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Expert
251 Answers
- Posted on Jun 07, 2011
Re: Whirlpool AWZ7303 condensing tumble dryer . Drum not...
If your Whirlpool dryer has mysteriously stopped producing heat, a blown
thermal fuse may be the cause of your problem. In Whirlpool dryers,
thermal fuses are safety switches that are designed to disrupt the flow
of electricity to your dryer's heating mechanisms once the dryer reaches
a predetermined maximum temperature, usually somewhere around 180
degrees F. Thankfully, troubleshooting the thermal fuse in a Whirlpool
dryer is easier than it sounds.
Instructions:
Clean out the lint screen in
your Whirlpool clothes dryer. Lint buildup can cause your dryer to
overheat, triggering the thermal fuse to disrupt power to your dryer's
heating mechanisms. Take the lint screen out of your Whirlpool dryer and
wash it in warm water. Dry the screen thoroughly before replacing it.
Look behind the dryer to check
its flexible exhaust hose for kinks or obstructions. Disconnect the
exhaust hose from the back of your dryer and clean out any lint that has
built up.
Go outside and check your
Whirlpool dryer's exhaust vent for obstructions. Lint buildup, bird
nests or other obstructions in the outside exhaust vent can trigger your
dryer's thermal fuse.
Disconnect your dryer from its power source before attempting to access its thermal fuse.
Access the thermal fuse in your
Whirlpool dryer by removing the back panel. Remove the screws that hold
the back panel in place and it should easily come free.
Look between the dryer's blower
housing and exhaust to locate its thermal fuse. The thermal fuse in a
Whirlpool dryer looks like a white plastic strip that has two wires
connected to it.
Bypass the thermal fuse in your
Whirlpool dryer while you perform a quick diagnostic test. Use
electrical tape to tape together the two wires connected to the thermal
fuse. Reassemble your dryer and plug it back in. Set the dryer to a
timed heated drying cycle and press "Start." If the dryer produces heat
with its thermal fuse bypassed, it means the thermal fuse needs to be
replaced.
Replace a blown thermal fuse in
your Whirlpool dryer. Disconnect the power and remove the back panel.
Remove the electrical tape that you used to perform the diagnostic test
and disconnect the wires from the thermal fuse. Remove the screws that
secure the thermal fuse to the dryer and discard the blown fuse. Attach
the replacement thermal fuse by replacing and tightening the screws.
Attach the wires to the new thermal fuse.
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