Electric Dryer Does Not Heat Troubleshooting
A dryer not heating is almost always a simple issue and, when needed a simple repair.
The thing to check is your power! Dryers run on 240v and are usually attached to a double breaker (each carrying 120v).
Usually these breaks are tied together so that if one trips they both trip, however, that is not always the case (even if they look like they are). (Note: with fuses they can always blow separately). Dryers require 120v to run the motor, the second 120v is needed to run the heating element. Therefore, it is possible for the dryer to run but not heat one breaker (half power).
Therefore, locate your circuit breaker box and turn it off the breaker for your dryer and then turn it back on to reset it and try your dryer again (replace both fuses).
We also recommend using a voltage meter to read the power receptacle to ensure the dryer is getting 240v, however, we recommend that any problem that occurs between the breaker and the dryer power receptacle should be remedied by a licensed electrician. Also, it is less common than the next several possibilities so, unless you have a voltage meter, skip this step for now.
The next most common problem is the airflow is restricted or blocked. When the airflow is restricted the temperature will build up quickly near the heating element and result in the thermostat tripping ad shutting off the heating element. Therefore, an airflow restriction can look like a bad heating element or thermostat.
The first place to check is the lint screen (which needs to be cleaned after every use).
If the lint screen is clean then remove the vent hose (hose, usually silver colored attached to the back) from the back of the dryer and run it without the hose attached (yes, it is a bit dusty but it will not hurt anything to run it just for diagnisis). If the dryer heats without the vent hose on then the problem is not the dryer but there is a clog between the dryer and the outside. If this is the case you need to clean or change out the vent hose IMMEDIATELY and make sure there is a clear path for the hot air to get outside (Lint build up is the number one cause of fire from dryer so if this is the issue it needs to be corrected ASAP!)
If neither of the above is the problem the next most likely cause is the heating element one of the thermostats (High Limit, Thermal Cutoff or Thermal Fuse). Sorry, currently we only have up a DYI advise article up for:
Whirlpool, Kenmore, KitchenAid, Amana, Dryers
It is possible that the problem is in your control board, however, at this problem requires a service technician and may not be worth repairing at all.
Also, there may be a problem with the wiring in your home, which, we would recommend a licensed electrician to repair.