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If I could ask you to name a true companion of your dryer, the thermal fuse always ranks on top of the list. The thermal fuse has been protecting your dryer from overheating and catching fire. The fuse blows off when the air temperature gets too high in the dryer exhaust. Since resetting a thermal fuse isn’t feasible, you need to replace it once it triggers.
When you want to replace the thermal fuse, you need to trace its location first. Now you may ask, where is the thermal fuse on a whirlpool dryer? Typically, the thermal fuse is located in the exhaust duct of your dryer. You’ll find it by opening the back panel. However, the position of the thermal fuse may vary from model to model.
Let’s dig deep to know more about it, shall we?
Where is the Thermal Fuse on a whirlpool Dryer located?
Since the thermal fuse is a safety component, it’s not a wise move to run your dryer without it. There’s no doubt that you need to replace the blown thermal fuse. Before replacing the thermal fuse, it’s mandatory to know its location and how it looks. So, let’s figure it out.
The Appearance of a Thermal Fuse
The thermal fuse looks oblong or circular. It’s around 2 inches long white plastic or metal, and in the center, you’ll find black material. Also, there are 2 wire leads on each end.
The Location of a Thermal Fuse
To know where the thermal fuse is, first unplug your dryer. Move the dryer forward from the wall. Open the back access panel using a ¼ inch nut driver. Now, look at the top of the exhaust duct, which is mounting the thermal fuse.
How to Tell if a Thermal Fuse is Blown?
There are several ways to figure out whether the Whirlpool dryer thermal fuse has blown or not. First, you can assume by seeing the symptoms, and you need to test the thermal fuse on the dryer with a multimeter to confirm. However, if you don’t have a multimeter, bypassing the thermal fuse will be an alternative.
Symptoms
There’re a couple of things (depending on the model) that might happen if the thermal fuse blows off-
- Your dryer won’t run at all
- Your dryer will run but won’t produce enough heat to dry your clothes
Whenever you encounter one of these symptoms, the thermal fuse might be causing it. Now it’s time to confirm with a multimeter.
1. Continuity Test
After diagnosing the problem, your job is to run a continuity test with a multimeter. It’s an efficient and easy process that brings accurate results. Here’s how to do it-
- Open the back panel of the dryer using a nut driver to get access to the thermal fuse
- Now locate the thermal fuse as described above
- Disconnect the wires from the fuse
- Grab a multimeter and set it to the lowest RX settings
- Now attach one lead of the multimeter to one end of the thermal fuse and another lead to the other end
- Now see the readings. If the needle doesn’t move, the thermal fuse has blown off
2. Bypassing the Thermal Fuse
If you can’t run the continuity test, a dryer thermal fuse bypass can help. To bypass the thermal fuse, you need to do the following things:
- Disconnect the wires from the fuse
- Connect the wires with a jumper wire
- Now turn on the dryer
- If your dryer works and heats up, you need to replace the thermal fuse as it has already burnt
You can bypass the thermal fuse to check whether it’s functioning or blown. Don’t consider it a quick fix. Don’t jump in to use your dryer, seeing it’s working.
How to Replace the Thermal Fuse on a Dryer?
If you think Whirlpool dryer thermal fuse replacement is a tough job, then you’re wrong. Trust me, you can do it on your own, and it’s easy. Let me help you.
- Disconnect the dryer from the power supply
- Move forward from the wall to get access to the back panel
- Use a ¼ inch nut driver to remove the back panel
- Locate the thermal fuse (shown above) and cut the wires off
- Remove the mounting screws with a ¼ inch nut driver to pull off the fuse
- Install the new thermal fuse and attach the wires to each terminal
- Reattach the back panel
- Turn on the power supply and run the dryer to see whether it heats up
FAQs
1. How do I reset my thermal fuse?
You can’t reset the thermal fuse once it blows off. Instead of resetting it, you need to replace it.
2. How much does it cost to replace a thermal fuse in a dryer?
When it comes to replacing a thermal fuse, you need to spend around $5 to $10 for it. If you hire a professional, include the service charge too.
3. How do you bypass a thermal fuse?
Disconnect the wires from the fuse and tie them with a jumper wire. Then turn on the dryer. For more details, scroll above where I wrote the complete procedure.
4. Where is the thermal fuse on the Whirlpool Cabrio dryer?
You’ll find your Whirlpool Cabrio dryer is connected to the fuses of your house. So, check your home’s fuse box first.
The Final Thoughts
I’ve tried to show you how to find the thermal fuse on your dryer in this post. Also, from this article, you’ll learn how to figure out whether the thermal fuse is blown and how to replace it. If you go through this post properly, I’m sure you’ll find the procedures like a piece of cake. I’d suggest you don’t run your dryer without a thermal fuse.
Since it’s a safety component, running your dryer with a broken fuse or without a fuse can cause a massive accident. To conclude, if you’re confused about anything, don’t forget to call a professional. Also, buy the right part for your dryer and maintain the precaution before doing anything.
