Once the heat reaches a certain level, the thermostat will interrupt the electrical connection so the air will cool down. If the thermostat is malfunctioning, the machine can overheat and trip the thermal fuse. Once this occurs, the dryer will not start.
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.
A defective drive motor may be the culprit.
The motor can overheat from lint buildup, or sometimes small items can get inside and cause a blockage. If the dryer makes sound but won't start, there is probably an issue with the drive motor.
It's important to check the ductwork of your dryer periodically so that obstructions can be removed. It's imperative to clean the lint trap after each use. If the blower on your dryer malfunctions, it will disrupt the flow of air. The dryer will run too hot until the blower wheel is repaired or replaced.
How Do You Know if the Dryer is Too Hot? The tell-tale sign that your dryer is too hot is damage to your clothes. If you pull your clothes out of the dryer and notice that there are burn marks on them, your dryer is running far too hot. If your dryer is hot to the touch, that may be another sign of too much heat.
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.
A dryer in good working condition shouldn't emit strange smells. If your dryer smells like it's burning, stop using it right away—you've got a fire hazard on your hands!
A dryer vent clogged with lint or other obstructions will force the dryer to work harder, causing the unit to overheat. When too much heat builds up in your dryer, lint or debris in the dryer vent line can ignite, resulting in a dryer fire. The overheat shutoff is the dryer's last attempt to prevent a fire.
The most common reason for a dryer to start and then stop a few minutes later is an overheating dryer motor.
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.
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.
Most dryer problems require a technician, but a few can be fixed on your own. For instance, if you notice your dryer's performance is lagging and clothes take longer to dry, check to make sure there's no lint buildup.
Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.
Electric Dryer Stops and Starts
Try disconnecting the vent hose from the back of the machine and then running the dryer with nothing inside for a few minutes—if it continues to run fine, the problem is likely to be that the hose is clogged with lint or is kinked or being blocked in some other way.
Broken door switch
If your dryer doesn't stop running when you open the door, this component may be the problem. First, inspect the door switch for any physical damage. If it appears broken, it will need to be replaced. If no damage is apparent, the problem could also be electrical.
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.
As the air cools, the control activates the heat to come on again. This off and on cycling may happen a number of times (depending on the fabric, load size, and cycle selector setting). The cycle selector advances (when the heat is off) until it automatically turns off dryer.
However,there is a far more important reason to allow your dryer to run the cool down part of the cycle. While the dryer is turning and the fan is blowing, it runs air over the heating element, but if you stop the dryer before cooling down, the heating element stays hot and has to cool down itself over time.
Clothes dryer fires are more common than you might think. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that dryers and washing machines cause an average of 15,970 fires each year, with dryers causing 92% of them and an average of $200 million in property damage.
The most common cause of a burning smell coming from your dryer is when the lint filter gets clogged. This not only causes a burning smell, but it's also extremely dangerous, as it can start a fire. Most manufacturers recommend that you clean the filter out after every use to avoid this from happening.
If there is a small fire, put it out using a dry chemical fire extinguisher. You should keep one of these in the washer/dryer room for emergencies. You should also store a fire blanket in the room. Use it to smother fires.
The first and main, reason a dryer shuts off after a few minutes is an overheating dryer motor. When this occurs, you might need to replace it – especially if you can hear a loud, buzzing noise emanating from the motor.
Don't stop the dryer mid cycle. It is possible that heat can continue to build in the drum and lead the clothes to ignite.
Lint is the leading cause of dryer fires. It's highly flammable, and it's everywhere. Lint naturally accumulates in your dryer and dryer exhaust system. This buildup makes the dryer work harder for each load and the lint can work its way into the heating element, which is bad news.