Clothes dryers have a device called a thermal fuse to prevent them from becoming dangerously overheated if something goes awry, such as a blockage in the dryer vent or the blower motor becoming locked up. If the dryer begins to overheat, the thermal fuse blows out and, depending upon the dryer model, will either shut down the dryer entirely or will shut off the heat to the tumbler.

Unplug the power to the dryer. The thermal fuse is usually located in the back cover panel or the vent duct collar. Remove the dryer’s back panel and locate a group of wires in the area where the hot air is vented. Near those wires, locate a small—probably white—plastic part that has two wires attached to it. This is the thermal fuse.

Before replacing it, check for any blockages and to make sure the blower wheel is operating properly so that the new fuse you install doesn’t blow out for the same reason as the last one.