Counted from our technicians' notes on 69 Kenmore dryer service calls.
Is your Kenmore dryer a Whirlpool or an LG?
Kenmore dryers with model numbers starting 110 were built by Whirlpool. The ones starting 796 came from LG, built to match LG-built front-load washers. Inside, they're completely different machines. The symptom can look the same on both, but the parts and test points aren't, so the full model number from the door opening or back panel is the first thing we'll ask for.
Long dry times and no heat
A dryer that needs two or three cycles to get a load dry almost always has a restricted vent. Lint in the duct traps the hot, wet air, drying time climbs, and the dryer runs hotter than it should.
When it runs but won't heat, a blown thermal fuse is the most common cause on Whirlpool-built and LG-built models alike. That fuse is a one-time safety device, and a clogged vent is what usually blows it, so the vent has to be cleared whenever the fuse gets replaced. Cycling thermostats are next on the list. On Whirlpool-built gas dryers, the igniter and the gas valve coils fail a lot, and so does the flame sensor. Anything involving the gas valve is technician work only.
Squeals, thumps and a drum that won't turn
Noise comes from worn drum rollers, a worn idler pulley or a drive belt that's gone brittle. A squeal that grows into a thump is a classic idler pulley sign. Hear the motor but the drum isn't turning? The belt has probably broken or the idler has failed. When nothing runs at all, look at the motor, the door switch or the start circuit.
Five minutes of checking first
- Clean the lint screen, and make a habit of doing it every load.
- Check the breaker or fuse for the dryer circuit.
- With the dryer running, go outside and feel the vent hood. Airflow there should be strong and warm, and weak airflow means the duct needs cleaning.
- Look behind the dryer for a flexible duct that's crushed or kinked.
- Make sure the door is latched all the way.
What a Minnesota or Wisconsin winter does to the vent
When it's cold out, warm, moist exhaust condenses on the outdoor vent flaps and lint sticks to them. Check those flaps through the winter, and insulate long duct runs that pass through cold attics or garages to cut down on condensation.
Fix it or buy new?
Most Kenmore dryer repairs come down to thermal fuses, belts, rollers, pulleys and igniters, and those are all inexpensive parts. A failed motor or control on an older LG-built model is where it pays to compare the repair against a new dryer.