Official Roper dryer parts

How to fix your Roper dryer when it won't start

You push the start button—and nothing happens. First, make sure the door is shut tight. If your Roper dryer still doesn't start, there are several possible reasons, from a door switch that's not recognizing that the door is closed to a failure in the timer. A broken power cord or failed push-to-start switch can also prevent the dryer from starting.

If you hear the drive motor running but the drum doesn’t turn, you likely need to replace the drive belt. Some Roper dryers use a belt switch to keep the drive motor from running so you might not hear the motor run when the drive belt breaks. A failed drive motor will also prevent the dryer from starting.

In electric Roper dryers, a blown thermal fuse can keep the dryer from starting. Follow the tips in this electric dryer troubleshooting video to figure out why your electric dryer won’t start.

Although a blown thermal fuse won’t prevent gas Roper dryers from starting, all of the other failures mentioned above will prevent the motor from running. Watch our gas dryer troubleshooting video for tips to get your Roper gas dryer going again.

Common Roper parts that sometimes need to be replaced

• Door switch. The dryer door switch recognizes whether the door is open or closed. The dryer won't start unless the door switch senses that the dryer door is closed. The door switch also turns on and off the drum light on models with an interior light.
• Drive belt. The drive belt wraps around the dryer drum and connects to the drive motor pulley and the idler pulley. The idler pulley maintains the proper tension on the belt. The drive motor rotates the drive pulley, which in turn rotates the dryer drum.
• Timer. The timer on the control panel enables you to set the drying time by turning the timer's control knob. A small motor on the back of the timer advances the timer during the cycle. The timer's internal cams open and close switches or contacts to operate the various electro-mechanical components in the dryer (mainly the drive motor and the heating element).
• Thermal fuse. The thermal fuse is usually mounted on the blower fan housing. It detects the temperature of the air venting from the dryer to the outdoors and trips if the air becomes too hot. In an electric dryer, the thermal fuse shuts off the dryer when it trips. In a gas dryer, it prevents the dryer from heating. The thermal fuse typically trips if the vent tube is clogged or the exterior damper is stuck shut.
• Operating thermostat. The operating thermostat—also called the cycling thermostat—senses the air temperature inside the dryer drum. It cycles the heating element in an electric dryer and the burner is a gas dryer, turning the heat on and off to maintain the temperature at about 150 degrees Fahrenheit for the Normal setting.

When you're unable to complete a dryer repair on your own and you’re searching for dryer appliance repair near me to resolve a failure, trust Sears Home Services to fix the issue.