The heating element in the tumble dryer is a key component in the functioning of the dryer, it provides the heat required to dry the clothes.
This guide will take you through testing and successfully replacing the heating element on a whirlpool tumble dryer.
This video shows an example of how to remove or replace the part on a typical machine, some models may be different but the procedure should be similar.
What You Will Need:
Step 1 - Safety Advice
Safety First! Please ensure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before starting any repair
We recommend wearing suitable Safety Gloves to help prevent injury due to possible sharp edges.
Step 2- Gaining Access to the Heater
To gain access to the heater you will need to remove the top of the dryer and disconnect the mains filter, be careful of sharp edges and take out the remaining screws in the back panel to gain access to the heater.
Step 3 -Testing the Heater before Replacing
You will need a multimeter at this stage to test the heater to establish the resistance which will tell you if it has failed, so pull out the heater connection and set your meter to the low resistance setting.when testing for resistance you should be expecting a reading between 25-60 Ohms, if you get a "zero" reading or it excessively over the typical value it will require replacing.
Step 4 - Replacing the Heater
Take out the screws holding the heater in place and carefully lift it out and put the new heater in and refit the screws, now refit the electrical connections to the heater.
Lift the back panel back into place and put the screws back in, reconnect the mains filter before refitting the top panel back on.
eSpares top tip: Remember to allow the dryer to cool down to stop it overheating and check the filters regularly for blockages as this will stop airflow causing the heater to fail.
Fixing your tumble dryer heating element yourself can save you a lot of money compared to booking a repair or buying a new tumble dryer. Here at eSpares, we have a wide-range of replacement tumble dryer heating elements for you to select from - to repair it yourself.