The clothes dryer is one of the most useful appliances in your home. However, sometimes these machines will encounter problems that prevent them from working properly. Show Are you dealing with a dryer that shuts off after only a few minutes of running? This can be enough to give you a headache! Today we will discuss what may be causing this and how you can fix the problem. Here is a list of possible issues when your dryer shutting off after a couple of minutes:
Dryer Motor OverheatingIf your dryer stops after only a few minutes, it may be caused by the motor overheating. The most common cause a dryer motor will overheat is it’s faulty and needs to be replaced. Sometimes this will cause a noticeable buzzing sound before the motor actually stops working.
When you encounter a dryer that stops before the cycle is finished, it’s best to start by waiting 30 minutes to an hour before trying to use it again. If it restarts after the cool down period after 2-5 minutes by itself, the motor is probably the cause. Here’s how to replace the motor:
Faulty Door LatchModern dryers feature door switches that won’t allow the machine to work when the door is open. Over time the door latch can become worn, thus allowing the door to open during cycles. When this occurs the dryer will stop running immediately. If this keeps happening to you, the easiest thing to do is replace the faulty door latch. Replacing this part is easy. Here’s how it’s done:
Issues with the Moisture Sensor WiresDryers also have what’s called a moisture sensor which checks to see how much moisture is left inside the drum.
When this part fails it will cause the machine to lose signal from the sensor to the control board and the dryer will stop within 5 minutes of operation, “thinking” that clothes already dry. While the machine will say the cycle is done, your clothes will still be wet. Here’s how to locate and repair this part:
Broken Drum BeltIf your dryer stops after only a few minutes, and will not restart the first thing you should check is the drum belt. This belt goes around the drum, idler pulley, and the motor pulley. As the armature on the motor spins, the belt rotates the dryer drum, thus tumbling your clothes.
If you can hear that the motor not turning on and the drum not spinning, this is a clear sign your belt is broken. The belt can wear out over time through normal use, and when it breaks the dryer will not work again until the part is replaced. Here’s how to change a broken drum belt:
Broken Idler PulleyIf you have the problem where your dryer shuts off within 5 minutes of operating, and it will not start again, but the belt isn’t broken, then you’ve probably got a broken idler pulley.
Using the same steps above to disassemble the machine, do so until you locate the idler pulley. Now, look closely at it to inspect for damages. If you see noticeable damages, or if it no longer maintains the required tension, replace it. After this part is replaced the dryer should work normally. Have you owned a dryer that kept shutting off after only a few minutes? Did you encounter a problem that we didn’t discuss? If so, please comment below – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
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