How to Disconnect the Wires From a Thermostat on a Clothes Dryer

If your dryer is running but the air inside fails to get hot, there are a number of problems that could be the culprit. However, one of the most common causes for this inconvenience is a bad thermostat. Changing a thermostat on a dryer is not that difficult, and by doing it yourself, you can save quite a bit of money that you would normally be paying a repairman. The most difficult part of this project is making sure you disconnect the wires correctly.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdrivers
• Needle-nose pliers

1. Unplug the dryer power cord from the wall outlet or turn off the circuit breaker that delivers power to the appliance.

2. Remove the front access panel and locate the thermostats. Most dryers have two regular thermostats, an operating thermostat and a high-limit thermostat, and they usually are grouped together. The operational thermostat resembles a small silver disc. It usually is found either on the exhaust fan housing, under the lint filter or on the fan blower. There is also a safety thermostat that is located on the heating element housing.

3. Remove the two screws that secure the thermostat to the dryer's chassis.

4. Pull the thermostat out. Depending on the type of thermostat, it might have either two or three wires attached to it.

5. Make a note with a pen and paper as to where each wire gets connected on the thermostat so you can re-connect the wires correctly later on.

6. Using the needle-nose pliers or a multi-function tool, grasp the connector and slide it off the terminal. Do not pull on the wire, because it might fall out of the connector. Grasp only the connector when disconnecting the wires.

7. Repeat Step 6 for the remaining wires connected to the thermostat.