My dryer just started gradually drying worse. It seems like over the past week or two it has started taking 2 or 3 runs just to get the clothes dry. I am suspecting the heating element and would like second opinions, as well as to know if I should even expect to find a new heating element for this one.

I have the heating control turned to the max temperature, and the electrical and dryer vent are new installation (as of 2 months ago) so I don't think they are related to the issue. The cylinder (or whatever it is called) is turning, and it is still creating heat so I don't think it is the heater resistor/fuse thing.

Thanks!

How big of a kink am I looking for? The vent comes out and turns 90 degrees straight up, and then goes up about 5ft to another 90 degree turn out through the wall.

Thank you for the advice, i'm going to run the next load without the vent attached.

Thank you very much!

I removed the pipe to test it how you said to, but it smelled like 'burning' a little and I wasn't too fond of leaving like that. So I reattached it and went outside to see if there was air flowing and the outside grate was PACKED full of lint. The air flow was totally blocked. (NOTE: I seemed to have missed your advice on checking the outside vent, I was concentrating so much on the kinked pipe... I need to read closer...)

I cleared it out and I expect it will work fine. Thanks for saving me the cost and effort of replacing the heating element!

Any ideas on why so much lint would make it past my lint filter? I only installed that grate 2 or 3 months ago brand new. My dryer is getting old, would that be it?