How to Replace a Heating Element in a Dryer: A Complete Repair Guide

Of all the dryer issues, a faulty or worn out heating element may seem like the most inconvenient. After all, for all intents and purposes, your dryer may appear perfectly functional. You may start it, looking forward to toasty warm clothes, towels or sheets, without noticing anything amiss. That is, until you open the dryer and gain both a soggy mess and the unfortunate knowledge that repairs are in your future.

When this happens, how do you go about replacing the heating element? The safest answer is: you don’t; a professional does. While this process can be done on your own, you may risk harming yourself or the dryer. A professional can take care of the replacement quickly and easily, potentially saving you both money and time. Either way, before you start making repair plans, you should fully understand the replacement process. And we at Optimum Air Solutions are here to help guide you through what goes into removing and replacing a dryer heating element. 

Understanding What a Dryer Heating Element Is and When It Needs to Be Replaced

A dryer heating element is typically composed of coiled wire contained inside a metal chamber. As an electric current passes through the wire, it heats up, and a blower fan pushes air over the element and into the drum to warm the clothes. This hot air, as well as gathered moisture, is then pulled from the machine via an exhaust vent, allowing the clothes to dry.

While some heating elements may last for around five years, others can continue functioning throughout the expected lifespan of your dryer, or around 10 to 5 years. It all depends on how well you take care of your machine. Some potential signs that your heating element is faulty or worn out include:

• Clothes need more cycles to dry than usual. Make sure that this isn’t a one-time occurrence due to factors including adding too-wet items or a large load of laundry into the dryer.
• Your dryer isn’t heating up. If your dryer runs fine but your clothes are still cold and wet after a cycle, your heating element may be worn out. 
• A repeatedly tripped circuit breaker. Faulty heating elements may draw on more electricity than normal, causing your circuit breaker to trip. 

If you think your dryer’s heating element is the issue, test it to make sure. A digital multimeter tool allows you to measure ohms, or the amount of resistance—that is, a current’s ability to travel through a circuit—between two points of a conductor. If the multimeter shows infinite resistance, for example, you may need to replace your heating element. Talk to a technician to determine what the ideal range is for your dryer.

Removing Your Existing Heating Element

Once your dryer’s issue has been definitively diagnosed, it is time to begin preparing to replace the heating element. This process includes:

1. Gathering tools

Make sure everything is in place before work begins. Heating element replacements shouldn’t need too many tools; a screwdriver set, pliers, multimeter and replacement heating element are often the extent of it. Depending on the build of your dryer, a nut driver—or a tool used to screw on and remove nuts and bolts—may also be useful. And if you’ve chosen to handle the replacement yourself, make sure to acquire a pair of work gloves for safety.

2. Turning off the power

Make sure the power is turned off before work begins. Thankfully, for most dryers, this is simple—just unplug the machine. You can also flip off the circuit breaker which supplies power to your dryer in order to prevent any power surges.

3. Removing the old heating element

You’ll likely need to start by moving the dryer away from the wall in order to access its back panel. This piece will be removed with the help of a screwdriver, then placed somewhere—alongside the screws—out of the way. Some dryers may need the top and front panels removed instead—before beginning your repairs, make sure to determine how to access the interior components of your specific model. 

Now it is time to find the heating element, which will be encased by a metal housing unit. Look for signs of damage on or around the unit to help determine if a replacement is necessary. If no damage is visible, test the element with your multimeter to determine whether it is functioning properly. If not, begin the removal process by taking a picture of your dryer’s internal component configuration. This will help you remember where everything goes later.

Finally, remove the sensors above and below the housing unit, then disconnect the attached wires and screws so you can remove the existing heating element. Also take the time to check for damage on the element itself. Certain issues, such as accumulated lint, may help you to determine why it failed in the first place. 

Installing a New Heating Element

So, now that the old component has been removed, how do you replace a heating element in a dryer? The steps for doing so include: 

1. Placing a new heating element

Before starting the replacement process, check whether any other components—such as the housing unit or wiring—were damaged. Any compromised components need to be replaced before you can add in the new heating element. If these pieces are intact, you can remove the new element from its packaging, if you have not already done so, and place it into your dryer. Replace the housing unit, as well as the screws and clips which held it in place, before reattaching the wires and sensors. Make sure everything is back in its place before reattaching the dryer panels back onto the machine and closing it up. 

2. Testing your dryer

Flip the circuit breaker, plug your dryer back in and turn on your machine. Let it run on high heat for about a cycle in order to determine whether everything is working properly. Check to see if the air in the drum is warm when you open the door, and consider tossing in a few wet clothes to test the machine’s performance. Keep an eye out for any odd sounds or smells, and determine whether the clothes are drying in the typical time frame. If so, congratulations—you once again have a working dryer. 

Keep Your Property Cool, Comfortable and Safe with Optimum Air Solutions

So, how do you replace a heating element in a dryer? This process can be tricky, but thankfully, you don’t have to—and probably shouldn’t—handle it on your own. Professional dryer technicians can help you diagnose the issue, choose a new heating element and efficiently repair your dryer, bringing it back to working order as soon as possible. 

When it comes to heating and cooling appliances on the fritz, Optimum Air Solutions is the team to call. With over 20 years of experience serving heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units of all makes and models, we can ensure that your property will stay comfortable no matter the outdoor temperature. And with our 24/7 phone line, we can respond to any emergency quickly and efficiently, making sure that you never have to wait longer than absolutely necessary for assistance. So if you’re looking for HVAC maintenance, repairs or replacements, give us a call or send us a message to schedule an appointment today.