I finally fixed my dryer with a paperclip and some zip ties

Last Tuesday my dryer stopped heating up mid cycle. I was about to call a repair guy but then I remembered this forum. I watched a video on how the thermal fuse works and turns out mine was blown. I didn't feel like spending $15 on a new one so I looked through my junk drawer. Found a paperclip and some zip ties from an old computer build. I used the paperclip to bypass the fuse just to test if that was the issue and the heat kicked right back on. Then I zip tied the paperclip in place so it wouldn't touch anything metal. I know it's janky but my laundry has been dry for a week now without buying anything. Has anyone else done a sketchy bypass like this that actually held up for months?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jamie1mo ago

So you used a paperclip to bypass a thermal fuse? Man, I once wired a broken toaster back together with a twist tie from a bread bag. It worked for about three cycles then sparked so bad I had to unplug it and throw the whole thing out back. Your zip tie trick is honestly craftier than my death wish approach. Just keep an eye on it and maybe don't run that dryer when nobody's home.

viola_lopez301mo ago

@the_jamie that toaster story made me laugh. At least your zip tie fix is smarter than my pen spring trick on a coffee maker. Keep the smoke detector nearby!

adams.uma1mo ago

At least your toaster went out with a bang and a story. My zip tie fix is just gonna hum quietly for a week then fail in the middle of the night when I'm half asleep. Guarantee I'll wake up to the faint smell of burning plastic and panic unplug it before I even open my eyes. The paperclip was definitely a "I'll fix it properly tomorrow" lie we all tell ourselves. Now I'm just waiting for the day my dryer decides to take the toaster's lead and throw a spark party. Glad I'm not the only one playing appliance roulette around here lol.