Dryer not starting
Start by sorting the symptom.
Soon A dryer that won't start may be only an inconvenience, but if it stopped after running very hot, or you see scorch marks on the cord or door switch, treat it as a safety problem.
What this symptom usually means
Start by sorting the symptom. A dryer that is completely dead, with no display and no drum light, points to power. Whirlpool says electric dryers use two household fuses or breakers (one double breaker) and gas dryers one, and that an electric dryer needs a 240-volt supply. LG suggests opening the door: if the drum light comes on but the dryer won't power up, it needs repair; if the light stays off, check the cord and breaker first. With a live display, manufacturers point first to settings and safety interlocks. Manufacturers list a Start button that must be held for two to five seconds, a door that looks shut but isn't latched, a control or child lock, a cycle set to an option that doesn't start the drum, or an error code on the display.
Past those checks, the possibilities move inside the dryer. Maytag says the thermal fuse is a safety part that blows and cuts power to the motor if the dryer overheats, and that it can't be reset, only replaced. A blown fuse also means something made the dryer overheat, and restricted airflow is one possibility, so it's worth reading dryer overheating too. Maytag also lists a faulty door switch, start switch or drive motor. Whirlpool mentions a control-board fault. If the motor runs or hums but the drum doesn't turn, that is a different problem: see dryer drum not turning.
Checks you can do yourself
- Breakers or fusesCheck the dryer's breaker. For an electric dryer, make sure both halves of the double breaker are on; turn it fully off and back on. If your home has a fuse panel, check whether a fuse has blown, as Whirlpool advises, and call an electrician if you are unsure or it blows again. If it trips again, stop and call an electrician.
- Plug and cordMake sure the plug is pushed fully into the outlet. With the dryer unplugged, look at the cord where it enters the back. If it's scorched, melted or loose, don't use the dryer.
- Door latchedPush the door firmly until it clicks. Whirlpool says some models have an upper and a lower latch that must both engage, and that clothing caught in the door can stop it closing.
- Hold StartPress and hold Start for two to five seconds, as Whirlpool and Maytag advise. On touch panels, use a dry fingertip, not a nail, and wipe any moisture off the panel.
- Control or child lockIf a lock icon is lit, turn it off as your manual shows. Samsung says Child Lock disables most buttons; Whirlpool says holding Cycle Signal for three seconds clears Controls Locked on most of its models.
- Reset and testUnplug the dryer, or switch off the breaker, for about a minute, then try again. Samsung suggests choosing Time Dry and checking the timer counts down; if it counts down but the drum doesn't turn, the cycle has started and service is needed.
- Filters and water tank (heat-pump or condenser models)Make sure the lint filters are clean and properly seated, and the water container is emptied and pushed fully home.
Nothing above involves gas, wiring, refrigerant or removing panels.
What you notice, and what it can point to
Listed in no particular order. They help you describe the problem; only an inspection confirms the fault.
Completely dead: no display, no drum light
Could point to: Breaker or fuse, plug not seated, cord fault, or no supply
Next step: Check the breaker and plug; call an electrician if it trips again
Drum light works but the dryer won't power on
Could point to: Internal fault such as control or thermal fuse
Next step: Book a technician, as LG advises
Display on, Start does nothing, lock icon lit
Could point to: Control or child lock engaged
Next step: Turn the lock off as the manual shows
Display on, Start does nothing, no lock
Could point to: Door not latched, Start not held long enough, or door switch or start switch fault
Next step: Latch the door, hold Start for 2 to 5 seconds; book if still nothing
Motor hums or runs but the drum doesn't turn
Could point to: Belt or drum problem, not a start fault
Next step: Stop the cycle; see dryer drum not turning
Stopped after running very hot and now won't start
Could point to: Thermal fuse may have blown from overheating
Next step: Check the lint screen and vent; book a technician
How it differs by design
- Electric dryers need a 240-volt supply and use two household fuses or breakers, according to Whirlpool, which says to call an electrician if a fuse or breaker problem continues or if the power cord may be installed incorrectly.
- Gas dryers use one household fuse or breaker, according to Whirlpool. GE says some of its 2019 and newer dryers must be told whether they are electric or gas (a setting of 1 or 2) and won't run until it's set.
- Compact heat-pump and condenser dryers have extra start conditions. Whirlpool says its compact heat-pump dryer won't start if the bottom filter isn't installed properly, and stops if its water reservoir fills because the tank isn't seated or the drain hose is kinked.
What our technician checks
These need panels off, live electrical tests or a licensed trade, so they are left to the technician:
- Removing the terminal-block cover or any panel
- Testing the thermal fuse, door switch, start switch, motor or control
- Anything on the burner, igniter or gas valve of a gas dryer (a certified gas contractor)
- Installing a new outlet or circuit (a licensed electrician)
Waived when you go ahead with the repair. You get the cause, the price and our repair-or-replace verdict in writing before any work.
Repairs a technician may recommend
After inspection, not from the symptom alone.
Thermal fuse replacement
When the fuse has blown. Maytag says it can't be reset. The technician also checks the vent and airflow, because a blown fuse points to overheating.
Door switch replacement
When the dryer doesn't sense the door closed. GE lists a scorched or pushed-in door switch as a reason the dryer won't run.
Start switch or control board replacement
When power reaches the dryer but pressing Start does nothing. Maytag lists a defective start switch; Whirlpool mentions a control-board fault.
Drive motor replacement
When the motor won't start. Maytag says a faulty motor can stop the dryer starting, make a loud noise, or stop it mid-cycle. The finding weighs this against the dryer's age.
Power cord or terminal block replacement
When the cord or its connection at the back is burned or loose. GE says both should be replaced if the terminal wires are burned. RepairWell reconnects like-for-like on the existing circuit; new circuits are electrician's work.
Brands we see with this problem
Codes, parts and access differ by brand; the brand pages cover where the model label is and what to expect.
Brand-specific repair and error-code guides
Cost, and whether to fix it
What the repair costs depends on the part, the labour and whether a second visit is needed for an ordered part; the written finding gives the total before any work. Our guides on what drives repair costs, dryer repair costs and repair versus replacement explain how to weigh it.
When to book
Book if the breaker is on, the door is latched, the controls aren't locked and holding Start still does nothing, or if the Samsung-style timer test shows the cycle running without the drum moving. Tell us whether the display lights up, whether the drum light comes on, whether you hear a hum or a click, and whether it's gas or electric. If it stopped after running unusually hot, say so; we'll check the vent as well. The diagnostic is $89 and is waived if you go ahead with the repair. See dryer repair or gas dryer repair for what the visit includes.
We handle this across Ottawa and Gatineau
Related problems
Dryer not starting: questions
Why won't my dryer start when the display is on?
Check the settings and the door first. Whirlpool and Maytag say to hold Start for two to five seconds, make sure the door is latched, turn off any control lock and choose a drying cycle. If it still won't start, the door switch, start switch, motor or control may be at fault.
Can I reset a dryer's thermal fuse?
No. Maytag says a thermal fuse can't be reset and must be replaced. It blows because the dryer overheated, so the lint screen and vent need checking as well.
My electric dryer won't run. Could it be the breaker?
It can be. Whirlpool says electric dryers use two household fuses or breakers and that both must be intact or on. Switch the double breaker fully off and back on, and call an electrician if it trips again.
My dryer hums but the drum won't turn. Is that a starting problem?
Not quite. Whirlpool says a motor that runs while the drum doesn't turn may point to the drive belt. See dryer drum not turning, and stop the cycle rather than letting it hum.
Do you work on gas dryers that won't start?
Yes. RepairWell diagnoses gas dryers. Burner, igniter, valve and gas-connection work is done by a certified gas contractor we work with.
Sources
- Whirlpool Product Help: Dryer not starting or no operation
- Whirlpool Product Help: No power - electric dryer
- Whirlpool Product Help: Not starting, not operating, no power - compact heat pump dryer
- Whirlpool: Why won't my dryer start
- GE Appliances: Dryer - will not run or start
- LG USA Support: Troubleshooting no power on a dryer
- Samsung US: Samsung dryer turns on but will not start or spin
- Samsung Canada: Use Child Lock on your Samsung washer and dryer
- Maytag: Parts of a dryer
- Maytag: How to fix a dryer that won't start
Sources checked 2026-09-24.
Book the diagnostic
Tell us this symptom and your postal code; it helps us bring the right parts.
Online booking is a request. We confirm the appointment by text or phone within 1 business hour.
- $89 diagnosticWaived when you go ahead with the repair
- Written finding on every visitCause, price and our repair-or-replace verdict
- 90-day warrantyOn labour and the parts we install