Is my dryer's heating element bad if it shows 0 ohm when out of the dryer?

Question

This is a Whirlpool dryer that stopped heating but still spins. It does have 220VAC coming into it.

Answer 1

If the element aint bad then I suspect it to be the High limit which is mounted in the upper portion of the heat element chamber. The kit comes with 2 parts. Replace them both. Both have failed. The high limit mostly fails due to stopped up venting or lint filled dryer.

Answer 2

it could be that or the safety's open. make sure your ohming it out at the element.

Answer 3

No that means it is good.  It is probably not really 0 ohms but your meter is showing continuity which is good.  There are thermal fuses in line with the heating element that might be blown and are not hard to replace.  Try going to www.repairclinic.com to get other ideas and if you want to buy the fuses they will sell them to you.

Answer 4

You should see a small number of ohms on the heating element if isolated. Depending on your setting, you may see no ohms. If you see potential to ground, you have a problem. If you get no ohms, the element is open, and no good. If you don't know how to use a meter, call someone.

Answer 5

Yesir. 0 ohm= short, infinite ohm's = open

But, it should be around a couple of thousand ohm's

Answer 6

If you're using an ohmeter with a swinging needle, then it should swing all the way over to the peg when you touch both leads of the element when it's out and unhooked from the dryer.  If  you're using an LED readout unit, then the reading should go to 0.00 ohms, which means it has continuity, which means it 's good.  If it is good, then the hi-limit thermal fuse on the upper left side of the element case is most likely the culprit.  Unhook the wires going to that and test it the same way, needle all the way over or 0.00 reading = good, no reading = bad.  The kit needed to replace this thermal fuse will also have a new thermostat for the base of the element case, be sure to replace that as well, it's usually the reason the top fuse blew.   The kit isn't very expensive and if you've already got the element and case out, you certainly have the skill and now the knowledge to do the repair.