How to test the safety thermostat on a GE dryer that is not heating

Is your GE electric dryer leaving your clothes cold and damp? The likely culprit could be a malfunctioning safety thermostat, a common yet often overlooked issue. Before you consider calling a costly repair technician, check out our step-by-step guide and exclusive how-to video below to learn how to troubleshoot this problem on your own.

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If your GE electric dryer isn’t heating, the problem may be with the safety thermostat. This part is responsible for monitoring the air temperature inside the dryer drum to prevent overheating. Before you call for a repair technician, you can quickly test the part yourself to determine if it’s the source of the issue. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll have the knowledge to troubleshoot the problem and get your appliance back up and running.

Watch here: How To Test A GE Electric Dryer Safety Thermostat WE4M160

If you find out that you need any replacement parts for your appliance, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to order them. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have thousands of free guides to show you how to install your new parts.

Tools and materials

• Multimeter 
• Phillips screwdriver

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Safety precautions

When working on any appliance, remember to keep safety first. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before attempting any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of injury from electric shock.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts, pinching hazards and debris.
• Take your time and don’t rush while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access the interior parts.
• Clear your workspace of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with bare wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check your user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions for your part or appliance. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause injury.
• Wear safety glasses when working with chemicals, dust or cleaning large debris to prevent injury. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time for any heating parts to cool down before working on it. 
• Take pictures or make a note of wiring terminals or other connections before disconnecting to prevent any problems with reassembly.
• When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.

Read more:  How To Replace A Thermal Fuse In A Dryer

Testing steps

1. Unplug the dryer or turn off the circuit breaker to disconnect power.
2. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws at the top of the front panel, just behind the door.
3. Lift the top panel up slightly to clear the console legs, then pull the front panel forward.
4. Remove the Phillips screws found at each back corner of the front panel.
5. Lift up the front panel, rotate it to the side, and disconnect the door switch wires. Set the front panel aside.
6. Reach under the drum and disconnect the belt from the belt pulley.
7. Use the belt to assist in pulling the drum forward and out. Set the drum aside.
8. Locate the safety thermostat on the top of the heating element housing on the far left.
9. Disconnect one wire from the safety thermostat.
10. Set a multimeter to continuity test mode and touch the probes to the terminals on the safety thermostat. 
11. If there is no continuity, the thermostat has failed and needs to be replaced. If there is continuity, the thermostat is good and the issue is likely elsewhere.
12. Reconnect the wires to the thermostat. 
13. Reinstall the drum, making sure to get the belt firmly on the motor pulley.
14. Reconnect the door switch wires and secure the front panel with the screws.
15. Slide the top panel back on the console legs, rotate it down, and secure with the Phillips screws.
16. Plug the dryer back in or turn the circuit breaker back on.
17. If the safety thermostat was good, refer to other troubleshooting guides to diagnose the reason the dryer is not heating. If the thermostat was bad, order a replacement part and complete the repair.

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Additional information

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helped you get your GE electric dryer working again.

If you have any other appliance repair needs or projects, don’t hesitate to explore our other troubleshooting guides and videos. 

If you need replacement parts or some extra help with ordering them, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com, where you can chat with a pro, read our DIY blog and more.

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