Broken Dryer Repair: Common Causes and How to Fix It

When your broken dryer, a household appliance that uses heat and airflow to dry clothes. Also known as a clothes dryer, it's one of the most relied-on machines in the home. stops working, it’s not always a sign you need a new one. Most of the time, it’s a small part—like a thermal fuse, heating element, or belt—that’s failed. You don’t need to replace the whole thing unless it’s over 10 years old and the repair costs more than half the price of a new model.

A dryer not heating, a common failure where the drum spins but clothes stay damp. usually means the heating element is burnt out, the thermostat is faulty, or the thermal fuse blew from overheating. A dryer not spinning, when the drum won’t turn even though the motor runs. is almost always a broken drive belt or a worn-out roller. These aren’t rare issues—they happen in about 70% of dryer repairs we see in Rugby. And yes, you can test them yourself with a multimeter if you’re comfortable, but if you’re not sure, it’s safer to call someone who’s done it a hundred times.

Don’t ignore a dryer that smells like burning or makes loud grinding noises. Those aren’t just annoyances—they’re warnings. A damaged drum bearing can ruin the motor. A clogged vent can cause a fire. We’ve seen dryers with lint packed so tight it looked like a sponge. That’s not normal, and it’s not just inefficient—it’s dangerous.

Before you panic, check the basics: Is the plug loose? Did the circuit breaker trip? Is the vent clear outside? These simple steps fix 30% of the calls we get. And if you’ve tried everything and it still won’t work, you’re not alone. The posts below cover exactly what goes wrong, how to spot it, and what parts actually need replacing. From broken timers to faulty door switches, you’ll find real fixes for real problems—no fluff, no guesswork.