The Cycle Knob on My Whirlpool Electric Dryer Is Not Moving

Power Cord or Electrical Socket

• Confirm that your Whirlpool dryer’s power cord is plugged in to a 240-volt electrical socket, and that the cord’s connections are secure. A 140-volt socket won’t be able to supply your dryer with the voltage it needs to run. Upgrade the socket if needed. Also, inspect the power cord for wear. Replace the cord if its wires are twisted or exposed. Sometimes a worn cord can impede a dryer’s performance and cause its cycle knob to stop moving.

Circuit Breakers or Fuses

• Test your Whirlpool dryer’s electrical socket with a lamp. Unplug the dryer and insert the lamp’s plug. If the lamp won’t turn on, the circuit breaker or fuse might have tripped or blown. Certain Whirlpool electric dryers have circuitry supported by two breakers, and others have two fuses. Locate your circuit box or fuse panel. Ensure that both of the dryer’s breakers are in the “On” position, and reset them if needed to restore power to your dryer’s electrical socket. Assess each of the dryer’s fuses. If either one is gray, its bad and must be replaced.

Door Switch

• From time to time a Whirlpool dryer’s door switch can break and jeopardize the performance of the dryer’s controls, including the cycle knob. If the door switch malfunctions, the cycle knob won’t move and the start button won’t turn on your dryer. Open the dryer door and push the door switch; it’s usually located on the interior frame. The switch should make a tick or click sound each time you push it. If you don’t hear it make any noise, the switch is bad and you need to change it.

Cycling Thermostat

• If your dryer starts, but the cycle knob doesn’t advance through a drying cycle, the cycling thermostat might be faulty. A Whirlpool electric dryer has a cycling thermostat for each heat setting. Once your dryer reaches a certain temperature, the cycling thermostat directs the heater to cycle off and tells the cycle knob to begin to move. Confirm that the cycling thermostat is bad by measuring the temperature of your dryer’s exhaust at its external vent with a thermostat. The exhaust for a low-heat setting should be between 115 and 125 F; medium heat should register between 130 and 140 F; and high heat should register 145 to 155 F. If your dryer isn’t heating to the proper temperature, replace the cycling thermostat with a new one. Contact Whirlpool to schedule a service appointment to verify a cycling thermostat failure and to replace it if necessary.