There are many things that could be the culprit for why your dryer won't start, including a bad thermal fuse; a failed start switch or door switch; a bad drive motor (what makes the dryer's drum turn and the blower wheel to work); a broken drive belt; a bad timer; a bad belt switch; a blown control board; or overall ...
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.
If the dryer still doesn't start, there are several possible reasons, from a door switch that's not recognizing that the door is closed to a failure in the main electronic control board. A broken power cord, failed push-to-start switch or a bad timer can also prevent the dryer from starting.
A thermal fuse will blow when the temperature gets too high, not when it's drawing too much current. When it blows, the dryer stops generating heat. It's necessary to replace it before the dryer will run again. The thermal fuse is different from the thermal cutoff.
This safety device protects the appliance from overheating and potentially damaging the motor or other sensitive components. 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.
If your dryer just clicks and will not start, a blown thermal fuse is often the problem. The thermal fuse is a safety device designed to stop the dryer from catching fire. The thermal fuse is tripped if the temperature in the dryer becomes too hot.
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.
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.
Usually when the dryer stops in the middle of the cycle, it should be an event meant with suspicion, as ignoring it could be dangerous. 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.
A clothes dryer not working can be caused by several problems. If the dryer won't start but has power or suddenly stopped working, it may be an electrical issue. On the other hand, if the dryer stops running mid cycle, this could be a mechanical issue.
The most common include a clogged dryer vent, tripped circuit breaker or unsteady gas flow if it's a gas dryer. The heating element also could be broken or it could also have a faulty thermal fuse.
Common reasons a dryer won't turn on
Appliance is set to “Controls Locked” Tripped circuit breaker. Start button wasn't held down long enough. Dryer door not fully latched.
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.
Most residential dryers require a 30-amp circuit breaker.
Most dryers have a sticker or metal faceplate near the bottom of the unit that displays this information.
A blown thermal fuse often prevents an electric dryer from starting. You'll find the thermal fuse on the blower housing. Unplug the dryer and check the thermal fuse for continuity. Replace the thermal fuse if the multimeter measures no continuity.
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.