Kenmore Appliance Parts
Welcome to Kenmore Dryer Parts Resource Center
RepairClinic.com Help Video
- Kenmore Dryer Parts
- How Kenmore Dryer Works
- Control Panel
- Door Switch and Interior Light
- Drive Motor and Related Parts
- Burner Assembly and Related Parts
- Maintenance Tips for Kenmore Dryer
- Maintenance Calendar
Kenmore Dryer Parts
Your son is home from college for winter holidays. He is carrying bags of dirty, muddy, smelly laundry. He takes the bags to the basement and loads up the washing machine. The first load is done before you know it. He is transferring it into the dryer and you are amazed at how efficient and organized he has become. But then you hear him calling: "Mom, I don't think the dryer is working as it should be!"
Why not? you wonder. What's wrong with your Kenmore dryer? Is it broken? Does it need maintenance? You need some expert advice to help you solve this problem. You need to visit RepairClinic.com.
At RepairClinic.com, you will find expert technical advice on how to diagnose the problem with your dryer. With its extensive library of technical documentation it can assist you in properly diagnosing your dryer for electrical, plumbing, hardware, or other problems.
If you realize that your dryer is broken, you can easily figure out what part you need. With its powerful search tool, the PartDetective, you will find help in locating the part for your appliance.
RepairClinic.com has all the Kenmore dryer parts and all the advice on how to fix it.
How Kenmore Dryer Works
Dryers are not difficult appliances for a DIYer to repair.
Kenmore dryers have these 3 component parts:
- a drum for the clothes
- a heat source for warming the air that will then dry the clothes
- an exhaust vent that gets rid of moisture and steam that forms as clothes dry
Control Panel
Dryer control panel is made up of at least 2 of these components:
- Timer - frequently the largest dial on the main control panel; it may be a mechanical device that looks like a clock or it may be electronic and have a digital readout.
- Start switch - once the timer has been set to the proper cycle, the start switch will need to be turned on for the cycle to begin. The dryer will not start without it.
- Selector switches - Most dryer control panes have lots of switches or knobs. They allow the user to adjust settings such as temperature, timer cycle, end-of-cycle signal, etc. For the most part, though, the dryer will function and run the cycle selected by the timer, despite the settings on the switches or knobs.
Door Switch and the Interior Light
Dryers have a door switch that is usually located inside the main cabinet. It looks like a button or a small lever and is located on or near the door frame.
When door is closed, it pushes the door lever. This activates the switch and allows the dryer to operate once it is started. When the door is closed, the switch interrupts the power to most of the internal components. This stops all action while turning on the interior light.
Warning! If your Kenmore dryer does not stop turning once the door is opened, stop using it at once! Serious injury may occur.
Drive Motor and Related Parts
The dryer motor serves 3 main purposes:
- The motor turns on the drum, and the drive belt is attached to one side of the drum.
- If the drum doesn't rotate at the right speed, the heat won't come on.
- A fan blade is attached to one side of the drum. It draws warm air through the drum and pushes it out to the exhaust vent.
Burner Assembly and Related Parts
For an electric dryer, burner assembly consists of a heating element and 1 or more thermostats. For a gas dryer, these are the components that make up the burner assembly: the thermostat, the gas valve and the igniter and sensor. When they are turned on by the timer, electricity or gas are supplied to heating elements for both types of dryers.
How it works:
- After closing the dryer door, set the timer, press or turn the starter switch, and the motor will start. As the motor comes to full speed, a switch will turn on. This will allow the electricity to flow through a thermostat to the heating element.
- The heating element will start to glow hot red. The air from the blower will flow over the element, through the drum, and through the exhaust vent it should flow outside.
- Once it reaches the set temperature, a thermostat will turn off the flow of power to the heating element.
- When the temperature falls by 20 to 30 degrees, the thermostat turns on the power to the heating element again. This allows the drying cycle to start over.
- If the setting is on Automatic, the dryer will run until clothes are dry. Once they are dry, the dryer will turn off automatically. If the setting is on a timed selection, the cycle will continue until the time has expired.
Maintenance Tips for Kenmore Dryer
- To keep your dryer working optimally, check the entire length of the vent pipe for lint build up. This should be done at least once a year, and more frequently if the dryer is used often. Clean and remove lint thoroughly from the duct. Never push the lint back into the dryer as this could clog up other parts of the vent.
Warning! It is advisable to have an aluminum vent pipe on your dryer. The white vinyl ducts commonly used in the past no longer meet most building codes. If the vinyl pipe gets ignited, there is serious danger that fire could spread through your home.
- Interior of your dryer cabinet - Although most of the lint from drying clothes is trapped by the lint filter, some does escape and accumulates on the inside of the dryer cabinet. Once a year (at least) the cabinet should be thoroughly cleaned. If the dryer is used very often, it should be cleaned 3-4 times a year, .
- Lint filter and the area under it - The lint filter should be cleaned after every cycle. If there are any rips or tears, the lint filter should be replaced right away. If the filter is clogged by fabric softener or other residue, clean it with a soft-bristle brush and a little detergent.
Always clean the chute, the duct, and the area that the lint filter fits into. A vacuum cleaner is a useful tool because it allows you to reach far into the duct and to clean out most of the lint.
For all Kenmore dryer parts, accessories and advice, visit us at RepairClinic.com. We are your Kenmore appliance parts resource!
Maintenance Calendar
If your dryer is not performing well, first check the vent for lint build up. Getting your unit to work at top form could be as easy as that.
Built up dryer lint is the leading cause of dryer failures. It often causes drying times to increase dramatically, thus using a lot more energy than is necessary. Lint build up is also responsible for thousands of house fires every year.
RepairClinic.com recommends using a dryer vent brush to remove lint build up in the vent that leads to the outside. There are two lengths to choose from - 10 ft. and 20 ft. dryer vent brushes. Both work well for this messy task.
White vinyl ducts no longer meet building codes and are highly flammable.
If your dryer vent is white vinyl, RepairClinic experts recommend that you replace it with a rigid or semi-rigid aluminum vent.
