Whirlpool Dryer Keeps Tripping the Breaker

[jwlott123]

I have a 2-month old Whirlpool dryer (GEQ9800PW). Last Wednesday it cut off prematurely and I found that the breaker had tripped. I reset it and turned the dryer back on. The breaker tripped in less than 4 minutes and was hot to the touch. The house is 1 year old and it looks as if the dryer is the only appliance on the breaker. Should I call an electrician before calling Whirlpool or should I go ahead and schedule a service call for the dryer?


Thanks

[Dan O.]

** Should I call an electrician before calling Whirlpool **

Yes, you should have the breaker box checked out.

Generally speaking, if a house panel fuse/breaker for a dryer trips but only after a while of use, the problem is most often in the breaker box/fuse panel rather than the appliance. Most of the problems in a dryer that would affect the house fuses/breakers would cause the fuse/breaker to trip *immediately* as soon as the dryer was turned on (or as soon as the dryer's heater came on).

** The breaker tripped in less than 4 minutes and was hot to the touch. **

The heat is a sure sign of a problem. A loose connection will generate heat which in turn will trip the breaker/blow a fuse as a safety precaution. A problem in the dryer should NOT cause heat in the house fuse panel.

JFYI

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.com/?ref411=Clothes_Dryer
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

[HayZee518]

The dryer is fed with #10 wire and is rated 30 amps. Shut off the breaker, take the cover off the panel and check the tightness of the two screws on the breaker. Then turn the breaker on and off a few times then leave on. What make is the breaker and panel? If its an FPE or Federal Pacific, then that'll explain it.
Next would be to check for something overloading the motor. Could be a drum bearing or a motor bearing. A dead short from the element would trip the breaker immediately but being you state it trips after a while would indicate something that draws excess current over a time period. That would put the motor as the prime suspect.