Tumble Dryer Door Won’t Close? Here’s why & what to do

As the weather starts to turn colder and wetter we all start to rely on our tumble dryers to get our laundry dry. This is usually the time we start to get problems like the tumble dryer door won’t close.

This can be a serious problem because the appliance will not operate unless the door is closed. If your tumble dryer door won’t close, keep reading because in this article we look at all of the reasons why the door on your tumble dryer might not close and offer ways to solve this annoying issue.

Why Won’t The Tumble Dryer Door Close?

There are several reasons why the door on your tumble dryer won’t close including;

Clothes Stuck In The Door

This is the most obvious and often most overlooked reason why the door of the tumble dryer won’t close. We all lead such busy lives which means we often don’t pay as much attention to things as we should.

This can lead to a small piece of any item protruding into the door of the tumble dryer. The remedy is as simple as removing the offending article and shutting the door.

Rubber Seal Obstructing The Door

All tumble dryers have a rubber seal to ensure the heat remains inside to dry the laundry faster. Over time, this rubber seal can become detached and cause it to prevent the door from closing properly.

You will usually need to replace the rubber seal before you can use the appliance again.

Faulty Door Latch

This is the most common cause of tumble dryer doors not closing and can also be simple to solve (in some cases). When the latch is correctly closed, a sensor tells the control board that it’s shut securely and the dryer can start.

However, if the sensor detects that the door is not shut, because the latch isn’t secured, the dryer will not start.

Sometimes all that’s needed is the area around the door latch needs cleaning to remove a buildup of lint.

However, the latch has often developed a fault and will need to be replaced. This is an easy task which just involves removing the old latch and replacing it using a screwdriver.

The secret to successfully replacing a tumble dryer’s door latch is to ensure you get the correct replacement part. You will need to know the make and model of your tumble dryer along with the model number.

The model number can be found either on the actual appliance or in the user manual.

How To Replace A Faulty Door Latch On A Tumble Dryer

There are 2 types of latch commonly fitted to tumble dryers. They either screw into place or just snap into place. 

If yours is secured by screws it’s simply a case of removing the old latch and fitting the replacement part and securing it in place using the screws.

If it’s a snap latch, you will need a putty knife or similar flat edged tool to prise the old latch out and then simply snap the new one into place.

Faulty Hinges

In some cases the reason the door won’t close is because the hinges are bent or faulty. You should start by trying to open the door. If it opens without any resistance try closing it.

This is where you might meet some resistance and if this is the case, try removing one of the screws that secure the hinge. Once the hinge has been removed, the door should now close properly. If this is the case, the hinge will need to be replaced.

Replacing the hinges on tumble dryers varies depending on the design. Some have doors that open to the side and these are the easiest to replace. All you need to do is unscrew the existing hinge and replace it with a new one and screw it back in securely.

On dryers with drop down doors, there will typically be 2 hinges and you will usually need to remove the top panel and front panel in order to access the hinges..

You can then replace the hinge(s) and reassemble the panels. 

Please Note: Before dismantling any part of your tumble dryer, you should disconnect it from the power supply first.

Damaged Door Springs

While the hinges are off, check the door springs which are attached to the hinges. These can often get stretched or even broken which could also prevent the door from closing. These should be removed and replaced if they prove to be damaged.

SEE ALSO: Heated Airer Vs Tumble Dryer: Which is really best?

Frequently Asked Questions