Dryer Won’t Start Just Buzzes? The Causes and Solutions

It’s incredibly annoying if you throw a freshly washed set of laundry in the dryer, turn it on to a cycle, and then it doesn’t start and just makes a buzzing noise. When this happens, one or multiple components in your dryer are faulty and will need to be repaired or replaced before you can use your dryer again.

To help you find the source of this problem, we have put together this easy-to-follow guide.

Step 1. Check the power supply

The best place to start is to check the power supply to your dryer. Sometimes, one of the two circuit breakers can trip, which will stop enough power from getting to the dryer, causing a buzzing noise in some cases.

To check if the power supply is the cause of the problem, you need to:

1. Locate your household fuse box.
2. Check both circuit breakers are turned on and if not, switch them on. If they are both switched on correctly, move on to checking the door switch (see step 2).
3. Next, check if the problem has been solved. If not, move on to checking the door switch (see step 2).

Step 2. Check the door switch

The next component we need to check and rule out is the door switch. When you close the door to your dryer, the door switch tells the main control board that the door is closed, and it can allow the dryer to run. When the switch becomes faulty, your dryer might not start at all or it will make a buzzing noise.

To check the door switch in your dryer, you need to:

1. Start by checking the peg in the door. When you close the dryer door the peg should click into the connection in the dryer, so the door is firmly closed. If it doesn’t click into place, it will need to be replaced. You also need to inspect the peg to make sure it is not damaged. If damaged, it will need to be replaced.
2. Depending on your specific dryer make and model, the door switch may be an electrical switch (check your manual). If you have an electric door switch, you can remove it and check it with a multimeter. If the switch doesn’t have continuity, it’s faulty and will need to be replaced. If it does have continuity, it is working fine so you can reattach it into the dryer and proceed to the next step.
3. If you replace the door switch, test that the dryer works once it’s installed. If the dryer is still making a buzzing noise and not turning onto a dry cycle, proceed to step 3.

Step 3. Check the drum rollers and axles

Depending on your specific dryer make and model, it will have drum rollers at the back of the dryer drum and sometimes also on the front. The purpose of the rollers is to help keep the dryer drum in the correct position when it’s turning around during a cycle. If they become worn out, your dryer might not operate correctly, and a buzzing noise might emit from the dryer.

To check the drum rollers in your dryer, you will need to:

1. Start by turning the power off.
2. Next, remove the top and side panels from the dryer.
3. Locate the dryer belt and remove it off the dryer drum.
4. Attempt to turn the dryer drum around manually. If the drum doesn’t rotate around freely, check the drum rollers and the axles for signs of wear and tear and that they are properly positioned.
5. If the rollers and axles are fine, move on to the next step. If they are damaged, replace them. 
6. Once the new rollers and/or axles have been installed, put the drive belt back onto the drum, turn the power on, and check if your dryer now works. If it is still making a buzzing noise, you will need to check the next component in this guide.

Step 4. Check the drum bearing

The purpose of the drum bearing is to help hold the rear of the dryer drum in the correct position during a cycle. If the bearing becomes worn out or damaged, the dryer drum will not stay in position, which can cause the motor to stop working. When this happens, you might hear a buzzing noise when you try to turn your dryer on.

To check the drum bearing, you need to:

1. Make sure the power is still turned off to the dryer.
2. If you haven’t already, remove the top and side panels and remove the drive belt off the dryer drum.
3. Try to rotate the dryer drum around manually. If the drum doesn’t rotate around freely and/or you can hear a grinding noise while you rotate it, this means the bearing is defective and will need to be replaced with a new one. If the drum does rotate around freely and you can’t hear any grinding noises this indicates the bearing is fine so you can move on to the next step.
4. Once you replace the bearing, you need to put the drive belt back on the drum, turn the power on, and then check if the buzzing noise has stopped. If you can still hear a buzzing noise, move on to the next step.

Step 5. Check the drum glides

The next step is to check the drum glides. The glides help to keep the dryer drum in the correct position when it’s operating. Since they are made of plastic, they are prone to wear out over time and need to be replaced. 

Before replacing them, you need to inspect them, which you can do by:

1. Make sure the power to the dryer is still turned off.
2. If you haven’t already, remove the top and side panels.
3. Next, locate the glides and inspect them for wear and tear.
4. If damaged they need to be replaced. If they are fine, move on to the next step.
5. Once replaced, turn your dryer on and check if the buzzing noise has gone. If not, move on to checking the drive belt (see below).

Step 6. Check the drive belt

The final component to check is the drive belt. The drive belt goes around the dryer drum and helps it to rotate. If it snaps, gets out of position, or becomes defective in any other way, it will need to be replaced.

Checking the drive belt is easy. You simply need to:

1. Make sure the power is switched off and remove the top and side panels off your dryer if you haven’t already.
2. Locate the drive belt—it goes around the dryer drum.
3. Inspect the belt for damage and that it’s positioned in the center of the drum.
4. If the drive belt is damaged, replace it. If the drum belt just needs to be repositioned, you can move it into the correct position and then check if the dryer works. If it still doesn’t work, replace the belt.
5. Once the new belt is installed, check to see if the dryer works. Hopefully, at this point, your dryer is now working!