We keep saying "this weekend" we jump back into the renovation fray, but the S-days just keep ticking past. Which isn't to house has been neglected. Our dryer died a couple weeks ago. Circuit had been tripped and wouldn't reset, which we intuited meant it needed to be replaced. Yeah, we're that sharp. But replacing circuits (a multi-part saga in itself) didn't do a thing for the dryer. Fortunately the you-fix-it guide has plenty to say about diagnosing and repairing dryers.
Step 1: make sure there's electricity at the outlet. (Told you we were sharp.)
Step 2: remove cover plate where cord enters.
Charred inside of the cover plate and melted terminal block were pretty obvious problem. Remedying that situation was a bit more of challenge. After a couple false starts, I finally found an online supplier of GE dryer parts and ordered the replacement terminal block. Then I got to thinking I should replace the dryer cord too. No sign of damage on the prongs or at the box, but the terminal end was a bit charred. I got a bit turned around testing and retesting current, and I finally decided replacing the cord couldn't hurt. Couldn't find one at the depot, which didn't seem particularly odd; beginning to anticipate what they don't carry. Thought the cord would require another Internet order, but then I chanced into what I think is a new local hardware store (that's oddly right across the street from the established local hardware store) and they had one.
Depot did come through on the large female connectors I needed to complete the new wiring, and deluxe wire cutters came through with a crimper that I'd barely even noticed before. Et voila!
If you're reading this and you have an electric dryer, do yourself a favor and check the screws at the terminal block. My reading on the Internet says this is one the most common dryer problems. When a screw gets loose enough the electricity will arc. Got the impression it's a gradual process where you may smell burning while dryer is running. I don't remember any smell; for all I know it happened all at once. Also can't swear in hindsight whether the terminal connection that melted down was loose. I didn't read about commonality of this problem until after I removed the old terminal. And there was the slag to chip away. And the caution of poking at something that under slightly different circumstances could kill.
Sort of spooky, but also reassuring that various safeties did what they're meant to do.
Comments