How to replace a Maytag dryer heating element

When your Maytag electric dryer runs but doesn’t heat, it may need a new heating element. If you have a Maytag gas dryer that won’t dry your clothes, you may need replace the gas valve coils.

Before you order parts, check other issues that can keep your from heating.

Why your Maytag dryer is not getting hot

Electric dryer

An electric dryer needs 240 volts of power to heat. The motor will run and spin the drum if the dryer gets 120 volts through the electrical outlet but it won’t heat. Check the house circuit breaker for the dryer. If one side of the double breaker for the dryer tripped, reset the circuit breaker and see if the dryer heats. If it does, then the dryer heating problem is fixed.

If the house circuit breakers for the dryer are okay, the high limit thermostat on the side of the heating element assembly or cycling thermostat on the blower housing could be bad. Follow the steps in our Electric dryer won't heat troubleshooting article/video to determine exactly what’s causing the heating failure in your dryer.

Gas dryer

Perform the basic troubleshooting described in the owner’s manual for your Maytag gas dryer when it won’t heat. If those steps don’t help, follow the steps in our Gas dryer won't heat troubleshooting article/video to determine what’s preventing your Maytag gas dryer from heating.

How do you know if the heating element is bad in your dryer?

You can sometimes see a physical break in the heating element coils. Unplug the dryer and remove the rear panel of the dryer to access and check the heating element. Examine the heating coils and replace the heating element if you see a physical break in a section of the heating element coil.

If you don’t see a break in a heating coil, you can check for electrical continuity through the heating element using a multimeter. With the dryer still unplugged, disconnect the wires going to the element. Set your multimeter to measure resistance and check resistance through the heating element. The meter should measure around 15 ohms of resistance through the heating element if it’s good. If the meter measures infinite resistance, then you know that the heating element is bad so replace the element.

How much does it cost to replace a heating element in a Maytag dryer?

If you’re adept at dryer repair and can replace the heating element yourself, then the cost of replacing the heating element will be the cost of the replacement part—about $50 to $100 for most Maytag dryers. If you’re a novice at appliance repair and need guidance for replacing the heating element, you can follow the steps in our How to replace a heating element in an electric dryer repair guide/video to complete the repair.

If you need to have a service technician replace the heating element in your Maytag dryer, you’ll typically pay between $180 and $250 for the repair.