Why does my dryer keep tripping the breaker?
Most common cause on a dryer in the GTA: heating element shorted (grounded) to its housing — usually trips a few minutes in once the element heats up and the sagging coil touches the metal. A typical repair runs $260–$420 all-in, including the $149.95 diagnostic, credited 100% toward your repair. A breaker that trips on a dryer is reacting to a real short to ground — a live fire and shock risk. Stop using it and book same-day; don't keep resetting it. Same-day
Prices in CAD for the GTA; typical ranges — your exact quote is confirmed on-site before any work. Updated .
Most dryer faults in the GTA come down to a handful of parts — and the majority are worth repairing rather than replacing a 10–13 years appliance. Anthony is a Red Seal certified technician who carries the common dryer parts on the van, so most the GTA jobs are diagnosed and fixed in a single visit.
Dryer repair costs in the GTA
Honest, all-in ranges for common jobs. Every visit starts with a flat $149.95 diagnostic that is credited 100% toward your repair — so you never pay it twice.
| Problem | Parts | Labour | All-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tripping the breaker / blowing a fuse | $25–$170 | $130–$200 | $260–$420 |
| Diagnostic (credited to the repair) | $149.95 |
Ranges are estimates for common the GTA jobs; your exact quote is confirmed on-site before any work begins. Prices in CAD, updated .
How your repair works
Four simple steps, no surprises.
Book
Call or request a callback. Same-day & next-day appointments available.
Diagnose
A flat $149.95 diagnostic pinpoints the real fault.
Approve
You get an upfront all-in quote first — diagnostic credited 100% toward your repair.
Repaired
Fixed with OEM parts, backed by a 90-day warranty.
Common Dryer problems & what we check
Tap any problem for the likely causes, what is safe to check yourself, and what it costs.
Tripping the breaker / blowing a fuse Same-day$260–$420
Tripping the breaker / blowing a fuse: The dryer kills the breaker (or blows a fuse) either the instant it starts or a few minutes into the cycle, and won't run again until you reset the panel.
Also described as: keeps blowing the fuse, trips the panel on start, kills power mid-cycle, breaker won't stay on
Likely causes
- Heating element shorted (grounded) to its housing — usually trips a few minutes in once the element heats up and the sagging coil touches the metal (Most common)
- Damaged power cord or scorched/loose terminal block arcing to the cabinet — often trips the instant it starts (Common)
- Drive-motor winding shorted to the motor frame — trips as the motor tries to start (Occasional)
- A weak/aged breaker, or an older 3-wire frame-bonded dryer nuisance-tripping a newly required GFCI breaker (the neutral-to-frame bond unbalances the GFCI) (Occasional)
How we diagnose it — in order
- Note WHEN it trips and rule out the house side first: trip the instant the door-start is pressed points to a dead short (motor or wiring); trip a few minutes in, only once heat comes on, points to the element. Confirm it's the appliance, not the circuit, by clamping an ammeter on the dryer cord and watching for a current spike right before the breaker goes-no spike means the fault is in the outlet, cord, or breaker itself.
- Pull the dryer, unplug it, and inspect the terminal block and power cord where they land at the back: look for loose lugs, burnt or melted insulation, arc/scorch marks, and a green ground strap/wire that has come loose or is contacting a hot leg. Re-land or replace any charred connection before testing components-a loose hot touching the cabinet trips instantly.
- With power off, isolate and ohm the heating element to ground: disconnect both element leads and check resistance from each terminal to the element housing/cabinet. Any continuity to ground (should read open/OL) means the element has shorted to its can-replace it. A surge as the element energizes is the classic 'runs a few minutes then trips' cause.
- If the element is good, test the drive motor for a grounded winding: with the motor leads disconnected, ohm each motor terminal to the motor housing. Continuity to ground condemns the motor. A shorted motor winding is the typical 'trips the instant it tries to start' fault.
- With element and motor cleared, trace the harness and remaining 240V components-check the wiring loom for pinched/chafed wires grounding against the cabinet or blower, and ohm any other line-voltage parts (e.g. a centrifugal switch or relay on the board) to ground. Repair the grounded conductor or replace the faulted part; this isolation step is what confirms the cause when the obvious suspects test clean.
✔ Safe to check yourself
- Reset the breaker once and note WHEN it trips — instantly on start points at the cord/terminal block or motor; a few minutes in points at the heating element.
- Check the cord and outlet for a burnt smell, scorch marks, or a melted plug, and confirm nothing else is sharing and overloading that circuit.
✖ Leave to a technician
- Stop after one reset — repeatedly re-arming a breaker on a dead short is a fire and shock hazard. Anything behind the cabinet (element, motor, terminal block) and any gas component is technician-only.
- Never fit a higher-amp breaker or fuse to 'make it hold' — the wire gauge is sized to that breaker, and upsizing it removes the only protection and can start a fire.
Related: Not heating · Drum not spinning · Making noise (squeaking, grinding, thumping)
Ready to get it fixed?
Call now — (647) 490-7878 90-day warranty · flat $149.95 diagnostic credited 100% toward your repairDryer tripping the breaker / blowing a fuse by brand
Brand-specific dryer repair
Get your dryer fixed — tripping the breaker / blowing a fuse repair near you
We diagnose and repair dryer tripping the breaker / blowing a fuse across the GTA, same-day where possible, with the flat $149.95 diagnostic credited 100% toward your repair.
Why homeowners across the GTA call us
Every repair is led by Anthony, a Red Seal interprovincial journeyman who is 313A Licensed, TSSA Certified, ODP Certified, with his team working under his direct leadership — backed by $2,000,000+ general liability insurance and a 90-day workmanship warranty on every job.
Red Seal-led team
Every job is overseen by Anthony, a certified journeyman, and handled by his own trusted team.
Licensed & gas-certified
313A refrigeration licence and TSSA gas certification for safe, code-correct repairs.
$2,000,000+ insured
Fully insured for general liability, so your home is protected during the repair.
90-day warranty
Parts and workmanship are warrantied — if it's not right, we come back.
OEM parts on the van
Common parts are stocked, so most jobs are completed on the first visit.
Upfront pricing
A flat $149.95 diagnostic, credited 100% toward your repair, and a quote before any work.
What our credentials mean for you
- Red Seal Certified
- The interprovincial standard for skilled trades — a journeyman who passed the national appliance-service exam.
- 313A Licensed
- Ontario's refrigeration & air-conditioning systems mechanic licence — legally required to work on sealed cooling systems.
- TSSA Certified
- Technical Standards & Safety Authority gas certification — qualified to work safely on gas appliances.
- ODP Certified
- Ozone Depletion Prevention certification — licensed to handle refrigerants responsibly and to code.
Repair or replace your dryer?
A simple rule of thumb: if the repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new unit and the appliance is near the end of its life, replacement may make more sense.
A dryer typically lasts – and costs $800–$1,500 to replace — so most faults under about $450 are worth fixing. We'll always tell you honestly when a repair isn't worth your money.
Keep your dryer running
Simple habits that prevent the most common the GTA repairs.
- Clean the lint filter before every load.
- Have the full vent run (wall to outside) cleared once a year — the top fire-prevention step.
- Don't overload the drum; it accelerates roller and belt wear.
- Check the exterior vent flap opens freely and isn't blocked by lint or snow.
More appliance repair in the GTA
Other appliances
Nearby cities
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dryer keep tripping the breaker?
Do you charge for the diagnostic?
How soon can you come out?
Are you licensed and insured?
Do you use genuine parts?
Need your dryer fixed in the GTA?
Same-day & next-day appointments available. Flat $149.95 diagnostic, credited 100% toward your repair, and a 90-day warranty on every repair.
Call (647) 490-7878