expensive repair, it is considered to be one of the easiest repairs you’ll be faced with. If yours has become faulty, you’ll find the perfect replacement tumble dryer heating element via BuySpares.
  • Faulty Thermostat – the thermostat is fitted to regulate and monitor the temperature within your tumble dryer. Occasionally these can malfunction and hinder the performance of the appliance, and if it has become faulty it’ll need replacing.In the video below, we explain how to replace the front thermostat in a Beko tumble dryer, and the process should be very similar for other makes and models. It is worth noting, however, that some tumble dryers may have more than one thermostat – one for heater control and the other is an exhaust thermostat.

  • Blocked filters / condenser / vent pipe – if your tumble dryer isn’t heating up and keeps tripping, it may be because the filters, condenser or vent pipe have become blocked with lint, fluff and other debris. Such blockages will prevent air from circulating through the appliance, meaning it cannot work as it should and is therefore tripping.It’s important to make sure you clean these parts on a regular basis, and that you check the condenser box at the bottom of your tumble dryer, as fluff can also get trapped into it.

Noisy Tumble Dryer:

If your tumble dryer is making a noise when it is in use, you’ll first need to decipher the type of noise it is making and what else is happening when your appliance is making the noise. Is it squealing/squeaking, rumbling or humming?

  • Constant squealing – if your tumble dryer is making a constant squealing noise as the drum rotates, then it could be due to the belt tension pulley experiencing wear. The noise will get progressively worse as the pulley wears, and this can result in damage being caused to the belt.In such a situation, we recommend you first confirm the belt tension pulley is the reason for the squealing noise, and if so you’ll need to replace the part.
  • Squeak every few seconds as the drum rotates – the probable cause of such a sound is the drum pivot bearing becoming worn. A clear sign this is the case is a black graphite type dust on the bearing. If wear and tear of this part is found, you’ll need to replace the bearing.
  • Rumbling sound as the drum rotates – the common reason for a rumbling sound coming as your tumble dryer’s drum rotates is the support wheels have gone out of shape. We recommend testing this, by manually rotating the drum slowly, and if you feel a regular bump you’ll need to check and replace the support wheels.
  • Loud droning or vibration – if there’s a loud droning or vibration from the tumble dryer but it is tumbling correctly the fan in your drum may have become distorted and gone off balance. In such a case, the fan will need to be replaced. (It’s worth noting this is only applicable to condenser tumble dryers).

If there’s a loud humming noise and no drum rotation, you may have a seized drum. Check this by manually rotating the drum, if it rotates as it should, check the motor or capacitor as these may have become faulty – if they have, replace them.

Whilst the above are three of the most common faults you’re likely to experience with your tumble dryer, you may experience other faults with your appliance. At BuySpares, we not only stock the spare parts and accessories required to repair such faults but we also have an advice centre full of advice helping you to diagnose and repair the fault yourself.

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