As an Indesit tumble dryer owner, you are probably surprised to be reading this guide right now. Reading this means you need help with what is otherwise a reliable appliance.
When a tumble dryer stops working because it won’t heat or makes strange noises, your entire laundry plan goes out the window. This is frustrating and can throw a spanner in the works for all of your plans for the week.
Sometimes the cause of the problem is not complex, and you can resolve the issue without calling a repair technician. Some tumble dryer problems are more difficult and expensive to fix.
In this article, you will learn how to troubleshoot your tumble dryer to get to the root of the problem. By the end of the article, you will understand if you can get your laundry day back on track or if you are looking at an expensive and lengthy repair.
The Dryer is not Turning on
If your Indesit tumble dryer isn’t turning on, then you might be about to panic, thinking your tumble dryer has seen its last day. However, there might be a simple reason for it not turning on.
The first thing to check is that it is plugged into the socket. The most common cause is the plug got removed by somebody who then forgot to plug it back in.
The circuit breaker box is the next place to look if the plug is in the socket. If there was a power surge, the breaker could trip, which might go unnoticed if the tumble dryer is on its breaker.
Lastly, the tumble dryer door not being closed completely will prevent the dryer from starting. Open it up and look into the latch to see if there is an obstruction or debris. It is a prevalent problem for lint to accumulate in this latch assembly. This causes the door not to close entirely or interferes with the signal to the control board that the door is closed.
Clean it out and forcefully close the tumble dryer door until it clicks into place.
If the tumble dryer is still not starting, it is likely a circuit board issue that needs professional repairs.
The Dryer is not Drying Clothes
Opening the door of your tumble dryer expecting to remove warm and dry clothes only to find them as wet as when they were put in is frustrating. If you know, the dryer was working but didn’t dry the clothes; this is a sign of an issue since it isn’t due to forgetting to turn it on.
Many factors can contribute to your tumble dryer not heating or drying your clothes properly. One of the most common issues is with the heating element or assembly, including the thermostat. Other causes include a kinked or blocked vent hose or overloading that impairs your dryer’s performance. It’s essential to go through a list of the potential causes and eliminate them until you find the one most likely.
Start by checking the most straightforward issue to resolve yourself. Look in the back of the tumble dryer and note if the hose is kinked or bent. This will cause the tumble dryer to stop drying if it senses hot air not escaping to prevent a fire hazard. If you have a condenser dryer, you must check the box. These can get filled with fluff from lint and cause a malfunction.
When none of those things is an issue, look at the door filter to see if it has been emptied. It should be cleaned out after every load but often needs to be addressed.
If the problem persists, test the heating element with a multimeter to see if there’s any break in the electricity. The heat control thermostat regulates the heat by opening and closing the heater element circuit. Most Indesit tumble dryers have two thermostats. The other is a high-limit thermostat that cuts power to the heater element if the dryer overheats to prevent a fire.
When your tumble dryer is not drying the clothes, then it’s the first thermostat that controls the heating elements that is the issue.
The Dryer is Overheating
The thermostat that controls the heat needs the tumble dryer to run the entire drying cycle to regulate the heat. When you open the door in the middle of a cycle, it doesn’t have time to reset and cool down before starting again, which will cause overheating.
If you only notice the dryer overheats when you open the door, this is the cause and should be avoided.
Another cause is if the door filter lint box is full of fluff and needs to be cleaned. This affects the air circulating in the machine and often interferes with the thermostat.
Lastly, a faulty heat thermostat is a common cause. If the thermostat isn’t signalling to the heating elements that the temperature has been reached, it will continue to heat. The tumble dryer will often trip the circuit breaker to avoid causing a fire when it gets too hot.
An experienced technician should change a thermostat.
The Dryer is Making Strange Noises
Most Indesit tumble dryers are quiet, so you barely notice them running. When they make noise, you take notice. You might hear different noises, each caused by a separate issue. Here are some common noises and their causes:
- Loud screeching or squeaking noise. One common culprit for these noises is the idler pulley. This part puts tension on the tumble dryer drum belt to prevent it from slipping when the dryer is spinning. If the pulley wears down, it can cause a buildup of friction and a loud screeching or squeaking noise. Worn motor bearings can also create a high-pitched screaming noise.
- Banging, whining, rattling, and clanking. If you hear banging or clanking sounds, it could be because of coins or keys in your pockets. It could also be caused because your tumble dryer is positioned on an uneven surface. Constant banging sounds may be caused by drum bearings or the drum itself.
- Grinding noises. Worn metal rollers attached to the outside of the drum that help it spin are the most likely reason for this noise. On some tumble dryers, a pair of gliders on the drum’s outer rim stop direct contact with the rim of the metal cabinet. If the thin nylon seal wears down over time, it can result in a grinding sound. Finally, the rubber belt connecting to the drum’s centre can also get loose and cause a grinding noise.
Indesit Tumble Dryer’s Empty Water Light Remains On
When the “empty water” light on your Indesit tumble dryer, you have a condenser dryer, and the condenser box water tank is full. Condenser dryers don’t have a vent, so they pull water out of the drum’s air and then condense it to deposit it into the box. When it is full, it must be emptied to continue working normally.
The problem is that sometimes the light stays on after you empty the water. A common reason the empty water light remains on is that the float in the water container has become stuck. Very often, the condenser box gets full of lint, which can block the float. When you remove the water container, clean out any debris or lint.
Another possible cause of the empty water light staying on is a faulty sensor. If you’ve cleaned the water container and the float moves freely, but the light is still on, the sensor may be faulty.
Indesit Tumble Dryer Drum not Turning
When you see that there is power to your tumble dryer since the lights are on, the drum not turning won’t be due to a power failure or an unplugged cord. There is a mechanical issue to sort out. The problem could be a faulty motor or a broken drive belt.
To check the drive belt, remove the back panel of the tumble dryer and look for any signs of damage or wear. It is common for a rubber belt to get loose and come away from the drum. This will cause the drum not to spin. If you order the correct belt, you can quickly fix this yourself.
Another possible cause of the drum not turning is a faulty capacitor. The tumble dryer capacitor kick-starts the motor, which allows the drum to rotate. If the capacitor is defective, the drum won’t change direction, and the tumble dryer won’t be able to do its job correctly. Use a multimeter to check the motor for continuity. If there is none, then it is the motor.
How to Reset the Heat on a Tumble Dryer?
It was mentioned earlier in this article that when the tumble dryer is about to overheat, it trips the circuit breaker and shuts the appliance down. When you flip the breaker back up, the dryer will still not start. It needs to be reset. Not all tumble dryers have a reset button, but many Indesit models do, so look for the reset button to get it going again.
The first thing to do is locate the reset button on your tumble dryer. The button’s location can vary depending on the model such as an IDC75, but it’s usually on the back of the machine. Often it is a red button that is easy to press. Older models may not have a red button but an internal reset switch. You can find it on the right-hand thermostat in the heating assembly box.
Once you’ve found the button, press it and hold it down for a few seconds. You should hear a click indicating that the heat has been reset.
If your tumble dryer still isn’t heating up after resetting the heat, a more serious issue might be at play. It’s possible that the heating element, thermostat, or other components are faulty and will need to be replaced.
Tumble Dryer Trips the Circuit Breaker
If your Indesit tumble dryer has suddenly started tripping the power in your house, the most likely culprit is that it is overheating due to a faulty thermostat. That isn’t the only cause, however.
First, check that your sockets and plugs are connected correctly and in good condition. If you have pets that like to chew things, you may find that the cord has been frayed, causing the dryer to trip the electricity.
Then, check other components in the tumble dryer that are prone to damage, like the heating element, motor, or electric wires.
It’s essential to differentiate the types of electrical tripping that can occur. If the master circuit breaker trips, there’s a short or overloaded primary circuit. But if the tripping is from a differential circuit breaker, there’s a current leak in some electrically powered parts of the dryer.
Common Error Codes
Here are some standard error codes you might encounter with your Indesit tumble dryer and a quick troubleshooting tip for each:
F02 – Motor circuit defect
A motor circuit defect causes the drum to only spin occasionally or not at all.
F03 – Heat-detecting fault
This fault prevents the tumble dryer from heating up. To troubleshoot this issue, check the heating element and thermostat for damage, and replace them if necessary.
F06 – Door lock fault
This error code prevents the program from starting even with a locked door. Check the door lock and its components for damage, and replace them if necessary.
F07 – Electronic circuit board problem
This fault can cause the dryer to stop mid-cycle or fail to heat up.
If you’re uncomfortable working with electrical components, leaving the repairs to a professional is best.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has helped you troubleshoot any issues with your Indesit tumble dryer. Whether your tumble dryer is not heating, the drum is not turning, or you see error codes, there are a variety of potential causes and solutions to explore.
Indesits dryers can last a long time. Even when you are having problems, you can usually troubleshoot the issue and get it back to working again in no time.