Kenmore Dryer Repair Tips

Silky blouse, diapers, muddy sleeping bag from that camping trip, or any other laundry you have a Kenmore washer and dryer can handle it. And Kenmore is certainly a name with a reputation you can trust. But occasionally you will need a Kenmore dryer repair. Great news parts are readily available.

Here are a 6 of the more common parts you might need to invest in over time.

1. Tune Up Kit

A tune up kit has the 3 parts that generally have to be replaced every 5 year or so. The kit has a new belt, new idler puller, and new drum support rollers. It is even complete with instructions on how to do the replacement.

2. Element Kit

Comes with terminal adapters as well as the element.

3. Thermal Fuse

In the later models you will find that there is a short element in the lower half of the burner box which also houses the thermal fuse which may occasionally need replacing.

4. Gas Dryer Igniter

If your dryer isn’t throwing any heat you should check the igniter to make sure it hasn’t stopped working. It’s a quick and easy fix.

5. Gas Valve Coil Kit

Repair your gas valves for a fraction of the cost of replacing.

6. Thermal Cuttoff Kit

Includes the hi-limit thermostat and the thermal fuse.

If it isn’t working at all there are a few things you can try.

1. No Power

Make sure that the power cord is plugged in. Unplug and plug it back in. Check the breakers to make sure it hasn’t tripped or that a fuse is not blown. You can also use a volt meter to check the plug itself to make sure there is power going to the plug.

2. Door Switch

In the door is a switch or sensor that when you close the door it presses against a lever which then activates a door switch which allows the dryer to start up. If that lever becomes broken the switch can’t activate and then the dryer can’t start. You may need to replace this lever.

3. Thermal Fuse

Almost every dryer on the market has a thermal fuse. This fuse will burn out if the dryer overheats. When this happens one of two things occur. The dryer either completely stops working or it runs but it doesn’t throw any heat. You will usually find this fuse under the vent duck inside the dryer. If the fuse is blown you will want to replace it.

4. Defective Timers

Occasionally the timer on a dryer can be defective so that even if you have turned the dryer on it doesn’t recognize the motion and thus the dryer doesn’t start.

And here are some great tips to help you determine what’s going on with your dryer.

1. Gas Valve Coils

If the igniter glows but it shuts down before it ignites the gas the coil is either worn out or defective. Replace both of the coils.

2. Flame Sensor

The flame sensor can become worn and need to be replaced. You will find the sensor located near the igniter.

3. Vents

Lint gathers inside the dryer so check the vent hose and vent itself to make sure there are no clogs. You also need to make sure you regularly clean out the vent in the dryer as it will reduce the efficiency of the dryer and increases the fire risk.

4. Thermostat

A dryer has a thermostat that regulates the heating cycles and if your dryer isn’t heating properly this is the most common cause.

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When Looking At Heating For Your Home Consider High Efficiency Gas Furnaces

In today's increasingly energy conscious society, one must consider the energy efficiency of every product they purchase. Whether it's your car's gas mileage or how much electricity your refrigerator uses, we've all become more aware of our energy usage.

There are two main reasons for this, and they're pretty obvious. One, inefficient energy use costs more money. It's safe to say we're all looking to lower our bills and switching to energy efficient appliances is a big step in that direction. The other reason to use high efficiency appliances is the understanding that many of our energy sources are finite. In other words, eventually we'll run out.

One of the biggest users of energy in our homes and workplaces are the heating units. Just like most other major household products, gas furnaces have become more efficient than ever before. Natural gas is an economical method for home heating and now you can find all sorts of high efficiency gas furnaces on the market.

High efficiency gas furnaces tend to cost more than conventional gas furnaces. This is for a couple reasons. They're not yet produced on the same scale as conventional furnaces so there are still cost factors to overcome which have to be passed on to the consumer. Secondly, high efficiency gas furnaces employ the latest technologies, which, as we all know, always kicks up the cost of a product. Innovation isn't free. However, keep in mind, that this is just an initial start-up cost. Sure, you may be laying down more money at the outset, but the money you'll save with a high efficiency gas furnace will soon make up the difference and even pay for itself in the end.

Investing in a high efficiency natural gas furnace is well worth it, and let's not forget the environment. An energy efficient furnace will use less fuel, which means using less natural resources, and which means releasing less greenhouse gases into our fragile atmosphere. That's a cost that can't be calculated in dollars.

These days, gas furnaces have stickers on them which gives their AFUE number. AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A high efficiency natural gas furnace will have a AFUE number ranging from the high 80's to the high 90's. Furnaces with AFUE's below that range are considered medium efficiency. Such furnaces cost less but will also save you less in bills.

Another thing to look for when shopping for a high efficiency natural gas furnace is an Energy Star sticker. If it has an Energy Star label, that means its AFUE rating is in the 90's.

Remember, no matter how energy efficient your furnace is, you need to maintain it properly and keep it, along with your vents clean. A dirty or poorly maintained furnace will cause a drop in efficiency and increases in cost and fuel consumption.

There is plenty of helpful information available online and from your local furnace dealers. High efficiency natural gas furnaces may cost more at first, but the money you save and the benefit to the environment makes them a wise investment.

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