If your dryer isn't heating up, or is blowing cold air, it's probably down to either the heating element or the thermostats. Most dryers have a cycling thermostat that controls the temperature by opening and closing repeatedly. And a safety thermostat, this will open if the temperature gets too hot to prevent damage but will not reset when cold.
The other cause of a cold dryer is a faulty element. Because the element and the thermostats are closely linked, it can be very difficult to troubleshoot if either the thermostats or the element is the cause of the problem. Therefore we recommend that you replace both the thermostats and the element at the same time.
If your tumble dryer seems like it is suffering from a faulty element or thermostat, you will be pleased to know that at least you have landed at the right place to help you out!
eSpares have a wide range of replacement thermostats and elements within our range of tumble dryer spares, so you can be confident that you can obtain the correct parts for your model.
Once you have the parts you might well be thinking what you need to do next - well, we actually have a helpful video that you can follow, as well as a written step-by-step guide, that will show you the process of these replacements - so you can repair your tumble dryer yourself (helping to save time and money on engineer call-outs)
This video shows an example on how to remove or replace the part on a typical machine, some models may be different but the procedure should be similar
What You Will Need:
Step 1 - Switch off Your Appliance
Safety First! Please ensure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before starting any repair.
Step 2 - Remove the Rear, Top And Side Panels
Both the thermostats and the element are located behind the back panel - so first of all you need to remove that, as well as the side panel (you will also need to remove the top panel in order to remove the side panel)
Step 3 - Rewire the New Thermostats
Once you have removed the back panel, you should see the old element and the old thermostats. Here, we have our new element and new thermostats. Now there are two very important things about these thermostats:
- They must be wired correctly - to do this, you need to consult your thermostat documentation.
- Ensure you don’t touch the circular gold discs in the middle - as this may damage the thermostat.
- Both thermostats should be replaced together as they are different and must have one of each type fitted to the machine.
Now the wiring in your make or model will differ from what you see here in this video - and what’s so important is that you rewire everything exactly as you find it. If you don’t, you could damage the dryer.
eSpares Top Tip: A good idea is to take photos so you can consult them later and make sure that you’re rewiring everything perfectly.
Step 4 - Replace the Element & Thermostats
Once you know exactly how everything is wired, it’s time to start removing the element. Now we’ve removed the old element and thermostats, it is time to put the new thermostats in and now the element.
Step 5 - Put Everything Back Together Again
Once you’ve made sure all the wires are back exactly where you found them, it’s time to put everything back together.
Well done you for your hard work on this repair! You have now gained some useful tumble dryer DIY knowledge, and in doing so will hopefully be back to a fully working tumble dryer now!
Your Tumble Dryer In Need Of Some Loving, Care & Attention?
If you really want to get the best performance from your tumble dryer, and better results for your clothes, then look no further than these energy saving tumble dryer balls - providing a natural, eco-friendly alternative to fabric softeners (ideal for delicate or sensitive skin). When placed in your tumble dryer their square tips compress and soften fabrics, reducing drying time by up to 25%.
Need A Heating Element & Thermostats For Your Tumble Dryer?
Fixing your tumble dryer heating element and thermostats yourself can save you a lot of money compared to booking a repair or buying a new tumble dryer. Here at eSpares, we have a wide-range of replacement tumble dryer heating elements and thermostats for you to select from - so you can soon be on your way to repairing it yourself.
Now you can add tumble dryer heating element and thermostat replacement to your DIY repertoire. Congratulations! If you need any other help for your appliances you can find more videos from Mat and the team at eSpares, who are always on hand with appliance repair advice in your time of need.
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