Westinghouse Dryer Won’t Start. You toss a load of laundry into the dryer, select a cycle, and press start, but it seems to be taking an awfully long time.
When your dryer won’t turn on suddenly like this, you should take immediate action before the piles of dirty clothes mount up.
The bad news is that this isn’t uncommon, but the good news is that we’ve seen these things happen countless times over the years and so know exactly what to look for when your machine simply stops working:
Westinghouse Dryer Won’t Start
If your dryer won’t start up, the problem could be with a defective thermal fuse. The thermal fuse is a safety device designed to protect your dryer from overheating.
If the dryer is making noise but won’t turn on, you don’t have to worry about a faulty start switch. However, if it’s not responding or producing any sound at all, then chances are that you may have an issue with your start switch.
We discuss how to fix a Westinghouse dryer that won’t start.
Issue With Drive Belt
When the dryer belt breaks on most dryers, the motor will still run even if the belt breaks. On occasion, there is a switch that turns off the power to the dryer when the drive belt breaks.
If this is the case for your dryer, check to see if it applies to your model, and check to see if it is broken by consulting your owner’s manual.
If it turns out the belt has fused itself, then you’ll need to replace it with one of equivalent size.
Problem With Belt Switch
On most dryers, when the dryer belt breaks, the motor will still run. However, if your dryer has a switch that turns off power to the machine if the drive belt is broken, then this could happen.
First, start the dryer and listen for a humming noise. If it makes a humming noise when you try to start it, this indicates that the belt switch isn’t defective.
Next, search for your model number to determine if you have a belt switch on yours.
If you do, then use a multimeter to test for continuity on it around open terminals on the switch itself.
Error In Drive Motor
The drive motor drives and turns the drum while the blower wheel seemingly ejects air. Before replacing the motor, first check that the thermal fuse, start switch, and door switch are all working properly.
If these components appear to be in order but a humming noise can still be heard remove the belt from its motor and check the blower wheel for any obstructions or anything that might prevent air from freely coming through.
If the blower wheel doesn’t have any unexpected issues. The motor is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Cause Of Door Switch
The door switch activates when the dryer door is closed. Often, the door switch makes an audible clicking sound when it activates.
To check whether the door switch is working, start the dryer and listen for a click.
If you hear it clicking, there’s probably nothing wrong with your switch; if you don’t hear anything, use a multimeter to check for power at the switch.
If there is no power, then your problem is probably somewhere else in the circuit.
Defective Thermal Fuse
The thermal fuse is a safety device designed to protect the dryer from overheating.
The fuse is located on the blower housing or at the dryer’s heat source such as the heating element on electric dryers or at the burner on gas models.
The thermal fuse should be closed for continuity meaning it has a continuous electrical path through it when good.
If overheated, it will have no continuity meaning the electrical path is broken and that means that this piece has blown.
A multimeter can be used to test the thermal fuse for continuity. Be aware that a blown thermal fuse is an indication of a restricted exhaust vent from your dryer to the outside.
Always check your current exhaust after replacing this piece.
Faulty Start Switch
The start switch is located at the top of your dryer and sends power to the drive motor when pushed.
To make sure it’s working, unplug your dryer to cut off the power before testing for normal operation.
First, remove the screws from either side of the control panel so you can get inside and access the start switch.
Be sure to label which wires lead to this area because there maybe two or three wires connected to a lever switch that may have broken off or worn down.
Write down how things run on your existing model too so you’ll know where things link up once you’re done in replacing it.
Timer Malfunction
The dryer has an electrical timer that helps control its various electrical components.
One of these components is a small motor that operates inside the timer and helps turn the timer on and off based on different settings.
When you’re ready to test out the timer, it’s important that you first unplug your dryer from its power outlet at the circuit breaker or fuse box in order to eliminate any possibility of getting hurt or risking an electrical fire in your home or apartment building.
Westinghouse Dryer Won’t Start
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