How to Fix a Dryer's Thermal Fuse

If you are having trouble with your dryer, it is more than likely the thermal fuse's fault. While thermal fuses can only be replaced by a professional, you may want to do some preliminary work on it yourself to determine if this is the problem, since many technicians automatically replace a thermal fuse (and charge you for it).

Things You'll Need

• Voltage meter
• Screwdriver
• Needle-nosed pliers

Instructions

1. Unplug the dryer and remove the main access panel. The thermal fuse is generally mounted to the side of the dryer underneath the main access panel. Using your flat-head screwdriver, unscrew the screws holding the panel on to the back of your dryer. Place the screws somewhere where they will be easy to find later. The thermal fuse will be located directly above the motor and be mounted to the side of the dryer.

2. Check the connections. There will be two wires that are clipped onto the thermal fuse. They need to be pulled off carefully using your needle-nose pliers. Reattach them where they were clipped before, making sure that the clips are securely fastened and that there are no gaps in between the wires and the clips. If the apparatus was shaken loose during use, then a loose connection may be the problem. If this does not solve the issue, you will probably need to replace the thermal fuse (but try Step 4 first).

3. Check the voltage. Unclip the wires and test the voltage with your voltage meter. Set the switch to read "Ohms" on the voltage meter. Take the leads of your voltage meter and touch one to each side of the thermal fuse. Since your voltage meter is set to Ohms, the reading you want to see is zero. If there is any other reading, the thermal fuse is bad and needs to be replaced.

Tips & Warnings

• Always unplug your dryer before starting to work on it.

References

• All about different thermal fuses.