GE Dryer The heating element is shot...broken in pieces. Can I replace just the coil spring thing or does the whole thing have to be replaced?

First check to see that the exhaust venting line is clear (not full of lint) as well as the path in the dryer to the line. This is the most common cause of no heat.
Second set the knob to heat turn on dryer with the lights off and the door open but the "open door" switch so that it still rotates with the door open. Look at the back of the rotating drum for a orange/red glow behind the drum (the heater coils). If there is no glow the heater coils are probably broken.
As the dryers age, the amount of thermal cycles the heater elements go through until the point when the coil wire breaks. There usually two heater coils behind the rotating drum (one hotter than the other and when combined the hottest heat temperature setting. You will need to pop open the top where you see the belt that turns the drum. The belt is removed from the spring loaded tensioner pulley at the base of the dryer. Then you can lift the drum out to get to the heater coils. Since no heat, both should be broken and will require replacement.

This type of dryer has 2 rows of elements. If one is out then you will not have high heat.


Basically to get into ge dryers your start by popping the top then removing the front. Then the drum comes out.

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Might be a limit or a the heater element.MY REPAIR PAGE

If you need further help, reach me via phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/dan_73bbd84fe1d95b61

you will need to remove the drum for this one.  once it is out, the element is mounted on the back of the unit.  not a hard repair, just lay out the parts as you take it apart to give you some order as you re-assemble it.

Most likely you have a burnt element....A good handy man could replace the element fairly easily.. Cost of a new element about $50-$75

Hi,
There are a number of things that can go wrong on an electric dryer that will make it not heat...

Check out this tip that I wrote about that problem...

http://www.fixya.com/support/r3866345-dryer_troubleshooting_electric_dryer_won

heatman101

There are many things that can cause a no heat symptom in an electric dryer, here is a list of possible causes in order of likelihood or ease of access.

1. An open fuse/breaker in the house fuse panel.
There are 2 fuses or breakers for the dryer, both must be good in order for the dryer to function properly. If one is open, it is possible for the dryer to run but not generate heat. In the case of breakers, try resetting them as sometimes one of the two can open but not physically tip the mechanical lever.

2. An open thermal fuse in the dryer.
Some models use a thermal safety limiter or thermal fuse which could open the circuit to the heat element. These are used to prevent a runaway or over heat condition and are often found mounted to the blower or heater element housing (see the links below for examples). These devices are a fairly current development and may not be found on very old dryers.

Note: If this is the cause of your current problem (pardon the pun), I strongly suggest you check the vent for obstructions and ensure its length meets the manufacturers recommended limitations, the shorted the better. Failure of this part could be the first indication of a potential fire hazard in the dryer!

3. The element coil is burnt out.
Dryer elements are bare wires coiled like springs, when they fail the wire will break opening the circuit. This breakage could be intermittent, only opening as the element expands as it heats. Sometimes the element coil has to be physically checked for breakages, especially where the coil goes through ceramic insulator which could hide a breakage from plain view. Depending on the brand and style, the replacement element may be just the coiled wire that has to be mounted into the original element housing. On other models the element assembly comes already mounted on a frame that then in installed into the element housing or directly into the dryer. Whichever the case, the element coil has to be replaced not just joined together using connectors.

4. A burnt wire or wire connector. Replace the burnt wire connector and/or wire and inspect the component terminal it was attached to. If any sign of charring or discoloration are visible on the component's terminal or repeated failures occur at that same location, replace the component the terminal is part of. Such items can include the main power junction terminal block (very common), thermodiscs (thermostats), heat selector switch, centrifugal switch (on the motor) or the timer.

No because the heat will just make it come apart again.

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The heater coils or going bad. It has two wire rings that heat up. One are two has burned out.

Theres other things that cause a NO heat problem ... ITs wealth worth the investment of a muti meter to do checks 12.oo dollars or so...

but the heater is in the back.. need to pulll off back panel of dryer.... heater is in right corner faceing back of dryer.

here is a link to help replace... I would check to see if any coils are broke .. sometimes light taping on heater coils is required to find a broken coil

http://www.davesrepair.com/DIYhelp/DIYreplacingWPLdryels.htm