How to Test the Thermodisc in a Dryer

An electric clothes dryer's thermodisc is a safety feature that works like a fuse to stop the appliance from overheating. At a certain temperature, the sensor in the thermodisc breaks the circuit and the dryer's heating element shuts off. A thermodisc problem may not be immediately apparent on some dryers if their drive motor is wired separately from their heating element. The drum may continue spinning even though the appliance produces no heat. Testing a thermodisc takes less than one hour.

Screwdriver
Ohm voltmeter

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the electricity to the clothes dryer either by closing the associated circuit at the circuit breaker or by unplugging the appliance's power cord from its electrical outlet. Wait for the dryer to cool.
- 2
  Unscrew the clamp in the flexible hose on the rear of the dryer, and pull off the hose.
- 3
  Remove the screws on the appliance's back cover, and take off the cover. The thermodisc should be visible inside the dryer. It is mounted near the top of the stainless steel box that contains the heater element. The thermodisc is usually on the left side of the box.
- 4
  Remove the pair of wires on the thermodisc. Each wire slips off by pulling the curved connector on its end.
- 5
  Set an ohm voltmeter to check ohms. Hold the voltmeter's test wands to the two thermodisc electric contacts. If the voltmeter registers zero, then the thermodisc operates properly. Any other voltmeter result means the thermodisc is burned out.

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