circut breaker trips

[Jeff Wisnia]

Now if this was asked on alt.hvac six responders would for sure tell him to install a new wall thermostat.

Nicely posed diagnostic questions Doug, you should charge more.

Jeff

[fencingmom]

as soon as I turn on my dryer the circut breaker trips off. would this be a problem with the breaker or the dryer? The dryer is only 2 years old.

[Doug Miller]

You haven't provided anywhere nearly enough information to enable anyone to even guess at the answer.

Gas or electric dryer?

Does the circuit breaker really trip the instant you turn on the dryer, or is there a discernible delay?

Most dryers have an air-only setting; does the problem occur on that setting, too, or just when it's set on a heating cycle?

What is the amperage of the circuit breaker?

What is the amperage listed on the dryer's electrical rating plate?

Did this problem start suddenly, or has it been intermittent and growing worse over time?

If the problem started suddenly, did any unusual event (fire, flood, lightning strike, mechanical damage, etc.) occur shortly before it started?

[Doug Miller]

.. and touch off another two-week flame war.

Thanks, Jeff, I'm thinking about raising my rates. We'll see what the OP comes back with, and then maybe we'll have something to work with.

[RBM]

If your dryer has a plug on it, unplug it. If the breaker resets, the problem probably has something to do with the dryer

[hallerb]

quoted text -

a frequent cause in a electric dryer is a failed heating element, they tend to break and ground to the case

[gfretwell]

That's the one I want in the office pool. ;-) Just be sure you unplug the dryer before you start taking it apart. Usually you have 2 choices on the element. You can buy the whole assembly that is a simple swap or you can just buy the Nichrome wire coil and re-string the heater. That can be a tad bit harder but a lot cheaper.

[Sam E]

Yes.

[Mark Lloyd]

And if it was me with the dryer problem. I'd answer them.

[Stormin Mormon]

Use an ammeter to tell if the dryer is drawing enough current to justify the trip.

[wingnut]

Alt.Hvac is trade newsgroups for tradesman. Not an appropriate group for homeowners at all.

[wingnut]

My crystal ball says, "as soon" is so very typical of a grounding. I doubt its the breaker.

Sadly that's the only clue given.

[CJT]

... and a sorry reflection on the trade, for sure.