There are many reasons why your Indesit tumble dryer might have stopped spinning.
This guide will cover some of the most common reasons why tumble dryers stop rotating properly or at all and how you can fix the issue without getting a full replacement of your appliance.
The most common reason why this issue in modern dryers is a faulty component inside the dryer. The fault can lie in a number of areas, including the:
- Drive belt or pulley
- Heating element
- Door latch or switch
- Dryer drum
- Motor capacitor
No Dryer is Safe!
Regardless of the manufacturer, all types of dryers are prone to wear and tear. Even if your dryer is in good condition, it’s still susceptible to faults, and no machine is safe from potential problems.
Luckily, it’s easy to test each area of your tumble dryer to identify the root cause of the issue. Your dryer might also display an error code to indicate where the problem lies.
Plus, fixing each common reason why dryers stop spinning is relatively simple. You don’t need to replace the whole appliance to fix the issue. Often, you can resolve the faults by reading your user manual and putting on your DIY hat!
Why Does a Tumble Dryer Drum Stop Rotating?
As mentioned earlier in this guide, a wide range of faults can lead to issues with the rotation mechanism of the tumble dryer drum. Whether you have a washer dryer or a stand-alone tumble dryer, you’ll need to identify which appliance component is faulty before fixing it.
Here are the most common reasons why the drum in your dryer refuses to spin, even when the plug is in the socket, all of the lights on the control panel appear to work fine, and you’ve pressed the start button.
Faulty Door Switch
Sometimes, something as seemingly insignificant as the faulty door switch on your dryer is enough to stop the drum from turning.
The door latch on the dryer door is subject to a lot of wear and tear over time. Each time you do your laundry, you must use the door latch, which can eventually stop functioning.
If the door switch is faulty, the dryer door won’t shut properly, and the switch doesn’t send a signal to the control panel to say that it is safe to start a drying cycle, even with an adequate power supply.
As a result, the dryer won’t start heating and the drum won’t start spinning, even if you’ve pressed all the right buttons to start the machine.
You’ll need to repair the door switch or get a replacement if you suspect this is the reason for your issue. Door switches are inexpensive and easy to install by yourself.
Broken Drive Belt
Every tumble dryer has a drive belt, which wraps around the drum shaft and tension pulley. It applies pressure to the drum belt and activates the pulley to spin the drum during a drying cycle.
If the belt is the fault, it will need replacing. However, if it has come loose, you might not need a new belt and should be able to slot it back into place.
Testing the Drive Belt
You can test whether a broken belt is causing the issue by reaching into the dryer drum and turning it by hand.
If the drum spins freely when you take your hand away, the drive belt is probably at fault and will need to be replaced. When the drum feels stiff or gets jammed when you rotate it manually, the belt may not be the main issue.
Faulty Drive Motor
The drive motor turns the dryer drum during a cycle, and it can get worn away with extensive use of your appliance. You might hear a faulty motor as it makes a humming noise when operating.
Testing the Drive Motor
If you suspect the motor is broken, you can access it by removing the back panel of your dryer and the drum belt from the motor.
Now, try to rotate the drum manually. If it spins freely when you’ve removed the belt, the drive motor is the problem. If not, continue searching to find the faulty component inside your dryer.
Getting Help With Replacing the Drive Motor
It’s not as easy to replace a faulty motor as it is to fix a door switch. If you’re not confident changing the motor yourself, consider calling the manufacturer and asking for an engineer to help you.
An expert engineer will get your problem solved as quickly as possible, and if you’ve got an extended warranty, this service might be free.
It’s good practice to check for obstructions in the fan and blower wheel too. Coins, hair grips, and other small items may get logged in the machine if you forget to take them out of your clothes pockets before loading them into the dryer.
Broken Starting Capacitor
The starting capacitor is responsible for kick-starting the motor during a cycle. If it’s faulty, it can prevent the drum from spinning.
Testing the Capacitor
You can test whether a faulty capacitor is the cause of the issue by reaching into the dryer and spinning the drum manually. Shut the door and check whether the drum continues to spin on its own. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to replace the capacitor.
Problems With the Tension Pulley
The tension pulley is near the drive motor at the bottom end of the tumble dryer. Its main function is to create tension on the drive motor pulley, which in turn, causes the drum to spin.
A broken or loose tension pulley can cause the drum to stop spinning altogether or to spin more slowly than usual.
Testing the Tension Pulley
Testing the pulley is a relatively simple task, and all you need to do is listen out for any unusual noises as your dryer is in operation.
If your appliance makes squeaking, grinding, or thumping sounds when you press the start button to begin a drying cycle, a faulty tension pulley is probably the culprit.
Replacing the tension pulley requires you to first turn the appliance off at the main power supply and unplug it. You’ll need to remove the lid, and the rear and side panels to gain access to the pulley and carefully remove it.
You’ve Overloaded the Drum with Clothes
Your tumble dryer is built to withstand a specific amount of laundry. Overloading the drum can signal to the control panel that there is an issue, and this can prevent the drum from spinning when you press the start button.
When you’ve had a large pile of clothes sitting in the laundry basket for a while, it’s tempting to shove them all into the drum at once. However, important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding the maximum load capacity of your dryer.
Overloading the drum not only stops it from working properly but can also damage your appliance and cause further issues. You can avoid costly repairs and save money by loading the right amount of laundry into your dryer!
Final Word
Hopefully, this guide has given you the confidence to take a closer look at your Indesit tumble dryer and figure out why the drum is not spinning.
It might take a while to investigate the issue and find the fault, but with some time and patience, you’ll have your appliance up and running again in no time.
Don’t hesitate to call the Indesit customer service team for further guidance or book an engineer to visit your home and repair the main fault for you.
