How to Check a Dryer Thermal Fuse With a Multimeter

Electric clothes dryers are equipped with a thermal fuse wired in proximity to the heating element. The fuse monitors dryer temperature and trips if the heat exceeds a preset level. This is a safety feature designed to reduce risk of fire or damage to the appliance. If the dryer stops heating, try troubleshooting the thermal fuse before taking out the old heating element and replacing it with a new part. The problem may be with the thermal fuse, which is typically a less expensive part.

Nut driver

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the dryer cord from the wall socket. Pull the appliance forward far enough to work on the back panel.
- 2
  Remove the bolts around the edges of the panel using the nut driver. Slide off the panel and place it out of the way. Locate the heating element canister near the bottom of the dryer, typically on the left side. The thermal fuse is on the bottom or side of the canister. Most thermal fuses are mounted on an oval or rectangular cutout with two screw holes for mounting the fuse to the heating element canister.
- 3
  Set the multimeter test selector to ohms.
- 4
  Touch the two contacts on the thermal fuse with the two test probes on the multimeter. Constantly scrolling numbers on the display or a zero reading indicates the fuse is in the open position, meaning the fuse has blown and must be replaced.

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