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When a thermal fuse in your Maytag dryer has gone bad(Fuses typically blow when the dryer vent gets clogged), the odds are that your machine won’t start or it won’t heat (so your clothes will not dry).
Now, your best bet is replacing the fuse(there’s no way to reset it)
So, where is the thermal fuse on a Maytag dryer exactly?
Below I explain where to find the part if you want to change it out…
Where is the thermal fuse on a Maytag dryer?
In most Maytag dryers, the thermal fuse is found on the blower housing or near the heating element.
To be clear, in most electrical Maytag dryer models, the thermal fuse is found beneath the drum, right on the front of the blower housing.
On the other hand, when it comes to gas models, the thermal fuse is typically located on the blower housing or near the burner.
How to reach the thermal fuse
To reach the fuse on some dryers, you simply uninstall the appliance’s rear panel or a lower front access panel.
Now, if by chance you have no idea what a thermal fuse looks like, see the image below
The part from another angle
Signs that your thermal fuse is gone
If you experience any of the following problems with your dryer, then it could be a sign that your thermal fuse is gone.
- No heat (dryer runs but won’t heat) or not enough heat.
- Dryer will not start.
- Dryer takes extraordinarily long to dry.
- Dryer shuts off too soon.
- The dryer gets too hot(If your dryer overheats, the part blows cuts off power either to the motor/the heating system)
Maytag dryer thermal fuse test (How to test if a thermal fuse in your Maytag dryer is faulty)
To be sure that your thermal fuse is faulty, run the following test with a multimeter /ohmmeter.
How to test using a multimeter/ohmmeter
- To test, make sure the thermal fuse has been removed or isolated from the appliance.
- After that, use a probe to touch one of the fuse’s terminals-the other probe to touch the remaining terminal.
- Check the reading now: If the meter display shows zero Ohms of resistance, the fuse has electrical continuity and is probably fine (indicating that another component in the dryer, for example, high limit thermostat is the culprit).
- On the other hand, if the meter display shows no significant change, the fuse has no continuity (meaning it has blown)- For an ohmmeter, be sure to set it to Rx1
If you do not have a multimeter/ohmmeter, you can still test whether or not the fuse is working by bypassing the fuse itself.
How to test without a multimeter
- Here, simply detach the wires from the fuse.
- Then, wire them together – you can use a jumper wire or electrical tape to join together the two ends- and attempt to operate the dryer for about 90 seconds(max). Note that you need to turn your appliance onto a heat cycle(for 90 seconds-max).
If it works(it begins to become warm), then you are likely looking at a damaged fuse(Make sure power is off just before doing this!). Otherwise, you will need to look at other parts(maybe the heating element has blown).
Quick Tip: If you have bypassed the fuse, you need to undo the bypass (take the electrical tape off or remove jumper wire immediately) – you really do not want to use the dryer without a thermal fuse because it could lead to a fire (it’s a massive fire hazard).
Why does the thermal fuse keep blowing in my Maytag washer?
On the whole, the component often fail when your dryer is not clean (it has not been cleaned for a long time) and/or its vent is clogged.
That being so, make sure everything (the unit) is clean and the entire vent line is clear before you go ahead with the replacement.
To emphasize, make sure it is venting correctly because the main reason why the thermal cut-off switch blows (as I have repeatedly mentioned) is venting faults (clogging/incorrect vent installation)
Other common causes are:
- Age- Older thermal safety fuses do occasionally fail.
- Shorted heating element- Check to verify the element is not shorted (the element / burner might be getting too hot due to an entirely different issue)
Now, if it keeps popping, you could have a bigger problem that you need to troubleshoot.
Quick Tip: It is a good idea to replace the high limit thermostat when swapping out the thermal fuse. If you’re wondering why, it is because sometimes the reason why your dryer won’t heat is due to a blown high-limit thermostat. Bear in mind that another telltale sign that the high-limit thermostat has malfunctioned is the dryer stopping shortly after starting.
Where is the thermal fuse on a Maytag dryer? -FAQs
How do I know if I need a new thermal fuse?
To be sure whether you need a new thermal fuse or not, you need to run a test using a multimeter.
I have already described how to do the test so refer to the section “How to test if a thermal fuse in your Maytag dryer is faulty” above
Will a Maytag gas dryer run if the thermal fuse is blown?
For the most part, your Maytag gas dryer will run normally even when the thermal fuse is blown.
But as mentioned previously, your dryer will not heat so your dryer won’t actually dry your clothes.
Where is the thermal fuse on a Maytag dryer? -Wrapping up
The thermal fuse in your Maytag dryer may be located in different locations depending on your specific dryer model.
However, for many Maytag dryers, the thermal fuse is found in the blower housing or near the heating element.
Be sure to check your owner’s manual for the precise location (check the schematics) if you don’t find it there.
ALSO READ:
Maytag dryer settings explained
Maytag Neptune dryer not heating [How to fix your dryer]
How to test thermal fuse on dryer [Steps]
Common electric dryer problems [causes and fixes]
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