GE Dryer Won't Stop Running? Try these FIXES!

Is your GE dryer running and running and not stopping when it should?

Maybe the time keeps going up, the cycle never ends, or the drum won't turn off even after you turn the knob to off.

I know that can be alarming. Luckily, I can help you figure out whether it's a simple drying problem or a part that's stuck on.

What to Check When a GE Dryer Keeps Running

If your GE dryer won't stop running, first check that it's heating and try a timed dry cycle. Then clean the moisture sensor bars and check the timer, door switch, and control board.

If the drum keeps spinning even with the dryer switched off or the door open, unplug it or switch off the breaker right away. That's a safety problem, and the dryer should not be used until it's repaired.

Check Whether the Dryer Is Heating

On auto dry cycles, your GE dryer keeps going until the clothes are dry. If the heat isn't working, the clothes never dry, so the dryer just keep running and adding time.

Open the door partway through the cycle and feel the air inside. If it's cool, the dryer isn't stuck at all.

It simply can't dry. Our guide about a GE dryer that is not heating explains how to find the heat problem.

Try a Timed Dry Cycle

A timed dry cycle runs for the time you set and then stops, no matter how wet the clothes are. It's a good test to do.

Set a 20 minute timed dry and watch it closely. If it stops at the end, the dryer's timing is fine and the problem is with auto dry, which usually means the sensor bars or a heavy load.

If it keeps running past 20 minutes, the timer or control board is likely at fault.

Clean the Moisture Sensor Bars

The two metal bars inside the drum tell the dryer how wet the clothes are. When they're coated with fabric softener or dryer sheet residue, they can give the wrong reading, and the dryer may keep running longer than it need to.

Follow these steps to clean the bars:

1. Unplug the dryer.
2. Find the two metal bars, usually just inside the drum near the lint screen.
3. Rub them with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol.
4. Dry them and run a normal load.

If the display stays on Sensing for a long time, our guide on a GE dryer stuck on sensing covers that in more detail.

Check the Timer on Dial Models

On older GE dryers with a dial, a small motor inside the timer turns the dial forward. If that timer motor fail, the dial stops moving and the dryer keeps running forever.

Mark the dial position with a pencil and check it after 10 minutes on a timed cycle. If it hasn't moved, the timer needs replacing.

This is a job you can do if you're careful with wiring, but take a photo of every wire before you unplug anything.

Have the Door Switch and Control Board Checked

If your dryer keeps spinning with the door open, the door switch may be stuck closed. And on newer models, a relay on the control board can stick on, so the motor keeps running even after the cycle ends.

Both are safety problems. Unplug the dryer and have a technician test the door switch and control board before you use it again.

Conclusion

A GE dryer that won't stop running is often just unable to dry, but a stuck part is also possible. Check these in order:

• Check whether the dryer is heating
• Try a timed dry cycle
• Clean the moisture sensor bars
• Check the timer on dial models
• Have the door switch and control board checked

If the cycle ends but your clothes are still damp, see our guide on a GE dryer not drying clothes.