Who Fixes Dryers? Here’s Who to Call

No need to hang your clothes out to dry

Woman doing laundry at home
Photo: Maria Korneeva / Moment / Getty Images
Woman doing laundry at home
Photo: Maria Korneeva / Moment / Getty Images
Amy Freeman
Written by Amy Freeman
Content Writer
Updated May 31, 2024
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Picture this—it's laundry day and your dryer won't start. Or, it runs and runs, but your clothes stay wet. At this point, you're wondering who fixes dryers and how quickly they can get to your house. Hiring a local dryer repair company to fix your broken drying machine is the best way to go.

Benefits of Hiring a Dryer Repair Service to Fix Your Dryer 

Your dryer relies on delicate sensors to operate effectively—it needs to know how hot the air is, how dry the clothes are, and so on. Should any of those sensors wear out, the machine won't work. Only a pro dryer repair person can effectively identify and fix the problem correctly.

Another reason to hire a dryer repair service to fix your machine is to ensure safety. If someone who doesn't know what they're doing tries fiddling with the parts of the dryer, there's a risk of it overheating, leading to a fire. Tinkering with a dryer's parts can also damage the machine's and your home's electrical system.

Dryer repair companies, particularly those that specialize in the brand of machine you own, are experts at locating the problem and answering the question, "why is my dryer not drying?

Depending on the age of your dryer and the complexity of the issue, replacing it with a new model may be more cost-effective. A professional dryer repair company can tell you if dryer repair or replacement is the right move.

Can I DIY Dryer Repair?

Worker repairing a tumble dryer
Photo: Tim Stocker Photography / Moment / Getty Images

If your dryer isn't heating properly or is overheating, it’s most often best to hire a professional. But there are a few circumstances where a DIY fix will work, such as basic troubleshooting. For instance, if your dryer won’t start, check:

  • If the dryer is plugged in

  • If the dryer door closes completely

  • For a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker

Your dryer may start to underperform if lint builds up. If you notice it's taking longer and longer for clothes to dry, check the lint filter and remove any buildup. The same is true of the dryer vent, which you should clean regularly for best performance. 

If you've checked the plug, the door, and the lint filter, and your dryer is still acting up, it's time to call in a pro.

Can I Hire an Electrician for Dryer Repair?

If you have an electric dryer, you may be able to work with an electrician, rather than a dryer repair company. However, while an electrician may be a pro at understanding how electricity works, they may not have the experience or knowledge required to repair a dryer. 

Before you work with an electrician, ask them if they've had previous experience fixing dryers.

How Do Dryer Repair Companies Fix Dryers?

How a dryer repair service fixes your dryer depends on the extent of the problem. Typically, the first step is to troubleshoot the appliance to see what's going on. The repair person will ask you to describe the problem, then will take a look at the dryer itself.

The repair needed depends on what's wrong. If your dryer got too hot, it may have blown its thermal fuse, which will need replacement. If your dryer is squeaking, there could be a problem with the belt or drum rollers.

Once the repair person has identified the problem, they'll recommend a repair and give you an estimate for the total dryer repair cost. From there, you can decide whether it's worth it to fix your existing dryer or purchase a new model.  

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Learn more about our contributor
Amy Freeman
Written by Amy Freeman
Content Writer
Amy is a content writer specializing in home improvement and personal finance topics. She loves helping people tackle DIY projects that beautify their spaces. Her work can also be found on Money Crashers and Coldwell Banker where she combines home improvement and money saving tips.
Amy is a content writer specializing in home improvement and personal finance topics. She loves helping people tackle DIY projects that beautify their spaces. Her work can also be found on Money Crashers and Coldwell Banker where she combines home improvement and money saving tips.
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