Easy Ways to Fix a GE Dryer that Keeps Tripping the Breaker

Does your GE dryer keep tripping the breaker?

Every time you reset it, the breaker flip off again, either right away or partway through a load. I know that's frustrating, and it's also your home's way of telling you something is wrong.

So in this guide I'll explain what you can safely check and when to stop and call a professional.

Why Does My GE Dryer Keep Tripping the Breaker?

A GE dryer that keeps tripping the breaker often has a shorted heating element, a damaged cord or terminal block, or a worn breaker. Check when it trips to find the cause.

Please don't keep resetting the breaker over and over. A breaker flips off to stop wires from overheating. Unplug the dryer before any checks, and leave anything inside your electrical panel to a licensed electrician.

If your home has a fuse box instead of breakers, the same checks apply when your dryer keeps blowing fuses.

Notice When the Breaker Trips

The timing tell you a lot, so pay attention to when it happens:

• If the dryer trips the breaker immediately when you plug it in, the problem is likely the power cord, the terminal block, or a short inside the dryer.
• If the breaker flips off when you press Start, the motor may be the issue.
• If it trips a few minutes into the cycle when the heat comes on, the heating element is the most likely cause.

Check the Power Cord and Terminal Block

The power cord connects to the dryer at a terminal block behind a small cover on the back. If the screws there work loose, the connection heats up, burns, and can short.

With the dryer unplugged, remove the small cover and look at the terminal block. Burn marks, melted plastic, or blackened wire ends mean the cord and terminal block need replacing. Also check the cord along its full length for cuts or crush damage.

If you notice a burning smell along with this, read our guide about a GE dryer that smells like burning before using it again.

Test the Heating Element for a Short

On electric GE dryers, this is one of the most common cause. When the heating element coil breaks, the loose end can touch the metal housing. That creates a short, and the breaker trips as soon as the heat turns on.

You can check the element for a short like this:

1. Unplug the dryer.
2. Remove the panel covering the heating element.
3. Disconnect the element wires.
4. Set a multimeter to continuity and touch one probe to an element terminal and the other to the metal housing.
5. If the meter shows continuity, the element is shorted and must be replaced.

Our guide about a GE dryer that is not heating explains more about the element and how it fails.

Check the Drive Motor

A motor with worn bearings or a failing winding can draw too much power when it starts. If the power cuts out the moment you press Start, the motor may be the cause.

Next, keep the dryer unplugged and rotate the drum with your hand. If it's very stiff, a jammed drum is making the motor work too hard. If the drum turns freely and the breaker still goes off at start, a technician should test the motor.

Have the Breaker and Outlet Checked

Breakers wear out too. An old breaker can start shutting off at a lower current than it's rated for, even when the dryer is fine. A loose connection in the outlet can do the same thing.

If you've checked the dryer and found nothing, call a licensed electrician to test the breaker and the outlet. Replacing a breaker or working on a 240 volt outlet is not a safe DIY job.

Conclusion

A GE dryer that keep tripping the breaker needs attention, not repeated resets. Here are the checks:

• Notice when the breaker trips
• Check the power cord and terminal block
• Test the heating element for a short
• Check the drive motor
• Have the breaker and outlet checked