Not drying. is there a safe way to test the heating element?

make this test and fix it. God bless you
Heater

This is the most common reason why your dishwasher is not drying. To check this remove the toe kick, remove one wire from heating element and check ohm reading. Compare the reading to the tech sheet or service manual. If it has no continuity at all replace the element. Make sure the element is getting power. To do this connect voltmeter to each lead of the heating element then select a dry cycle you should have 120 volts if not the problem is in the control. If it does have power and does not heat up replace the element. The heating element is easy to replace

Timer/ Control

This is not as common as the heater but can fail. To check this select a dry cycle and check to see if the heating element has power if it does not replace the control If the element does have power and does not heat up replace heating element.

Heating element
you must test the heating element for defective see the diagram
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lZCP55aScvI
Drying fan
test the motor fan,this help to dry the dish
Thermostat
if the thermostat is defective would not help to heating element to dry.

see the diagram

Your dishwasher has an electrical heating element that helps to dry the dishes. If the element is burned out, the dishes won't dry properly, and you need to replace the element. To determine if the heating element is burned out, watch the part testing video at the bottom of this page.
Thanks

Hello there and welcome to fixya
Heating element Often a dryer heating element burns out, but doesn't trip the circuit breaker or blow a fuse. The heating element is simply a long coil of special wire. You can check it for continuity with an ohm meter. No continuity means the element is bad and you need to replace it--electric heating elements aren't repairable. To determine if the heating element is burned out, watch the part testing video at the bottom of this page. Thermal fuse On many dryers, there's a thermal fuse mounted to the exhaust duct inside the back cover panel. The fuse--which is about an inch long--is usually embedded in black resin and mounted in a white plastic housing. If the fuse has blown, you need to replace it. (You can't re-set it.) To determine if the thermal fuse has blown out, watch the part testing video at the bottom of this page.

Hello there:
Investigate these five areas if your dryer is not heating up:

Proper Voltage

If your dryer won't heat up, it's possible that it is not being supplied with the proper voltage. Here are three ways to make sure power is getting to your dryer: First, make sure your dryer is plugged in. Next, check the circuit breaker panel to make sure all the circuit breakers are in the correct positions. Finally, check to make sure no fuses in your fuse panel are blown. Any of these could explain why power is not getting to your dryer.

Heating Element

It is possible that your dryer isn't heating because its heating element is defective. Heating elements are irrepairable. If yours has ceased to function properly, you will have to replace it. Open your dryer's cabinet and locate the heating element so that you can test it.

• How to open a dryer cabinet.
• How to test a dryer's heating element.
• How to replace a dryer heating element.



• Find a heating element for your clothes dryer.

Thermal Fuse

Another possible cause for a dryer not heating up could be attributed to a faulty thermal fuse. Once a dryer's thermal fuse has blown, it is no longer of any use. If your dryer's fuse is blown, you will have to replace it. Open up your dryer's cabinet and locate its thermal fuse so that you can test it.

• How to open a dryer cabinet.
• How to test a dryer's thermal fuse.
• How to replace a dryer's thermal fuse.



• Find a thermal fuse for your clothes dryer.

Thermostat

If any of your dryer's thermostats have become defective, they could be the reason that your dryer is not heating. Open up your dryer's cabinet and test each of your dryer's thermostats. If any are faulty, replace them.

• How to open a dryer cabinet.
• How to test a dryer thermostat.
• How to replace a dryer thermostat.



• Find a thermostat for your clothes dryer.

Timer motor

A defective timer motor could also cause your dryer to not heat up. Test your dryer's timer motor. If it is no longer functioning as it should, replace either the entire motor assembly, or just its motor.

• How to test a dryer timer motor.
• How to replace a dryer timer.



• Find a timer for your clothes dryer.

To be sure, you need to test the element with a meter, and also check the thermal fuses and or thermostats for continuity.

It is possible that your dryer isn't heating because its heating element is defective. Heating elements are irrepairable. If yours has ceased to function properly, you will have to replace it. Open your dryer's cabinet and locate the heating element so that you can test it.

for safety reasons it has its own fuse and that may be your issue (new fuse $5)
To be safe i'd also get new thermostat ($15)

normally on a kitchenaid dishwasher the diagnostics cycle is activated by pressing heated dry - sani rinse - heated dry - sani rinse - heated dry - sani rinse - heated dry and this will energize the heating element but the only way to check is to see if you are geting voltage out of the board or by checking the resistance of the elment should usaly be around 16 ohm's

ck thermal fuse top of element housing part #279816 could be timer but doubtful