Kenmore dryer fails to heat when full

We have a 3.5 year old Kenmore gas dryer which is taking much longer (2 to 3 hours vs. 30 to 40 minutes) to dry recently. If you run it empty, the temperature is hot, it seems normal. With any clothes in it, however, the dryer rarely heats.

I don't know how these things work, but I'm guessing that the vibrations caused by the full load are affecting a thermostat?

I verified the vents are clear - the airflow at the exhaust port outside is comparable in intensity to that coming out of the back of the dryer. I vacuumed out the vent line just in case, and there was nothing in it.

DB

Reply to
Dave Bowman
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Perhaps your dryer has 2 heating elements and one is bad. That would give you noticable heat for small loads or no load, but it would be insufficient for large loads.

If one heating element is bad, then here are some extremely crude cost estimates:

1) Get a replacement element mail order for $10-$20. 2) Get a replacement element from a local appliance parts store for $20-$30. 3) Have it fixed by a repairman for $50-$100.

Even though this is a very simple repair, please don't attempt it if you aren't proficient at electrical work.

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I don't know how these things work, but I'm guessing that the vibrations caused by the full load are affecting a thermostat?

I verified the vents are clear - the airflow at the exhaust port outside is comparable in intensity to that coming out of the back of the dryer. I vacuumed out the vent line just in case, and there was nothing in it.

DB

Reply to
Gideon

This is a gas dryer, looks like it has a single burner.

DB

Reply to
Dave Bowman

Hi,

Model#??

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model# helps.

And the temps during the empty and loaded cycles whrer ?what? at the dryer exhaust?

Not a common occurance!

Coils on the gas valve are bad for working once or twice and then failing!!

jeff. Appliance Repair Aid

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Reply to
jeff

Kenmore 417-91052000. Made for Sears it seems.

A repairman came out to take a look; he ran it empty only and concluded it was cycling between 125 and 145 degrees, as it should, on high and using the timed mode. He told us to do some more testing and try to figure out how it fails because in his opinion it was hot enough - he suggested the washer is the real problem in that it wasn't spinning clothes enough (not so, we haven't noticed any problem with the spin).

So anyway, run it empty, it's nice and hot. Put almost anything of any mass inside, and it might occasionally be warm, but it just isn't heating.

DB

Reply to
Dave Bowman

Check the exhaust. If the vent hose is blocked, linted up, or restricted it can cause similar problems. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Keep the whole world singing . . . . DanG (remove the sevens) snipped-for-privacy@7cox.net

Reply to
DanG

That was the first thing we checked - nothing in the entire exhaust tube (aluminum, 4 inch, about 8 feet horizontal run outdoors). Took it apart, vacuumed it, nothing in it. Force of air at the outdoor exhaust is comparable to the dryer running disconnected.

DB

Reply to
Dave Bowman

Hi,

417.######## is a Frigidiare built Kenmore.

The temp of the heat should go down when you put wet closthes in it, they start to absorb the heat and the clothes get into the air flows way...but what is the exhaust temps like?

**(2 to 3 hours vs. 30 to 40 minutes) to dry recently**

-Sounds- more like the heat is quiting rather part way through rather than just being low. Is there a small peep hole at the bottom front where you can see what is happening to the heat/flame during the cycle? jeff. Appliance Repair Aid

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Reply to
Appliance Repair Aid

Exhaust temperature feels cold (don't have a thermomometer on it - just by touch, its barely above room temp).

No hole to look through I could find. It seems to light initially, but doesn't stay lit for long (based on the sound).

DB

Reply to
Dave Bowman

rather

G'day,

Let the dryer start with clothes in it, let it heat a couple times and when you think the heat has quit, -quickly- access the dryer and ohm the coils on the gas valve to see if they have continuity or not....they are bad for working once or twice and then failing. ( Power off! )

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access helps.

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testing. jeff. Appliance Repair Aid
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Reply to
Appliance Repair Aid

I've had similar problem twice in recent years. Once it was caused by faulty hi-temp sensor on the firebox that would intermittently freeze in open position, and on another occasion problem was caused by blockage in exhaust duct from accumulated lint. PE

Reply to
pe

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