First make sure nothing is wrong with your power. Since you say 'element' you are implying and I am inferring that you have an electric dryer. If so, make sure there is nothing wrong with the electricity. Electric dryers in the States utilize a 240 Volt circuit made up from a double breaker. In older houses, the double breaker may not be mechanically connected and so it is 'possible' there are two breakers serving the dryer and one of them has tripped. Thus you get the dryer to turn but not enough heat. If you are living in a house and all other circuits are normal, it is possible you've got a bad element. First see if there are any 'fix-it' folks in your vicinity, there are still some folks who will tell you what it takes to do the whole fix (they'll go through the trouble of looking up and providing the parts from a pile of partials). Otherwise you'd need to use the make and model of your machine to look up a replacement, and if you can't make the replacement yourself, you're probably better off with a 'new' old dryer (but less old) that you know works.