Sears dryer back left vent has an orange glow form heating element is this normal bought in May of 2012

This could be a few things. The first thing to check is your dryers vent, make sure its not clogged and check were it exits the house because sometimes nest are made in them. A clogged vent will prevent proper drying because the moisture can not escape and/or the heating element turns off due to overheating.
If the vent is clear, with dryer empty open the door and hold down the door switch (button that tells dryer door is closed) and turn on dryer, as its running watch the back area of drum were the vent with little holes is, within a few seconds you should start to see an orange glow in that area. If the orange glow starts then disappears within a few seconds it means your vent is clogged, if there is no orange glow at all then you have either a bad heating coil or bad high limit switches. I believe youtube has great how to videos on how to replace them, its not that hard if you have basic repair skills. Hope this helps you and your able to get it drying agian

Might be a limit or a the heater element.MY REPAIR PAGE

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Check to see if the electrical coils are glowing or not...... they are located right behind the cloths drum. (sounds as though they are NOT heating up) In order to see these coils...... first, remove all the cloths from the drum. second, while the dryers door is open 7 the drum is empty look all the way to the rear or the metal drum, it has a flat back in which you will notice there are quite a few holes. During the next step you will want to watch these holes as we check to see if the heating coils are lighting up (they will glow like the heating element in your oven... or burners on your stove top as they get hot.... ORANGE IN COLOR IS WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE) Now.... with the dryer drum empty & the door OPEN..... you will find a small pushbutton located somewhere around the outide of the drum opening thats activated (pushed in when you cose the door), depress this little button and hold it IN (this is tricking the dryer into thinking the door is closed... but its not, your holding the button NOT the door.... luckly the dryer isn't smart enough to know this) You must continue to hold the button in till the test is over.... if you let go it will IMMEDIATELLY STOP the dryer! Now, push the start button located on the console like you normally would do so during normal operation (it is recommended that the temperature be set to the HIGHEST SETTING during this test). As the dryer starts and the drum turns.... watch those holes located in the back of the drum! It takes a minute for the coils to get hot enough to glow so give it a few minutes before giving up..... after 3 minutes an ORANGE GLOW should appear through those little holes. The glow you see is the coils getting hot like the element in your oven. If after 3 minutes..... NO ORANGE GLOW can be seen through any of these holes..... the heating element needs to be replaced (this is a common problem & is usually inexpensive to replace..... $15 - $20) Replacement heating elements are available at most appliance stores..... remember to write down the manufacturers name, the dryers model number, and serial # prior to going to the store for a replacement. You MUST provide this information to the dealer for proper replacement parts! Once you've got the new heating element (it will look similar to a really long spring) you'll be Up & Running in No time!!!!) Just follow the instructions which are usually provided by the manfacturer to properly replace the broken element! Hope this helps...... GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Overloading
1. One of the simplest problems to remedy could simply be that you are putting too many items inside the machine during the drying cycle. Avoid overloading your dryer, as this might cause your dryer to work extra hard to dry your clothing, extending the length of the dry cycle.
Wrong Heat Setting
2. A common issue with clothes dryers could be the wrong heat setting. Most home dryers feature several settings, from low heat settings to high heat and permanent press. Be sure the setting you choose is right for your needs. Another setting to check is the load size of your dryer. If you are drying a large amount of clothes, be sure the setting for large loads on high heat is selected. Choosing the wrong heat setting or load size can cause your clothes and linens to take longer to dry.
Lint Trap
3. One of the simplest fixes for drying issues might just be that your lint trap is clogged. Each time you use your dryer, lint will form in the trap. If the lint trap and vents are full, this could block air going into your dryer and slow down if not completely stop the drying process. After you use your dryer, remove this lint trap and empty it fully. Even if the lint trap is full, your other dryer vents might be clogged as well.
Clogged Vents
4. If your clothes are in the dryer for a long amount of time, but still not drying, the reason for this could be a clogged vent. A sign that your vent is clogged is if your clothes are warm or hot to the touch after sitting in the dryer, but still damp. To unclog your dryer vent, you may need professional assistance. This is especially necessary if your dryer vent leading out of the house is particularly long.
Heat Source
5. If the dryer is not getting enough heat to dry your clothes,something could be wrong with the heating system. After the drying cycle, touch your clothes to see if they are warm. If not, this means that the heating mechanism is malfunctioning. It will need to be repaired or replaced by a professional.

you will need to remove the drum for this one.  once it is out, the element is mounted on the back of the unit.  not a hard repair, just lay out the parts as you take it apart to give you some order as you re-assemble it.

if you have a top lint filter turn the dryer on pull the lint filter out and put your hand in it and see if you have good suckion,if not you still have a clog-mike

Remove the exhaust vent from the rear of the dryer. Run a timed load at 45 minutes. If it dries correctly clean your connecting vent your wall vent and the lint from inside the machine.

Hi. this is quite normal when you dry heavy items. the dryer has sensors inside the compartment that will sense cotton and wool garment. if needed, the thermal regulator will adjust the element to the appropriate range. If there is a problem, the electronic thermal fuse will blow. this is the safety feature that will trigger itself if a fire or over heating is sensed. Also, if your selector knob is set to a cotton or high heat mode, the element will normally glow intensively during this cycle.


Please rate and god bless.

stat or a clogged vent system. Clean any lint from the internal and external ductwork, and/or replace the cycling thermostat (read about cycling thermostats in "Drying is too slow," above).
Drying is too slow It normally takes about 45 minutes for a dryer to dry a full load. If your dryer is taking more than an hour, check these.

Vent
Heating element
Internal ductwork
Cycling thermostat
Vent Frequently there's an obstruction in the vent duct from the dryer to the outside of the house. For the dryer to heat properly, the duct must be clean and clear of lint or any other substance. 

Heating element Your dryer's heating element may be partially burned out. If it is, your dryer still heats, but at such a low temperature that it takes three or four times as long to dry the clothes. If the element is partially burned out, replace it. 

Internal ductwork Your dryer has some internal ductwork. If it gets clogged, your dryer can't dry properly. In most dryers, to get to the internal ductwork to clear the clog, you have to substantially disassemble the dryer. A quick way to check for internal clogs is to remove the lint filter and use a flashlight to inspect the inside of the duct. If it looks clogged and you can't clear it using your vacuum, contact a qualified appliance repair technician.

Cycling thermostat Although this isn't a common problem, one of the thermostats that controls the temperature in your dryer may break and cause the dryer to heat poorly. If so, you need to replace it. The thermostat is usually a small, round, black device mounted to an oblong steel plate. The plate is mounted to the internal ductwork with two screws.

The heating element DOES cycle on and off through the cycling of the high limit thermostat. When was the last time you inspected the dryer vent and/or inside the dryer for lint? This sounds like you could have a couple of possible issues. Either you have a dryer that can't breath (Meaning, the vent hose is clogged from where it leaves the dryer to the vent outside. Or...the dryer may be clogged inside the air baffle inside the dryer where the lint screen goes.), or you could have a high limit thermostat that is malfunctioning. Now...the dryer will get hot to some degree, but it shouldn't be excessive. Here's a recommendation:

1. Remove the dryer vent hose from the dryer and turn the dryer on. Is the air leaving the dryer forceful and warm? (it should measure about 140 degrees F) If so...you probably have a clog or kink in the ducting somewhere between the dryer and where it exits the house. If the air is weak and cool, you will need to inspect your dryer interior to find what is obstructing the air flow. Rodents are notorious for building nests inside the event line or air baffle.

2. Can you access the heating element so you can see it? Start the dryer with the casing removed so you can watch the heating element. The element should glow red, but not so bright that it glows like the sun, and it should cycle on and off. If it glows continuously, the high limit thermostat is a likely suspect and should be replaced. (NOTE: It is recommended that you replace the high limit thermostat and thermal cut-out at the same time. Some manufacturers will sell the two as a pair).

HINTS: If you have a lint screen in the door, you should be able to access the heating element by removing a panel under the door. If your lint screen is on top of the washer, you will have to remove the rear panel of the dryer to see the heating element.

If the dryer is left to run in an overheat condition, the thermal cut-out and/or heating element will eventually blow. It is recommended that you inspect the dryer to see what is causing your current problem.

CAUTION: Always unplug the dryer if you are servicing the inside of the unit. Dangerous voltages are present even with the unit turned off. Also, unplug the dryer if you have to remove the rear panel. The 220VAC terminal is directly behind the panel and can cause electric shock if touched.

I hope this information helps you. Do your homework and post back if you need any further assistance.