
- Unplug your dryer and ensure it is no longer connected to the gas or electric.
- Locate the thermal fuse, as above.
- Disconnect the thermal fuse from the wires.
- Test the fuse with a multimeter.
- If the needle on your multimeter does not move, your thermal fuse is blow.
How to check a dryer thermistor?
You will find basic parts of this component:
- two metal leads carrying a signal in and out
- a metal oxide wafer
- a protective outer sheath which is made out of resin or glass
How do you replace a thermal fuse on a dryer?
- Unplug the garments dryer’s energy wire from the wall outlet.
- Swing the entrance panel out in direction of you to be able to look into the compartment.
- Purpose a flashlight on the flat-can-like part to find the blown thermal fuse.
How to check a thermostat in a dryer?
Steps Download Article
- Turn off the electrical power to your dryer. Unplug the appliance from the wall, or cut the circuit to the dryer at the main fuse or breaker box.
- Access the dryer's rear panel. Pull the dryer from the wall and locate the rear access panel. ...
- Locate the thermostat. ...
- Detach the thermostat wires. ...
- Measure the thermostat's ohms. ...
How do I check the thermostat on my Kenmore dryer?
Why is my Kenmore dryer not heating?
- Burned or broken thermal fuse: Thermal fuses on some models have been burned. ...
- The thermostat is not set correctly: There might not be heat coming from the dryer if the thermostat is not correctly set. ...
- An obstructed vent: The vents, ductwork, and holes in your floor will be obstructed by grease and lint if they are clogged.

How do I know if my thermal fuse is broken?
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 test a thermal fuse with a multimeter?
0:050:45How to check a faulty thermal fuse using a multimeter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's necessary to perform a continuity test on it using a multimeter as the thermal fuse willMoreIt's necessary to perform a continuity test on it using a multimeter as the thermal fuse will display no visual indicators of its fault. I've set up and calibrated.
How do you test a thermal fuse without a multimeter?
0:305:14How to test a fuse without multimeter!! #fuse ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe're gonna test it with a voltmeter first. And i was gonna make this video earlier with just with aMoreWe're gonna test it with a voltmeter first. And i was gonna make this video earlier with just with a voltmeter then i realized that of course not everybody's gonna have a volt meter at their house.
Will the dryer run 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 do you test a thermal fuse with a voltage tester?
1:152:16Dryer Not Heating? Thermal Fuse Testing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse a probe to touch one of the fuse's terminals. And the second probe to touch the other terminal.MoreUse a probe to touch one of the fuse's terminals. And the second probe to touch the other terminal. If the meter reading shows zero ohms of resistance.
What should a dryer thermal fuse read on a multimeter?
Set your multimeter to the R X 1 setting. Take each of your meter's probes and touch one to each terminal. You are testing for continuity, and you should receive a reading of either zero or infinity. At room temperature, testing the thermal fuse should produce a reading of zero.
How do you tell if a fuse is good or bad?
Place one of the multimeter leads on one end of the fuse. Place the other lead on the other end of the fuse. If the reading is between 0 and 5 Ω (Ohms), the fuse is good. A higher reading indicates a bad or degraded fuse.
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.
What do you do if your dryer isn't heating up?
The dryer vent, lint trap, and/or lint screen is suffocating the heating element. When the heating element is blocked, it overheats and shuts down the thermostat. To fix this, clean off the lint screen, and use a vacuum to clean out the lint trap. Then remove the vent hose from the back of the dryer and shake it out.
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.
How much does it cost to replace a thermal fuse in a dryer?
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 I know if my thermal switch is working?
Watch the needle on the digital multimeter display to determine if your thermal overload switch needs to be replaced. A functional thermal overload switch will cause the needle to move to "0". If your thermal overload switch is faulty, the needle on the digital multimeter will not move at all.
What will be the condition of the thermal fuse if the ohmmeter reads infinity?
When testing a fuse, touch the end of each ohmmeter cable to the opposite ends of the fuse. A reading between 0 and 2 indicates continuity—the circuit is good/complete. If you read infinity (∞) or OL (open line) the circuit is bad.
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.
Do thermal fuses have polarity?
Short: No. Thermal fuses are not polarised.
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.
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), ...
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.
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.
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.
How to test a dryer thermal fuse?
Testing a dryer's thermal fuse is much like testing its thermostats. Follow these steps to replace your dryer's thermal fuse. The wires leading to the thermal fuse are connected using metal slip on connectors. Remove the wires by pulling on the connectors, and not the wires themselves. It may be a good idea to use a pair ...
Can you test a thermal fuse at room temperature?
But if a thermal fuse is tested when it is heated to its limit, a reading of infinity should be produced. We strongly recommend that you test your thermal fuse at room temperature. If the test you conduct with your thermal fuse does not produce these results, ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why does my dryer have a thermal fuse?
Typically, when thermal fuses in dryers fail, it’s due to lint building up in the exhaust venting, causing the dryer to overheat. This is the classic reason why it’s crucial that you take a vent brush and clean out your vent at least once a year.
How to check if a thermal fuse is removed?
When your thermal fuse is removed, you will need to check to see if there is a continuous electrical path that is present. To do that, turn your multimeter to the lowest setting, which is Ohms of resistance. Apply the leads to the terminals. Now, take the black lead and touch it to one of the terminals on the fuse.
What happens when a dryer blows a thermal fuse?
When your dryer’s thermal fuse blows, then your dryer will stop generating the heat needed to dry your clothing. Generally, this happens right away. If your dryer is slowly losing heat, this would be a sign of your heating element going bad, not your thermal fuse.
What to do if your thermal fuse is not producing heat?
If it’s not producing heat, you need to remove the thermal fuse and test it with a multimeter. If the multimeter has no significant change in readings, then this means your thermal fuse has blown and needs to be replaced. The thermal fuse is a safety device that’s necessary for keeping your appliance safe. But this fuse can malfunction and blow.
What is thermal fuse?
A thermal fuse is a component included in many of your heat-producing appliances that allows your unit to open your circuit if your machine is overheating. Think of it as a type of safety device. The fuse can help detect heat due to a component breakdown or a short circuit.
How long to run a thermal fuse?
Run it on the heat setting for 10 minutes, then check inside. If you feel heat, this means you’ve successfully fixed the issue. If not, you may need to check to make sure you’ve attached the thermal fuse correctly, or maybe enlist the help of a professional.
What is the heating element in a dryer?
The heating element is a piece that’s within your dryer that’s made up of several coils protected by an aluminum or metal casing. This is where the heat in your dryer comes from when it’s running your laundry.
What does a dryer thermal fuse do?
Each Dryer consists of a component called the Dryer Thermal Fuse which is a 2 x ½ inch plastic-made safety mechanism that is used to prevent a heater from overheating.
Can I bypass my dryer thermal fuse?
While it is possible to bypass the dryer thermal fuse in a dryer, one should note that bypassing the thermal fuse is both unsafe and dangerous. So it is strictly recommended to not bypass your dryer thermal fuse. However, you can temporarily bypass the fuse until its replacement is installed.
What happens if you bypass the thermal fuse on a dryer?
A thermal fuse is included in the dryer to ensure the safety of the dryer as well as your house. Therefore, bypassing it is not a wise modification to make because a few of the following might take place if a high current passes through a dryer with bypassed thermal fuse:
Will the dryer light work if the thermal fuse is blown?
Many dryers are manufactured with their thermal fuse connected to the main power line of the dryer and for those dryers, if the thermal fuse is blown then there will be no power supplied to the dryer at all. Thus the dryer light will not light up nor will any of the modes of dryer activate.
How to check if a thermal fuse is blown?
If your dryer suddenly stopped working, you should not panic and rush to contact a mechanic because the problem might not be severe or as deep as you suspect.
How to bypass the thermal fuse on the dryer?
Follow the following steps to temporarily bypass the thermal fuse on the dryer:
How do you replace a thermal fuse on a dryer?
Remove the old thermal fuse by unhooking the connected wire, unscrewing the old thermal fuse, and taking it off the dryer body.
