It can be incredibly frustrating when an appliance that you use on a daily basis, like a dryer, isn’t working properly. One of the issues that you may run into with your dryer is that it won’t shut off. When this happens, you have a couple of different options in order to get your dryer working again. You can call a professional for dryer repair to come to your home, or you can try and handle the problem on your own.
Sections That You’ll Need To Familiarize Yourself With
If you plan on trying to fix the dryer yourself or trying to troubleshoot it so that you can communicate the problem to our appliance repair in Plantation, there are certain things that you need to know. There are certain parts and functions of the dryer that you are going to want to familiarize yourself with including:
- Timer Motor
- Front Panel
- Dryer Drum
- Cool Down Thermostat
- Timer Contacts
- Dryer Door
- Moisture Sensor
- Blower Wheel
- Limit Thermostat
- Heating Element
Many of the causes of a dryer not shutting off can be easy to fix, but it may be difficult to identify what it actually causing the problem. The following is a list of the most common causes of a dryer not shutting off.
The Timer
The timer is a component of the dryer’s control console and it includes a small motor that is connected to a few cams and gears. These cams and gears control contacts of the timer. When the motor that runs the timer or the controls are faulty or broken, it will not allow the timer to work properly, and not allow the timer to shit the dryer off. In order to test this, you will unplug the dryer and test the contacts with a multimeter. If there is no continuity, the timer will need replacing.
The Door Switch
The door switch of a dryer is an on/off mechanism and it is a safety feature so that the dryer won’t continue to tumble when the door is open. It is usually located behind the front panel of the dryer and sticks out into the opening of the door. If the dryer is continuing to run with the door open, it is safe to assume that the door switch is broken. You will test this switch with a multimeter and you will test all of the terminals on the door switch for continuity. If any of them are bad, you will want to get a new door switch. Always remember to unplug the dryer before testing any parts to prevent electrocution.
Cool Down Thermostat
Some of the dryers have a cool down setting which tumbles the clothes without the addition of heat and this setting requires a cool down thermostat. Its’ job is to keep the motor working to rotate the drum until the temperature drops to a set temperature and then stops the dryer when this temperature is reached. If this thermostat is not working properly, the drum of the dryer will continue to tumble without stopping or until the door is opened up. To troubleshoot this problem, you will need to unplug the machine and test the continuity of the cooldown thermostat with a multimeter.
The Cycling Thermostat
Many of the modern model dryers have an auto dry cycle on them and this cycle requires a cycling thermostat. This thermostat monitors the temperature within the drum of the dryer and turns off the heat when the desired temperature is reached within the drum. It also works to advance the timer through the cycle so that the dryer advances through the cycle properly, and so it will stop when it is finished.
When there is a problem with the cycling thermostat, you are going to need to call in a professional. The reason being that this part requires a live voltage test with a multimeter during a working cycle. The professional technician is going to be trained on how to use the multimeter to safely test this thermostat while the dryer is on, without causing injury or damage.
There are a lot of things that you will be able to fix on your own, and there are some that are more complicated and technical that will require the attention of a professional. When you are looking for the right technician to come to your home, you will need to make sure that they are familiar with your machine (both brand and type). Whether you have a Maytag or Kenmore, gas or electric, whoever you hire needs to be suited to work on your dryer. They are all different and what is going to fix one machine is not necessarily going to fix another.