The dryer does not spin the drum

The structure of a modern dryer is in many ways similar to the structure of a washing machine. They have a similar appearance, a similar control panel, a large drum hidden behind the hatch door, and much more, which makes the two “home assistants” very similar to each other. And even many breakdowns of household appliances are similar, for example, a very common situation is when the dryer does not spin the drum, which is why its efficiency is zero, which quite often happens with washing machines. Let us examine in detail this unpleasant problem and ways to solve it.

The motor has failed

If you find that the dryer drum is spinning hard, the first thing you need to do is stop the current cycle and remove all clothes from the chamber. When there is no laundry left in the machine, you will need to turn the drum in different directions with your own hands - if it spins as usual without problems, then maybe not everything is as bad as it seems at first glance. In a situation where atypical extraneous sounds appear along with the rotation, or you can only spin the drum with force, it is better to stop any manipulations with the equipment as quickly as possible, so as not to damage it even more.

There are several reasons for the drum rotation to slow down. The most common of them is engine failure. It is the electric motor, together with the belt drive, that ensures the rotation of the drum, so if the part fails, then there will be no mechanical energy.

There are dryer models that have direct drive without a belt.

If the electric motor fails, there are problems with the winding, or the brushes are worn out, the drum may rotate slightly, as if the machine is unsuccessfully trying to resume the movement of the drum. But sometimes even such small attempts will not be possible if the motor is too damaged. Checking the unit may show that either a complete replacement of the electric motor or replacement of worn brushes is necessary.

Not every service center undertakes to repair brushes, preferring to completely replace a damaged electric motor. This approach guarantees the complete restoration of the “home assistant’s” functionality, but requires significant financial investments. This is due to the fact that often a new motor costs about 30% of the price of the entire dryer, plus it is worth considering the cost of replacement, which depends on the service center. Repairing the unit is also possible, but it is not always advisable, and not every private master will undertake it.

Drive mechanism

The belt in the system is directly responsible for directing mechanical energy from the electric motor to the dryer shaft, which, in turn, rotates the drum itself. That is why, if the belt is damaged or deformed, there will be no rotational energy, which means that there will be no rotation of the shaft with the drum. In this situation, you can carry out diagnostics yourself and then transfer this information to the repairman. Listen to the operation of household appliances - if during drying you hear the sound of an electric motor, then there is a high probability that the belt is to blame. If the operating cycle takes place in complete silence, then the breakdown should be looked for elsewhere.

When a belt is torn or stretched, you can simply buy a new one and install it in place of the deformed one.There is nothing complicated or expensive in this procedure, because the belt does not cost very much. However, in rare cases, belt deformation and slippage are caused by a much more dangerous problem - broken bearings. In this case, while the equipment is operating, the user may hear a loud whistle, noise and other unusual unpleasant sounds.

If, nevertheless, it is not the bearings that are to blame, but the belt itself, then it is necessary to carefully monitor the process of replacing the element. You should only purchase an original part that will suit your “home assistant” in the store, and not a cheap Chinese analogue. If you call a repairman, ask him to unpack the box with the spare part in front of you, so that you can make sure that you will not be getting a cheap fake, which will last at best for a month of work. In a situation where a private specialist tries to install an unmarked part of unknown origin, it is better to refuse his services, because they can be expensive for your household appliances. Original spare parts for dryers are sold in packaging with appropriate markings, so it is always easy to recognize an item of proper quality that can be installed without fear.

RPM sensor

Also, the drum sometimes turns hard due to a damaged tachometer. This element is responsible in the system for controlling the rotation speed of the drum and further transmitting information to the dryer control board. If the device is broken, then the control module simply will not know whether the drum is capable of rotating, so it will not try to make it rotate.

If the tachometer fails, it cannot be restored, so a replacement will be required.Fortunately, this repair is considered inexpensive, since its cost rarely reaches even 20% of the price of the dryer. However, pay attention not only to the high, but also to the too low replacement price from a private technician, so that you do not have a cheap Chinese tachometer installed instead of the original spare part.

Bearing problem

We return to the situation where broken bearings are to blame for the problem, which is considered one of the most serious causes of the problem. If this is exactly what happened, then you will need either a complex replacement of damaged elements or the installation of a completely new tank. Most often, bearings fail gradually, which can be noticed in advance by a strange sound during the operating cycle that occurs before the drum stops completely. If you have previously heard a loud metallic sound and whistling sound while working, then most likely your model is equipped with a heat pump, so this is considered the norm. But if this has not happened before, then extraneous sounds indicate problems with the bearings.

Despite the complexity of the breakdown, there is no need to worry, because any service center specialist will quickly disassemble the machine and restore its functionality. If your “home assistant” is equipped with a collapsible tank, then the technician will only be able to replace damaged bearings. In a situation where a molded plastic tank is installed in the machine, it will have to be replaced entirely. The second case is very unpleasant, because often a new tank costs 70% of a new dryer, plus, don’t forget about the cost of a technician’s services. This is why it is often recommended to simply buy a new unit so as not to worry about old spare parts.

In addition, it is worth considering the fact that many service centers refuse to change bearings due to the fact that equipment manufacturers require changing the entire dryer tank. Because of this, users often turn to private craftsmen for help, who are ready to change bearings even in molded plastic tanks, which are cut into equal two parts and then connected with bolts and sealant. Such makeshift repairs can correct the situation for a short time, but it is better not to agree to such a dubious method of solving the problem, but to replace the tank or dryer.

The control board is faulty

Finally, it’s worth sorting out the most unpleasant breakdown - failure of the control module. Nowadays, all household appliances are smart devices equipped with the most modern sensors and electronic boards that control the operation of the system. When the control board is damaged, the signal to start rotating the drum will simply not be given, even if the drum itself and other key components of the dryer are working properly.

Control board failures can be divided into hardware and software. The first ones need to be worked with by hand, replacing and restoring small elements on the part itself, hidden in the body of the “home assistant”. In rare cases, the board cannot be repaired, but can only be replaced. If this is your situation, then you should think about buying a new dryer, since the control module is often even more expensive than the tank, so purchasing new household appliances will be more expedient. Dealing with software failures is much easier - the technician only needs to update the software or reset the settings to return the factory settings.

If you nevertheless decide to repair the module rather than buy a new machine, then in no case do not forget about the guarantee for the repairs performed, since the element may begin to fail again in just a month.

Of course, you shouldn’t try to deal with electronics yourself, because it should only be handled by a service center specialist who has not only specific knowledge, but also special equipment. Therefore, if you think that it is the control board in your machine that has failed, then it is better to immediately contact the service center, avoiding the services of private technicians who rarely understand complex electronics.

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