How to Check if My Fuse Is Burnt Out on My Dryer

Almost all dryers have a thermal fuse, and for good reason; the fuse protects both your house and dryer in case the appliance overheats, preventing damage to your dryer and a possible fire. If the fuse is blown, the dryer will either stop working or fail to heat. But since a dryer is made up of numerous parts, a non-working unit doesn’t mean the fuse is blown. Testing the fuse requires you to remove it from the dryer and test its continuity with a multi-meter.

Pliers
Screwdriver
Multimeter

Instructions

- 1
  Disconnect power from your dryer. Pull the dryer to an open space so that you have ample room to work.
- 2
  Open your dryer’s cabinet. Each dryer make and model varies when it comes to opening the cabinet. Some dryers require you to open the back panel, while some require you to remove the control panel. Consult your dryer’s manual on how to open the cabinet.
- 3
  Locate the thermal fuse. Wires run along the fuse, with two clips connecting it. The clips are either plastic or metal. Remove the clips by pulling them away from the fuse. If you cannot remove them with your hands, use pliers. Depending on your dryer’s model, you may also have to remove a screw holding the fuse in place. Once the fuse is loose, remove it from the dryer.
- 4
  Adjust your multimeter by turning its dial until you reach the Ohms portion of the multimeter. Select the lowest resistance setting. If you use an analog multimeter, calibrate it by holding both ends of the probes against one another, then move the needle at the top of the multimeter to “0.”
- 5
  Turn the thermal fuse over to reveal two metal prongs. Touch one of the multimeter probes against one prong and the other probe against the other prong. If the needle on an analog multimeter doesn’t move and the number displayed on the digital multimeter doesn’t change, the fuse is blown.

How to Remove the Seal on a Front Load Kenmore Washer

How to Fix a Banging Dryer

Washer & Dryers