Fisher Paykel dryer models may look plain on the outside, yet they’re anything but plain in performance. Countless people turn to this brand to get their clothes dry after a wash cycle.
But like any other appliance, these dryers can encounter technical difficulties. Perhaps your Fisher Paykel dryer is running too hot—or, conversely, isn’t running hot enough to dry your laundry.
If this is the case, you can press a small, red reset button on the dryer’s high-limit thermostat. However, this thermostat is a bit tedious to access. It requires unscrewing several screws and unplugging a few wires.
This post will answer questions about this dryer’s reset button, including how to find it and what to use it for.
Fisher Paykel Dryer Reset Button Location
Many dryers have a manual reset button for the heating assembly that you can press when your dryer begins to under- or overheat, affecting drying performance and safety.
And similarly to several other dryer brands, Fisher Paykel places their reset button on the thermostat, which is part of the heating assembly.
Unlike the outside of the dryer, which is plain and white, the heating assembly looks like a dark gray, irregularly shaped container. The thermostat is the cylindrical component in the middle with a black and yellow wire plugged into it (one on each side). The red button really stands out.
But on these dryers, the appearance isn’t what’s confusing—it’s accessing that location itself that can be difficult.
How to Access the Fisher Paykel Dryer Reset Button
Unlike an Asko or Bosch dryer, you’ll need to remove several pieces and pull out multiple wires in order to access the thermostat on a Fisher Paykel dryer.
Here, we’ll outline the steps you need to take to get to the reset button:
Unplug the dryer. This might seem like a given, but it’s typically tiny accidents like forgetting to unplug an appliance that leads to injuries. Take a few moments to remove the power cord from the outlet.
Lift the dryer lid.
Right under the dryer lid, there’s a frame that surrounds the top of the dryer drum which you can remove. Pull up the white screw covers on each side of the dryer.
Remove the screws and lift off the frame.
Close the dryer lid.
Lift the lid and frame at the same time. For this step, you’ll need to hold the dryer lid and frame together. You can use a piece of tape to secure the two together.
Toward the back left side of the dryer, you’ll find a blue wire that plugs into a copper-colored box. Disconnect the blue wire, but leave the others intact.
Unclip the dryer frame and lid from the dryer. You can find the clips at the very back.
Now, you’ll need to remove the front panel. To do this, unscrew the screws at the top front corners of the dryer.
Unclip the front panel from each side panel by pulling them apart.
PAUSE! Before you set the front panel aside, be sure to unplug the green wire from the very bottom of the panel.
The thermostat and reset button will be at the bottom right.
From here, you can do several things with the heating assembly. But first, you’ll probably want to try pressing the reset button.
Fisher Paykel Dryer Not Heating: Reset Button Fix
The heating assembly contains components like the thermal fuse, thermostat, and heating element that warm up the dryer drum.
The high-limit thermostat, in particular, is a safety component that prevents your dryer from surpassing a specific internal temperature. It’s intended to reduce fire risk.
But sometimes, it can somehow get set to too low of a temperature, rendering the appliance ineffective.
In this case, pressing the reset button can change the temperature setting back to the ideal temperature for good performance.
What Else Can Cause Underheating?
Other issues that can reduce the heat—and therefore the effectiveness—of your dryer include:
A clogged vent or lint trap that impedes outgoing airflow
A dysfunctional temperature sensor that’s misreading the internal temperature as higher than it really is
A defective heating element (a component primarily responsible for creating heat within the dryer)
A thermal fuse that has already tripped, cutting off power to the heating assembly
A moisture sensor that’s underestimating the amount of moisture left in your load of laundry.
Clogged vents and filters can just be cleared of debris. However, you’ll probably need to replace any dysfunctional sensors and other components.
What If My Dryer Is Overheating?
A thermostat reset may also help a dryer that’s overheating. Just follow the steps above to access the button and press it.
You’ll want to consider a few alternatives if that doesn’t work.
First, is there enough air coming into the dryer to cool it down? Just like insufficient airflow can keep a dryer cool, it can also keep it hot by not letting heat escape. Be sure to clear out any filters and vents to allow air to flow in and out freely.
Next, consider the high-limit thermostat: Just like the temperature can be set too low, it can also be set too high. Here, a reset might work. However, if a reset doesn’t work, you’ll need to replace the thermostat.
Finally, the heating element may be deformed, leading to contact between the heating coils and other components within the dryer. Check your heating element and replace it if it’s warped.
You can find the reset button on a Fisher Paykel dryer in the same place as most other modern dryers: the thermostat.
Pressing this button should reset the temperature and other settings that can affect the heating performance of your dryer, whether it’s not heating up enough to dry clothes properly or heating up too much and creating a fire risk.
Sometimes, a reset may not work because components like the thermal fuse or heating element need to be replaced, or the vents need to be cleared. These are relatively simple fixes, though replacing heating components will require you to disassemble the appliance again.
