I have a well-loved, but 16 year old Maytag dryer. It works fine except that if I open the door (when it's running), it trips the breaker. This is new behavior, it's worked fine until now. It's too expensive to get a repair person for a dryer this old, but I don't want to fill the landfill, if I can avoid it. Any ideas out there?
2007-02-22 03:54:29 · 3 answers · asked by CrazyCat 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I suspect the wires from the door switch to the light bulb in the drum are shorted together or grounded. The only time it comes on is when you open the door.
2007-02-24 21:47:14 · answer #1 · answered by mountainriley 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Replace the dryer or get a qualified repairman are the best options. If you are not going to do either one, get somebody knowledgeable about electricity. The door switch is wired to a shunt or a relay. Somewhere in that circuit a hot wire is going to ground. Inspect the wiring at the door switch and at the other end. Make sure a wire did not come loose, and that there is no bare wire showing. Check the switch and the relay to make sure they are working properly, and they are not shorted out internally ( check this with an ohmeter ).
2007-02-24 05:48:30 · answer #2 · answered by Dave 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your dryer is 16 years old it is probably time to replace it. When you open the door there should be a switch that shuts off the dryer. It sounds like operation of this switch is causing a short circuit that blows the breaker. The short circuit may be to the frame of the dryer (parts you can touch) I would be reluctant to continue using the dryer in this condition. Treat yourself to a new one.
2007-02-22 08:22:32 · answer #3 · answered by frozen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋