Gas Dryer Poor Performance

Arthur Shapiro · 2010-02-23T18:55:42+00:00

I think this is the newsgroup traditionally used for appliance questions, so hopefully this is acceptably on-target.The Kenmore-branded Whirpool dryer (110.79912900) hasn't been doing well in recent months, taking unacceptably long to dry loads while still clearly putting out some heat. Obviously, the first thing I did was to pull the skins, clean out the usual amount of congealed lint inside the filter screen area, and leaf-blower the entirety of the interior. Happily it is right up against the exterior garage wall with a real short duct to the outside, and that is totally clean. I observe that when started, the igniter comes on, I get a nice flame for three or four minutes, and then it goes out. But unlike the typical (as I understand it) coil failure, the process repeats, but not for several minutes. No wonder the drying takes so long - the gas should be burning considerably more frequently than I'm observing and it's thus blowing lukewarm air for much of the cycle.I first thought that this still could be an issue with the coils, and found a web site that tabulated typical resistance values to the various combinations of terminals on the three-post and two-post coils. To my surprise, all were dead on. So I assume the coils are fine.So now it's time to ask for some assistance. My next thought is the pair of thermostats inside. I haven't pulled them or tested them in any way yet, as they're harder to reach than the coils. Is this a valid next step? Would it be most likely the low-temp (155 degree) thermostat not reacting quickly enough to the drop in temperature after the flame has been turned off?Advice welcome.Art

Feb 23, 2010 22 Replies

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Arthur Shapiro 16 years ago

For those who remember this thread, I had decided that, since the coils measured fine with a VOM, that they must be right and I ordered the two thermostats. Subsequently, it was suggested that, measurements or not, the coils were still the most likely culprit.

I just spent three hours replacing the thermostats. Ended up with two brass-colored snap-in "buttons" that clearly cover holes somewhere inside - I'll have to check a parts blowup to see where they go.

The behavior, as feared, hasn't changed. At least I was able to vaccum out a vast amount of lint that wasn't accessible until the drum was removed.

The coils are now on order.

What a waste of part of a vacation day.

Art

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pierre 16 years ago

For what it's worth:

My gas dryer (Maytag Neptune) did essentially the same thing that yours did, at about the same time (early march). The gas would light up, but for only a few (

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Arthur Shapiro 16 years ago

Thanks for your observation - one more thing for me to ponder if necessary.

I'm hoping the coils arrive in tomorrow's mail, but my wife just used the dryer and asked me "what did you do to make the dryer start working?" Needless to say, I'm totally confused now because the observable behavior (with no clothes inside) didn't seem to have changed. But she's really happy with the load she ran tonight.

I'm still going to replace the coils, as I paid for 'em and it surely can't hurt. But I'm still trying to make sense of all this.

Art

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