How to Test a Dryer Heat Element

The dryer uses a heating element to dry the clothes inside the dryer. When your clothes do not seem to be getting dry or the dryer does not feel warm to the touch, it may be time to learn how to test a dryer heating element. By testing the element, you can determine if the heating element is at fault or if the problem lies elsewhere.

Things You'll Need

• Putty knife
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Needle nose pliers
• Volt-ohm meter

Instructions

Heating Element Behind Toe Panel

1. Unplug the dryer from the wall outlet. Insert the blade of a putty knife between the bottom of the front panel and the top of the toe panel. Press in on the retaining spring clips with the blade of the putty knife, and pull the toe panel off the dryer.

2. Locate the heating can on the lower right-hand side of the dryer. Remove the single screw that secures the heat shield cover to the end of the heating can. Flip the cover down, or remove it completely to reveal the heating element inside the can.

3. Disconnect the wires to the heating element using a pair of needle nose pliers. Set the volt-ohm meter scale to RX1 to measure the resistance of the heating element.

4. Touch one probe to one of the heating element terminals and the other probe to the other terminal. If you receive a reading on the volt-ohm meter scale of infinite resistance the heating element is faulty.

Heating Element Behind Dryer

1. Unplug the dryer power cord from the electrical outlet. Move the dryer away from the wall so that you can work behind the dryer if your heating element is behind the back panel. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the clamp that secures the dryer duct to the dryer exhaust, and pull the dryer duct away from the dryer.

2. Remove the back panel of the dryer by using a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the retaining screws. Set the back panel off to the side of the dryer.

3. Use needle nose pliers to remove the two wires that are connected to the side of the heating element can below the thermistor. The heating element can is on the right side of the dryer and the thermistor is on the lower left hand side of the can. The wires that you are disconnecting are the heating element terminal block wires.

4. Set the volt-ohm meter to the RX1 resistance scale. Touch one probe to each of the terminal blocks of the heating element. If you receive a reading of infinite resistance, the heating element is defective.

Tips & Warnings

• Always disconnect appliances from the power source before attempting repairs.

References

• Heating Element behind Toe Panel
• Heating Element Behind Back Panel