There is heat, but the clothes are almost always damp. Do I need to replace the heating element? Is it an easy thing, I am pretty handy and love doing such things.
Or could there be another problem?

[This message has been edited by kumar98 (edited 4/18/2011 9:53a).]

If it has any heat it is not the element. I would check the vent and related first. If it is not exhausting properly, it will take longer to dry.

Absol, thanks, I will try that today!

FWIW...Had similar problem in a new house...venting for dryer was too long and too many elbows in the run. Made a direct vent to outside and now dryer works like a champ.

Check the external vent line for clogs.

Armchair, we bought a house last year, and its been a problem right since then. Maybe the previous owners didn't clean that out. I'll check when I get back home.

Clogged vent ducts are a huge fire danger too.

Could be either, but we had similar problem with a very similar Kenmore. Ours was in fact the heating element. So even if it's blowing some hot air it could be that. May not be totally dead, but just dying, and if memory serves some of these dryers have more than one element.

Just unplug the exhaust from the back of the dryer and run a load (it won't blow THAT much lint in one load). If things dry beautifully you'll know it's an exhaust problem.

-Rob

Could also be the washer. If the washer has a weak spin cycle, the clothes go into the dryer too wet and are harder to dry.