As your dryer motor ages, wear and tear can cause it to get hotter during a cycle. Sometimes, all that extra heat can activate the thermal overload switch, which prevents a potential fire hazard and shuts off the machine. The motor may restart a few minutes later, once it's cooled down, but the problem won't disappear.
Dryer Motor
When the dryer stops after a few minutes, let it cool down for 5 minutes – if the dryer starts up again after this time, then the motor is probably defective and will need to be replaced. To replace the motor: Make sure the power is disconnected, and pull the dryer out from the wall so you can work on it.
A dryer not drying clothes may be because of a broken part or because the dryer isn't getting enough power to operate. Before you start looking at the interior of the dryer, check the plug, power cord and breakers: Make sure the dryer is securely plugged in and that there is no damage or wear to the plug or cord.
Once a dryer gets too hot, this component reacts to the increased temperature and shuts the appliance off automatically. However, if a cycling thermostat isn't functioning, it may be why a clothing dryer is overheating and shuts off.
The most common culprit is that while drying your clothing, the dryer overheated. It tripped the safety features and the dryer shut off to prevent it from starting a fire. There may be some additional bad news about this. The safety feature that stops the dryer if it gets too hot is the thermal fuse.
If your dryer starts when you hold the button, but stops immediately after, your first instinct may be to replace the button. However, more likely is that you have a faulty motor relay. This is the part that receives the signals from the button and relays it to the motor.
Appliance, “The most common explanations for a dryer not starting are a broken belt or a broken start switch or door switch.” As with most major appliances, the possible solutions range from a simple fix to a heavy-duty dryer repair that's best left to a licensed technician.
What is the average life of a dryer, you wonder? Ten years, according to Consumer Reports; however, some dryer manufacturers boast up to a 25-year lifespan. It's important to remember, though, that clothes dryer life expectancy goes hand in hand with how often the dryer is used and how well you maintain the appliance.
If your dryer won't turn on but seems to be properly connected to a power supply, check to make sure your home isn't experiencing any power outages, blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers. Before attempting a dryer cycle, make sure all fuses are intact and tight.
Thermal fuse for dryer cost
The cost to replace a thermal fuse on a dryer is $75 to $150 on average. The cost of a dryer thermal fuse is $5 to $10 for the part or up to $60 for OEM parts. This safety device stops the motor when the dryer overheats.
Your Dryer's Auto-Shutoff Kicks In
Most modern dryers come with an auto-shutoff feature. This safety measure will shut off your dryer mid-cycle if it's trapping excess heat and moisture. Trapped heat could be a sign of a blockage in the vent line.
One common cause of a dryer stopping midcycle is the machine overheats. When this happens, the dryer shuts off automatically to prevent a fire from starting.
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.
As with other appliances, the 50% Rule applies: if your appliance is over 50% of its expected lifespan of 10 to 13 years, and it costs more than 50% of its replacement cost to repair it, it may be time to think about replacement.