Dryer Heating Element
Dryer Heating Element Failed?
Has your dryer heating element broken down? Don’t know what that means? Well, it is the element which converts the electricity provided, into heat, via Joule heating. Where are they needed? The washing machines. In a world where robots are about to get brains of their own, who still wants to wash their clothes with their hands, right? When there’s the option to wash and dry the clothes automatically with the help of electricity, why use manual process. But in case, one fine day, you wake up and find that everything is working on your washing machine; just that the dryer is not heating up, your dryer heating element may be out of breath! What to do now?
Do not panic! When the dryer is not working, hang up the washed clothes on strings or anything else, until you have changed the dryer heating element. The dryer heating elements of most dryers are not very tough to change. So, let’s get started.
Precautions
The first thing you have to keep in mind, while changing the dryer heating element, is your own safety. So follow through.
First thing’s first; switch off the power source of the machine and pull out the plug of the same. If possible, switch off the power form the main source. Remember, if and only if you do not roast yourself in the electricity, you are going to enjoy the luxuries of the washing machine and the dryer. So be safe.
The next thing is keeping your surrounding safe. While changing the dryer heating element, keep a safe distance from a few things like, water (a great conductor of electricity and will definitely help to fry you), anything metal and essentially, children.
If possible, take a wooden seat underneath you. Sit on the wooden seat, or somehow keep attached to a wooden piece. Also, try wearing a set of rubber or other material slippers, which are specially made for use in your home.
Changing the dryer heating element
Getting back to business, let’s change the dryer heating element of your washing machine.
Most of the time, it is seen that the dryer heating element of the washing machine is at the very end (rear side) of the washing machine. So, make some place for yourself and lay down the washing machine (face first) on the floor.
Now, hold the screwdriver like a sword and play; just kidding! Un-screw the backside of the dryer where there should be around 10-12 screws. Locate the dryer heating element. It is not something to miss. It’s about a feet high from the floor and of a dimension 3 ½ inch by 3 1/3 inch. There should be coils inside.
The box you just found should have been in its place, held by two screws and two wires connected to the same. Remove the screws and inspect the box to find if anything looks broken or missing or burnt. There is no way you can repair the box, if the few things mentioned had happened.
Visit the local appliance dealer and buy one new dryer heating element. Also take any kind of manual, if available.
Connect the wires as they were with the previous dryer heating element and screw the screws in their respective holes. After you are done, make sure everything is as it was before.
Place and re-attach the back cover of the backside and replace the washing machine as it was before. Plug all the wire and switch the power on. You should have the heat now.
See how easy it all was? Hopefully you have the dryer working as good as new. Just a friendly notice, try not to use the dryer too often. It takes a lot of power.
