My late 80's Kenmore Dryer worked one day, then just stopped the next. It won't turn, it won't heat, nothing happens! It's as if it came unplugged suddenly, but it didn't. Is there a circuit breaker in there somewhere like blow-dryers have in case they get too hot?
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
Your dryer is probably 16+ years old, and if you got this many years service out of it you're very fortunate.
I don't know of any circuit breaker in the dryer. Appliances will never tell you when it's going to expire, it just does. It can work fine one day, and then die the next.
You will probably have to start going to a laundromat to dry your clothes. Also look in the yellow pages under appliances (used). My husband and I purchased all four appliances from a used appliance store and they are all still in working condition.
Well, well, well. Living in Seattle without a clothes dryer is like being the ex-governor of New York without a prayer.
(huh?) :-)
I have a dryer about the same age-- when I got it (it was used), it didn't work either. A friend and I got together and took off the top and we found a broken wire. We repaired the wire-- and wouldn't you know it, that old baby fired right up!
One more thing I didn't mention in my post: I'd have a hard time replacing that old dryer, (& not just for the money it'd cost) I live in a mobile home & (I've measured) I'd have to take off the WHOLE door jam (not just the front door) to get the dryer out & a new one in. Plus, I have no one to help me lift the darn thing! This dryer fell into my hands, used (as part of a set) when I bought the place 2 years ago. The only thing I know about it is, the gal who lived here previously had 2 small kids...
---> Thank you for the Tip, Me being the "dweeb" I am, I'd never thought to look at the wiring... I was, of course, looking for the easiest route, a circuit breaker! ---> And "Otis P Driftwood" you ARE so VERY right about Seattle ...In fact, it's raining right NOW (of course!) :-)
Yep-- it's always raining in Seattle-- who knows what they say about ex-governors of New York.
(again? huh?) But geeze, can you imagine the messages he gets on his answering machine?
Cyinda, you may want to try to get some help with this project. A neighbor, friend, coworker, somebody who has worked with household appliances and has a few tools.
hmmm...
Have you thought about getting on of those wooden dryer racks that will sit in your tub?
If I remember right it's located on the motor, it's a little red button, being it is as old as it is it probably is getting hot because of dust build up and it's not getting enough air, but then again it could be the motor give up.
Hello from Moses Lake, and formerly near Bellingham. I have no advice for your dryer, but I just wanted to say I feel your pain, this is no time of year to dry clothes in the Coastal Northwest! Hang in there and God Bless You! -Kim
"Won't turn, it won't heat, nothing happens! Is there a circuit breaker?" Cyinda from Seattle
I use to work at a repair center and there is what is called a "thermal fuse". It would make your machine act that way. It usually only costs about $14 and it plugs in with little prongs. It was white when I saw them, oblong in shape with a slightly raised bubbled top and has the
prong plugs underneath. You would need to look by the blower housing.
That is in the back of the dryer where the air blows out after which it goes into the hose to outside.
Find your model number, where the door touches against the front. You can look it up on their site www.searspartsdirect.com In there they call it a fuse, thermal.
.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!