How to Check a Dryer Thermostat

The thermostat on a dryer turns components on and off in the dryer according to the temperature of the dryer. When the dryer is not heating at all, or in some cases not shutting off, it is necessary to check the operation of the thermostat. To check a dryer thermostat you will need to use a volt-ohm meter to measure the ohms. Checking the thermostat will let you know whether to replace the thermostat or look at other heating components as the source of the problem.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips screwdriver
• Putty knife
• Masking tape
• Pencil
• Needle nose pliers
• Volt-ohm meter

Instructions

1. Unplug the power cord of the dryer from the wall outlet. The dryer thermostat will be near the heating element and blower housing on most dryers. Look at the front of your dryer to see if your model has a two-panel front. The lower panel is the toe panel and the thermostat will be behind the toe panel. A solid front dryer will most often have the heating element behind the rear panel. Refer to the owner's manual on your dryer for the exact location of the heating element.

2. Remove the rear panel of the dryer using a Phillips screwdriver if your heating element is behind the rear panel. For models with a toe panel, insert a putty knife between the bottom of the front panel and the top of the toe panel. There is a retaining clip 3 inches from the front right corner of most dryer. Press the retaining clip in with the blade of the putty knife and pull the toe panel away from the dryer.

3. Locate the thermostat for your dryer. The thermostat is a small oval or disc shaped piece with two wires connecting to it. Most often the thermostat will mount to the blower housing or beside the heating element housing. Some Maytag models will have the thermostat under the lint filter area.

4. Wrap a small piece of tape around each wire connecting to the thermostat. Write on the tape the location of the wire on the thermostat with a pencil. Doing this will ensure that you place the wires back onto the proper terminals when reinstalling.

5. Grab the wire leads with a pair of needle nose pliers. Pull the wire leads off of the thermostat terminals and bend the wires out of the way. Inspect the wires for any bare spots or breaks that could cause the thermostat not to function properly.

6. Set the scale on the volt-ohm meter to the RX1 setting to test the ohm resistance of the thermostat. Touch one probe of the volt-ohm meter to one terminal on the thermostat and touch the other probe to the remaining terminal on the thermostat. The reading on the volt-ohm meter scale should be zero. Any other reading on the scale indicates a faulty thermostat.

Tips & Warnings

• Always disconnect appliances from their power source before attempting repairs.

References

• Partsselect.com - Testing A Dryer Thermostat
• Applianceaid.com - Thermostat Theory Of Operation