Dryer Drum Not Turning? Here’s What’s Really Wrong and How to Fix It

When your dryer drum not turning, a common mechanical failure in household and commercial dryers where the drum stops rotating during the cycle. Also known as dryer drum seizure, it’s one of the most frustrating issues for laundromats, hotels, and busy households—it doesn’t just stop clothes from drying, it can signal deeper damage. The drum is supposed to spin slowly and steadily, tumbling clothes against heated air. If it’s stuck, you’re not just dealing with a broken part—you’re risking your motor, belt, or even the whole unit.

This problem usually comes down to three things: a broken dryer belt, a rubber loop that connects the motor to the drum, responsible for spinning it, a worn-out dryer motor, the electric engine that powers the drum rotation, or a jammed dryer roller, small wheels that support the drum’s weight and let it spin smoothly. Most of the time, it’s the belt. They snap from age, heat, or overloading. You can often hear a loud squeal or thump right before it stops. The motor? That’s rarer. If the belt’s fine and the drum won’t budge even when you try to turn it by hand, the motor or drum bearings might be dead.

Here’s the thing—people try to force it. They keep running the dryer hoping it’ll start spinning again. That’s how you burn out the motor. If the drum won’t turn, stop using it. Unplug it. Check the belt first—it’s cheap, easy to replace, and you don’t need to be a technician. Most commercial dryers use the same belt types, and replacements are under $30. If the belt’s intact, check the rollers. If they’re cracked or wobbly, they’ll drag the drum. A bad roller feels gritty when you spin it by hand. If the motor hums but the drum doesn’t move, that’s a sign the motor’s trying but can’t overcome the resistance—probably because something’s seized up.

Commercial dryers in Birmingham get heavy use—10, 15 loads a day, every day. That wears parts out faster than home units. A belt that lasts five years in a house might only last two in a laundromat. That’s why so many businesses end up with a dryer that won’t turn: they wait too long to check the simple stuff. You don’t need to replace the whole machine. You just need to know what to look for before the problem gets expensive.

Below, you’ll find real-world fixes from technicians who’ve dealt with hundreds of these cases. No fluff. No theory. Just what actually works when the drum stops spinning—and how to tell if you’re looking at a $40 fix or a $400 one.