Common Tumble Dryer Faults

View All Tumble Dryer Spare Parts Now »

Fault Diagnosis

Click on your specific tumble dryer fault to see causes and solutions.

• No functions
• Timer turns, but no drum rotation
• Clothes not drying, but drum and timer both turn
• Clothes slow to dry
• Clothes overheat or burn
• Clothes tangled or creased
• No delay operation (if fitted)
• Odours
• Noisy operation
• Dryer runs with door open

Safety First! Please make sure that you’ve switched off your appliance and disconnected it from the mains before beginning any repair.

No functions

• No power to appliance
  Check mains lead, plug fuse and wiring, and mains outlet. 
• Door switch faulty
  Verify nothing is blocking the door catch. If not, replace the faulty door switch. 
• Timer switch faulty
  Reset timer and try again. If the symptoms persist, replace the faulty timer switch, or contact a qualified repairer. 
• Delay timer faulty
  If a delay timer is fitted, check that it has not been reset. If the symptoms persist, replace the faulty delay timer, or contact a qualified repairer. 

Timer turns, but no drum rotation

• Drum motor faulty
  Contact a qualified repairer. 
• Drum belt snapped
  Contact a qualified repairer. 
• Timer switch faulty
  Reset timer and try again. If the symptoms persist, replace the faulty timer switch, or contact a qualified repairer. 
• Reversing timer faulty (if fitted)
  Reset timer and try again. If the symptoms persist, contact a qualified repairer. 

Clothes not drying, but drum and timer both turn

• Thermostat faulty
  Contact a qualified repairer. 
• Heating element faulty
  If there is some heat when a high setting is selected, the element may be faulty. Replace the faulty element or contact a qualified repairer. 
• Thermal cut-out fuse operated
  Wait 15 minutes and try again. If the symptom persists, replace thermal fuse if accessible. Otherwise, contact a qualified repairer. 

Clothes slow to dry

• Heating element faulty
  Contact a qualified repairer. 
• Heat control switch faulty
  Contact a qualified repairer. 
• Restricted air flow
  Clean the lint filter and check the vent pipe. 
• Machine overloaded
  Consult your manufacturer's instructions for correct loads. 
• Over-wet clothes
  Make sure clothes are spun dry before tumble drying. 
• Thermostat faulty
  Contact a qualified repairer. 

Clothes overheat or burn

• Thermostat faulty
  Contact a qualified repairer.  
• Thermal cut-out faulty
  Contact a qualified repairer.  

Clothes tangled or creased

• Reversing timer faulty
  Turn the machine off and on again. If symptom persists, replace faulty timer or contact a qualified repairer. 
• Timer switch faulty
  Reset timer and try again. If symptom persists, replace faulty timer or contact a qualified repairer. 

No delay operation (if fitted)

• Delay timer faulty
  Contact a qualified repairer.  

Odours

• Blocked lint filter
  Clean lint filter.

Noisy operation

• Object in drum
  Open and remove object. 
• Worn bearings
  Contact a qualified repairer.

Dryer runs with door open

• Door switch faulty
  Turn the dryer off immediately. Unplug it, make sure everyone knows not to use it, and replace the faulty door switch.