Testing a Thermal Cutoff on a Dryer

Disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet. Switch off the circuit breaker that controls the electrical supply to the dryer.

Remove the appropriate dryer panel to expose the heating element housing. This component is usually located behind the rear or lower front access panels. Consult your owner's manual to determine the location of the heating element in your particular dryer model.

Find the thermal cutoff mounted to the side of the heating element housing. Look for a white plastic component that is approximately 1 1/2 inches long and has two wires attached to it. The shape of the thermal cutoff component varies by brand and model; some cutoffs are rounded while others look like a thin, rectangular strip.

Pull the metal connectors at the end of each wire with a pair of needle-nose pliers to detach them from the thermal cutoff terminals.

Press the "On" or "Power" button on the digital multimeter. Set the multimeter to the RX1 setting to measure resistance.

Touch the multimeter leads to the thermal cutoff terminals. A reading of "0" indicates a functional thermal cutoff. If the thermal cutoff is tested while it is hot, a reading of "infinity" is acceptable. Replace the thermal cutoff if the multimeter delivers a reading other than "0" when at room temperature or other than "infinity" when hot.