Turn off power to the appliance or device.

If the unit is plugged, unplug it from the electrical receptacle (outlet); if the device is wired into the circuit (such as an oven), turn the circuit off at the electrical service panel.

Disassemble the appliance or device to access the heating element following Fix-It Guides on this website. Some heating elements, such as plug-in units in electric ovens, are relatively easy to remove.

Set the multimeter to the resistance scale (RX1).

Touch the multimeter probes to each end of the element. High resistance (kilo-ohms or thousands of ohms) indicates the heating element is okay. A reading of infinite resistance indicates a broken element.

If a heating element is faulty, replace it with one of the exact size, shape, power rating, and resistance.

Reassemble the appliance or device and turn it on or plug it in to test it.

Fix-It Tip: A Toaster or Hair Dryer uses a very thin heating element that is wound around a non-conducting frame of mica or other material. The element is so thin that it easily can be damaged during dismantling or in installation, so be very careful when replacing the unit.