Tumbling without heat
When the drum turns but the clothes stay damp, the dryer has lost its heat. On a vented dryer, that's usually a tripped thermal cut-out or a blown thermal fuse, and sometimes a failed element. The cut-out and fuse exist to stop the machine overheating, so when either trips, something made it too hot. In most cases that something is lint.
That's why the fix starts with airflow. Clean the lint screen, check behind the dryer that the vent hose hasn't been flattened against the wall, and look along the hose for lint packed inside it. A new fuse on a dryer that still can't breathe will soon trip again.
Garages with no air coming in
Where the laundry has spilled into a detached Oak Flats garage, the dryer sometimes ends up out there with it. In a shut garage with no fresh air, a vented dryer ends up drawing back in its own warm, damp exhaust, and it keeps tripping its cut-out no matter how many parts go in. Open the roller door or a window while it runs, or run the vent hose outside.
The drum won't turn
If the dryer runs or hums but the drum stays still, the belt has probably snapped or jumped off. A squeal or thump points towards worn rollers or the idler pulley, and a hum with no movement at all points to the motor. The sound alone is often enough for the technician to know which part to bring.
Checks worth doing first
Run the empty dryer on its hottest setting for ten minutes and feel the air at the vent outlet. Warm air means the heat side works, and the trouble is more likely airflow or a sensor ending cycles early. Cold air means the heating side has failed. Check the dial while you're there; an air-only or delicate setting won't use the element at all, and it's easy to bump the knob while loading.
We're authorised for Fisher & Paykel, Westinghouse, Electrolux and Hisense, and parts for the common models are easy to get. Most Oak Flats dryers we're asked to look at are worth fixing. The $125 assessment covers the callout and finding the fault, and the repair price is set before any work starts.
Questions from Oak Flats
Why is my dryer not heating?
On a vented dryer, a tripped thermal cut-out or blown thermal fuse is the usual reason, and the underlying cause is nearly always lint or a squashed vent hose. The element can also fail. Clear the airflow first, then book a technician if it stays cold.
My dryer drum won't turn. What's wrong?
A snapped or slipped belt is the most common cause. If the motor hums without moving the drum, the motor or its start components may have failed. Rollers and pulleys can also seize.
Is it worth repairing an older dryer?
Usually, if it's a vented or condenser model, since the common parts are cheap. Heat pump dryers with a failed sealed system usually aren't worth fixing. The technician will tell you which applies before quoting.