Are all dryer thermal fuses the same? All dryers sold in the United States are legally required to have a thermal fuse. This is different from the electrical fuses that are found in many appliances, and a dryer might have both. A thermal fuse will blow when the temperature gets too high, not when it's drawing too much current.
Full Answer
How to troubleshoot and replace a thermal fuse?
What you need:
- Performance Tool Star Key Set I like this set because the T-Handle gives you more leverage when taking out a star screw that may be very tight. ...
- Innova 3320 Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter You’ll need a good multimeter to test the thermal fuse for resistance
- Whirlpool Thermal fuse W10402110 Your replacement fuse
What is a thermal fuse and how does it work?
What is a thermal fuse and how does it work? What is a thermal fuse? According to SWE, a thermal fuse is a component that serves as a safety device. It is also known as a thermal cutoff. It opens circuits to prevent overheating. Thermal fuses are designed to detect heat that arises from an overcurrent that occurs within an electrical system.
Where is the heating fuse on a dryer?
Where Should You Look for the Thermal Fuse?
- Make Sure the Dryer Has Power. Before you do anything else, make sure that the clothes dryer has power. ...
- Unplug the Clothes Dryer. Unplugging is the most important step you can perform to locate your clothes dryer’s thermal fuse safely.
- Remove the Back Panel of the Clothes Dryer. ...
- Examine the Clothes Dryer Interior. ...
How to replace a whirlpool gas dryer thermal fuse?
- STEP # 4a – Take a Sharpie pen and trace around the foam circle;
- STEP # 4b – Using a metal 2″ putty knife, carefully scrape off the foam;
- STEP # 4c – Use Windex and paper towel to clean off any glue residue (try not to erase the mark);
- STEP # 4d – Use wet wipes to clean off all residue & let it dry for few min;
Are thermal fuses for dryers universal?
Thermal fuse WP3392519 shuts off the burner in a gas dryer or the motor in an electric dryer when the dryer overheats. A universal part, widely used in dryers of various brands: Whirlpool, Maytag, Kenmore, Crosley, Amana, Admiral, Estate, Roper, etc. Different from Thermostat, the Fuse is not resettable.
Do all dryers use the same thermal fuse?
All dryers sold in the United States are legally required to have a thermal fuse. This is different from the electrical fuses that are found in many appliances, and a dryer might have both. A thermal fuse will blow when the temperature gets too high, not when it's drawing too much current.
Will any thermal fuse work on a dryer?
A thermal fuse is a small device - just an inch or two long - that plays a critical role in preventing fires. Federal law mandates the inclusion of a thermal fuse on all dryers manufactured since the 1980s. A thermal fuse operates if dryer exhaust temperatures climb too high.
How do I know which thermal fuse for my dryer?
0:062:10Dryer Not Heating? Thermal Fuse Testing, Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf the fuse has continuity. It should be functioning properly. No continuity means the electricalMoreIf the fuse has continuity. It should be functioning properly. No continuity means the electrical path is broken and the fuse has blown out thermal fuses come in many shapes and sizes.
Is it safe to run a dryer without a thermal fuse?
Operating a dryer with a bypassed thermal fuse is both unnecessary and unsafe, so a bypass should only be done long enough to troubleshoot a potential problem. Even short usage without a thermal fuse in place could result in irreparable damage to the appliance or injury to yourself.
Will a dryer turn on if the thermal fuse is blown?
Will the dryer run if the thermal fuse is blown? Unlike a thermostat that can reset itself, once a dryer thermal fuse blows, it will need to be replaced with a new one before the dryer will run.
How can you tell if a thermal fuse is bad?
To test if your thermal fuse has blown, touch the right side of your multimeter lead to the right side of the fuse, and repeat with the left multimeter lead. If the multimeter needle fails to move, this indicates the thermal fuse has blown.
How do I reset my thermal fuse?
2:524:55Reset Dryer Thermal Fuse / Switch (Dryer won't heat fix) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you have this issue and you keep spot or you trip this you may want to try drilling this. AndMoreSo if you have this issue and you keep spot or you trip this you may want to try drilling this. And then you got a little bit of pressure. And it resets. It. So if you're testing your dryer.
How much does it cost to replace a dryer thermal fuse?
Other Costs to Fix a DryerPartMaterial CostTotal CostThermal fuse$5 - $10$80 - $130Dryer thermostat$3 - $20$180Bearing$50$130 - $250Roller$10 - $30$90 - $2301 more row
How do you tell if a thermal fuse is blown without a multimeter?
Testing By Bypassing The Fuse If you do not have a multimeter, you can also test whether or not the fuse is working by bypassing the fuse itself. Simply detach the wires from the fuse, wire them together using a jumper wire and attempt to operate the dryer.
How many thermal fuses does a dryer have?
Electric dryers use two household fuses or circuit breakers. The drum can still turn if just one fuse is blown, but there will be no heat. You may need to replace both fuses or reset both circuit breakers. If the dryer's thermal fuse has blown due to a power surge or other mechanical problem, the dryer won't heat.
Why does my tumble dryer keep blowing fuses?
Your tumble dryer causing a fuse to blow or an RDC to trip suggests there is either an issue with the power socket or the appliance itself. Firstly, we would recommend checking that the appliance is connected correctly. Ensure that a washing machine and a tumble dryer are not connected on the same fuse circuit.
What is thermal fuses?
Thermal fuses, or thermal cutoffs, are small electrical temperature sensitive ‘switches’ designed to interrupt electrical current flow when heated to their specific rated 'trip' temperature. Unlike a thermostat, which automatically resets itself when the temperature drops, thermal fuses are more like their cousins, electrical fuses, ...
Where is the thermal back on a can?
The thermal’s furthest back on the can, behind the safety tstat. Easy to get to: use a putty knife in its top edge to release the bottom front panel, and swing the panel down. It’s easiest to remove the heat shield over the front of the element to get a little extra room to work.
Where is the thermal fuse on a gas dryer?
On gas models, the thermal fuse can be found on the blower housing or near the burner. To reach the fuse on some dryers, you can simply uninstall the appliance’s rear panel or a lower front access panel. However, many dryers will require you to fully disassemble the appliance, removing the top panel (and, possibly, a control panel as well), ...
What happens when a dryer overheats?
If your gas or electric dryer begins to overheat, the thermal fuse is designed to open, or “blow”, interrupting the voltage and preventing power from reaching the motor and heating components.
Why won't my dryer start?
While a blown thermal fuse is the most common reason a dryer won’t start, run, or heat, you should remove the fuse from the appliance and test it to determine if it has blown or not before purchasing a new one. On electric dryers, the thermal fuse is often located on the blower housing or near the heating element.
Do you have to disassemble a dryer?
However, many dryers will require you to fully disassemble the appliance, removing the top panel (and, possibly, a control panel as well), a front panel, a front bulkhead, and the dryer’s drum before you can access the fuse. That’s the hard part.
Why is my dryer blowing a thermal fuse?
Reconnect the dryer to its power source. The most common cause of a blown thermal fuse is a blocked exhaust vent. Clean the exhaust vent to prevent the thermal fuse from blowing again very quickly.
Where is the thermal fuse located?
The thermal fuse is just 1 or 2 inches long and should be located on the exhaust duct , but the location of the exhaust duct itself may differ depending on your model. Once you have located it, you’re ready to figure out whether it may have blown.
How to check if a thermal fuse is blown?
You may now know where to find your thermal fuse, but how can you tell if a thermal fuse has blown? These simple steps summarize the process below: 1 Unplug your dryer and ensure it is no longer connected to the gas or electric. 2 Locate the thermal fuse, as above. 3 Disconnect the thermal fuse from the wires. 4 Test the fuse with a multimeter. 5 If the needle on your multimeter does not move, your thermal fuse is blow.
What happens if the needle on a multimeter does not move?
If the needle on your multimeter does not move, your thermal fuse is blow. Once you understand how to tell if a thermal fuse is blown, you can move onto the next step: thermal fuse replacement.
Can you replace a thermal fuse on a dryer?
A thermal fuse is a one-time use component, but luckily, they are inexpensive and easy to replace. Remember, as the thermal fuse is a safety component, do not use the dryer again until you have replaced it.
Signs That Your Thermal Fuse May Have Blown
In many cases, if your dryer has a malfunctioning thermal fuse, the dryer will not turn on at all. However, with some other dryers’ models, the drum will turn and the dryer will operate, but the heating element will not turn on to heat up the clothing inside the dryer.
Troubleshooting and Testing
As you know, the thermal fuse is a safety component focused on preventing fires. It’s found in dryers as well as a selection of other modern appliances that create heat. The thermal fuse ensures the dryer doesn’t get too hot by stopping the electricity flow before it can reach the heating elements.
Trying a Bypass Method to Check on the Fuse
One of the options for testing the thermal fuse to see if it has burned out is by bypassing the device temporarily. The only issue with this method is that you might find yourself tempted to operate the dryer while in this mode.
Performing a Multimeter Test
What you’re looking for is a one-inch piece of plastic that has two wires attached to it. You can disconnect the cables on the thermal fuse by pulling on them gently. As with testing other electrical parts for continuity, a multimeter can be used for testing once the fuse is disconnected.
How to Replace a Dryer Thermal Fuse
Before you get started with the process of replacing the thermal fuse on your clothes dryer, you’ll want to be sure you have all the tools and parts that you need. So, get out your toolbox and make sure you have the following items:
What is a Dryer Thermal Fuse?
Thermal fuses are used in your home appliances and for industrial purposes. The most basic version of the part encloses an internal sensor that has a preset to the highest temperature that is acceptable for the appliance to reach.
Thermal Fuses in Clothes Dryers
All of the modern clothes dryers on the market come with a safety component called a thermal fuse. This shouldn’t be confused with the cycling thermostat. The thermal fuse is a component with a single job – preventing overheating, which can cause fires.
Why does my dryer blow a fuse?
Here Is Why Dryer Keeps Blowing Thermal Fuse. Dryers have many parts that can go bad. Two such part are the thermal (limit) fuse and the thermal cutoff. In past years, house fires were commonly caused by failed dryers. However, thanks to these components, this is a thing of the past, as both parts work to prevent fires.
What is the thermal fuse wrapped in?
The Thermal Fuse is Wrapped with Lint. Lint can bypass the trap sometimes, and end up in the wrong places inside your dryer. Once such place it can end up is wrapped around the thermal fuse inside the blower wheel. When this occurs, it will cause the fuse to overheat and blow due to heat build-up.
Why does my dryer keep tripping?
Dryer Hose or Vent Line Clogged. When dryer hoses or vent lines become clogged it prevents proper air circulation, which will eventually cause your dryer to overheat. This is the most common reason a thermal cutoff fuse keeps tripping. You need to remove the vent line from the back of your dryer and clean it out.
Why does my blower fuse overheat?
When this occurs, it will cause the fuse to overheat and blow due to heat build-up. If this is the issue, you’ll need to access the blower wheel and clean all lint and other debris from around it. Then you will need to locate and replace the thermal fuse.
Why does my dryer have a heating element grounded?
Heating Element Grounded. When the coils in the heating element expanding, they can touch metal casing and it can cause the heating element to become grounded. When this occurs it will cause your dryer’s heating element to remain “ON” constantly, even during the fluff or AIR ONLY cycle.
Can a dryer go bad?
Dryers have many parts that can go bad. Two such part are the thermal (limit) fuse and the thermal cutoff. In past years, house fires were commonly caused by failed dryers. However, thanks to these components, this is a thing of the past, as both parts work to prevent fires. Let’s take a look at some common issues with both the thermal fuse on ...
Check Thermal Fuse On Blower Wheel
The Dryer’s Thermal Cutoff is designed to trip on high heat to protect the dryer and your clothes. The thermal fuse can be checked by using a multimeter set on ohms (Ω). Measure the continuity of the thermal fuse between the two terminals. If no continuity exists, then replace the thermal fuse. Check all wires for looseness at ends and terminals.
Control Board Relay Is Not Working
In many modern dryers, the thermal fuse is a safety device that cuts power to the heating element if it detects high heat. In some cases, however, a thermal fuse can be tripped by a bad relay. In this case, the relay may be stuck in “ON” position and fail to receive commands from the thermostat.
Remove all Lint Around Thermal Fuse
As lint is collected, it can easily bypass the lint trap and end up in areas such as the dryer vent. While this can be quite common, our products are designed to protect against such mishaps — particularly through use of thermal fuses and other safety measures.
Dryer Thermal Cutoff Fuse Keeps Tripping
The thermal cutoff is located at the base of the dryer and it works to cut off the flow of energy should that dryer overheats. It also serves to monitor the temperature of the dryer so you can ensure it’s heating up at an appropriate rate.
Clogged Dryer Vent
When your dryer’s heating unit overheats, it can cause a thermal cutoff fuse to trip. This happens when lint builds up in your dryer’s ventilation duct, preventing proper circulation of air. To get your dryer back in working order, check the back of the dryer to remove any clogs or lint buildup.
Check If Heating Element is Grounded
If the coils in your dryer’s heating element touch the casing, it can cause the heating element to become grounded. Grounded coils can keep your dryer’s heat engaged even during air-only or fluff cycles, causing the machine to work harder than is necessary and damaging your clothing over time.