Troubleshooting Tips for When Your Dryer Won’t Start

Have you discovered that your dryer won’t start up? There are several possible reasons that a gas or electric dryer won’t turn on; hopefully, it’s a simple issue such as a tripped breaker, a broken switch, or a defective latch.

These straightforward troubleshooting tips will help you pinpoint the problem and take appropriate action. You may be able to fix the problem yourself, but more complicated issues will require an appliance repair expert’s help. In those cases, make a service appointment with your local Mr. Appliance, and our knowledgeable technicians will take care of the rest.

Possible Reasons a Dryer Won’t Start

Below are the most common reasons that a dryer won’t turn on.

• The dryer isn’t plugged in.

Always start by looking for the simplest possible problem: The unit could have come unplugged. Check the plug, even if you are almost certain this isn’t the issue. You’d feel silly if you tore your whole dryer apart, only to realize it was just unplugged!

• The dryer circuit breaker is tripped.

A tripped circuit breaker is another common “dryer won’t turn on” problem with a simple solution. Open your electrical panel and look for any switches that are not aligned with the rest. If you see a tripped breaker, reset it and see if that gets your dryer going.

• The thermal fuse is blown.

The thermal fuse protects the dryer from overheating and is usually located on the blower housing behind the back panel. There may be another one on the heating element. If you are able to remove the thermal fuse (with the dryer unplugged), test it with a multimeter. If the fuse does not conduct electrical current, the fuse must be replaced. Keep in mind that a clogged vent hose, lint screen, and/or lint trap are common causes for a blown thermal fuse. Prevent this issue from happening in the future—and prevent fires—by scheduling a professional dryer vent cleaning.

• The door latch/switch is defective.

If the dryer can’t sense that the door is closed, the motor will not run. To check for this problem, you’ll need to unplug the unit, remove the door switch (from under the top panel), and use a multimeter on the switch. If you need diagnosing this issue, sourcing the part, or installing a new latch and switch, contact Mr. Appliance.

• The start switch is broken.

With the dryer unplugged, remove the start switch and use a multimeter to see if it has continuity. If not, it must be replaced. This is another appliance part that many homeowners choose to swap out themselves.

Dryer Won’t Turn On, Even After Troubleshooting? Call Us

If you have tried all the troubleshooting ideas above and your dryer won’t start up again, the problem could be related to the motor. It’s time to call an appliance repair service. You are in good hands with the experts at Mr. Appliance. Our technicians are friendly professionals who have the right qualifications and years of experience in the appliance repair industry.

Your local Mr. Appliance can help your laundry room get back to work. Call us or schedule service online.