What Is a Dryer Thermal Fuse?
A one-shot safety that permanently cuts power to the dryer heater when the air inside gets too hot, almost always because the vent is clogged.
A small one-time safety device with two wire terminals, mounted on a dryer's blower housing or heater box. It holds a contact closed until the air passing it exceeds its rated temperature, then opens for good. On most dryers an open fuse means no heat while the drum still turns, and on some models it stops the motor too. It can't be reset. A blown fuse means the dryer overheated, and the cause is nearly always a lint-blocked vent.
Testing one takes a multimeter on continuity. Unplug the dryer, pull the two wires off the fuse, touch a probe to each terminal, and listen for the beep. Silence means it's open. Replacements are $8 to $15 and must match the dryer's model number, because the rated temperature varies. Fit the new one only after the vent has been cleaned end to end, or it blows again on the first load. Never bypass it with a jumper wire, even to test.
Fixes that use this
Laundry & Cleaning
Dryer Not Heating: What to Check Before Calling a Repair Tech
A dryer that runs cold has a tripped breaker leg, a clogged vent, a blown thermal fuse, or a dead element. Check them in order. Most fixes cost under $30.
Time30–90 min Cost$0–$60 moderate
Laundry & Cleaning
Dryer Takes Too Long? It's Almost Always Airflow
A dryer that needs two cycles is starved for air, not short on heat. Test the lint screen with water, then clear the duct run from both ends.
Time45–90 min Cost$0–$40 moderate