A dryer heating element is the coil of resistance wire in an electric clothes dryer that heats air before it is pulled through the drum. It runs on a 240-volt circuit and is protected by a high-limit thermostat and a thermal fuse that cut power if the dryer overheats. Gas dryers use a burner instead.
Why it matters to you
When the element burns out, the drum still turns but the clothes come out damp and cold. An element or thermal fuse that fails repeatedly often points to a restricted dryer vent making the dryer run hot.
Practical guidance
If the dryer tumbles without heat, first check that both breakers on the dryer's double-pole breaker are on, then check the vent for a lint blockage. Replacing a blown thermal fuse without fixing the airflow problem behind it invites the same failure again.