Why A Dryer Heating Element Goes Bad And How A Dryer Repair Technician Puts In A New Element

If your dryer stops tumbling and your clothes are still damp, you may just add more time to the dryer and not give it much thought. However, if you do this all the time, you might be wasting money on electricity, especially if you use your dryer a lot.

If it seems like your clothes used to get dry quicker, or if your clothes aren't getting dry at all, the problem could be a bad heating element. Here's why this part can go bad, how a dryer repair technician can replace it, and how to get as much life from the heating element as possible.

Why A Dryer Heating Element Goes Bad

The heating element might not last as long as your dryer, but a dryer that isn't maintained properly can cause the element to go bad faster. A heating element goes bad when it overheats.

This might happen due to a power surge, but it also happens if your dryer is clogged up with lint. Filling the dryer too full can also cause the heating element to wear out faster by reducing airflow and causing the dryer to overheat.

How A Dryer Repair Service Can Help

A dryer repair technician can determine if the heating element is to blame for your dryer troubles by using a meter to test it for continuity. The results let the technician know if the element is bad, in which case it needs to be replaced, or if another problem is affecting the performance of the element.

Manufacturers place heating elements in different places, but it's common for the elements to be in the back. The repair technician has to unplug the dryer and remove the back panel to access the heating element. The heating element is usually protected inside a metal cover.

The technician removes the wiring first and then removes the thermostat that's attached. The heating element can then be slid out, tested, and examined. The element might show visible signs of damage, but a continuity test might be the only way to tell if the element is bad.

To replace the bad element, the technician slides a new element in place, attaches the thermostat, and then plugs the wiring back in. Replacing a bad heating element is a fairly quick dryer repair that will make a big difference in how well your dryer heats.

How To Keep From Burning Out The Element

One of the most important things to do is ensure the dryer and heating element have adequate ventilation. This can usually be done through routine maintenance that includes cleaning out the lint trap with each use, keeping the dryer and laundry room clean and free of dust and lint, and having the dryer vent cleaned out as often as needed.

When ventilation is obstructed in your dryer, the heating element can overheat. That could drastically reduce the life of the element, and the neglect could lead to the need for more frequent dryer repairs.

To learn more about dryer repair, contact a company like Collier County Appliance Service, Inc.

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