Dryer Motor Replacement Cost
Loud humming then a click and nothing, a dryer that only starts with a spin of the drum by hand, a burning electrical smell, or mid cycle thermal shutdowns that worsen over weeks. The drive motor is the priciest common dryer part, and the most worth confirming before buying.
Dryer Motor Replacement Cost runs $250 to $450 for a pro repair in Arizona, parts and labor included.
- Parts $120 to $280, labor $130 to $220, about 1.5 to 2.5 hours on site.
- Priciest fix is the motor bearings/bushings worn, up to $450.
- 1 of 3 common causes are DIY friendly. Difficulty is pro.
- The dryer decision point.
Averages for independent repair companies. The service call fee of $75 to $150 is usually applied toward the repair. Costs vary by brand, model, and city.
What causes it, and what each fix costs
Motor bearings/bushings worn
The gradual death. Growling noise, hot smell, thermal trips. Eventually it hums and won’t start.
Centrifugal start switch failed
Part of the motor on most designs, hum no start with a good belt usually means this, and it comes with the new motor.
Seized blower or drum jamming the motor
The impostor. A jammed blower wheel or a sock behind the drum stalls a healthy motor. Always checked first.
Repair or replace?
The dryer decision point. On a quality or newer machine, repair. On a $450-new budget dryer at year 12, a $350 motor job says replace. Everything cheaper than the motor is always worth fixing.
Sources
Where the safety, regulatory and warranty claims on this page come from. Repair costs are our own figures based on Arizona market rates and OEM parts pricing.
- Home Fires Involving Clothes Dryers and Washing Machines National Fire Protection Association Dryer fire incidence, and failure to clean as the leading contributing factor.
We'll quote you on hauling it away, or buying it.
Not every dryer is worth repairing, and we'd rather tell you that than sell you a repair. If you're replacing it, we'll give you a free quote either way. Scrap pickup for a machine that's finished, or a cash offer if it still has life in it. Working units, recent models and premium brands are often worth real money.
Quick Questions
The motor hums but the drum spins freely by hand, motor?
Likely yes (start switch inside the motor), after ruling out a jammed blower wheel, a tech spins the blower directly to check.
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