Tumble dryer drum not turning: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 280 tumble dryer jobs our engineers attended for this fault. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When a tumble dryer powers on, perhaps even heats, but the drum stays still, the cause is most often a worn or snapped drive belt. This is the band that links the motor to the drum, and once it frays or breaks the motor can run without the drum moving at all. Now and then engineers also find worn drum bearings or a damaged drum shaft alongside a broken belt, and these are replaced at the same time.
The next most common cause is a failed motor capacitor, a small part that helps the motor start. A typical sign is a hum or buzz from the dryer while the drum refuses to turn, sometimes starting only after a push by hand.
An engineer will check that the appliance is electrically safe, look at the belt and check that the drum turns freely, then test the capacitor to see if it has weakened. The faulty part usually has to be ordered and fitted at a second visit, so the dryer is often left unplugged in the meantime. Once the new belt or capacitor is in, the engineer may clean out the inside with a vacuum and runs a short cycle to confirm the drum turns and the dryer works as it should.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 280
- Confirmed repairs
- 191
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 4%
- about 1 in 25 of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £131 to £197
- including parts and VAT, from 187 repairs
What's usually behind it
The causes our engineers found and fixed, as a share of our 191 confirmed repairs for this fault.
-
Worn or snapped drive belt: about 2 in 5 of our repairs, from 76 jobs.
40% -
Failed motor capacitor: about 1 in 3 of our repairs, from 66 jobs.
35%
We only list causes with enough repairs behind them, so the shares won't add up to 100%.
Error codes we see with this fault
- Hisense F22: Drum motor or motor inverter fault.
- Hoover E21: Heating fault, often a thermal cut-out trip caused by a blocked condenser.
By brand
Brands with enough repairs of their own for this fault to show separately.
Hotpoint tumble dryer drum not turning
58 jobs, 41 confirmed repairs. Customers typically paid £133 to £197 (from 41 repairs). 0% fixed at the first appointment.
This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Worn or snapped drive belt 63%about 2 in 3 of repairs, from 26 jobs
Why the first-appointment figure differs by brand. Our engineers carry common parts on the van, so those repairs can be finished at the first appointment. Other parts have to be ordered in, and fitting them takes a second visit.
About the price. £131 to £197 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 187 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the tumble dryer off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
Rather leave it to us?
- Fixed-price quote before any work starts
- Same or next-day visits where available
- UK-wide engineer coverage