Kenmore 70 series dryer has a lot of features which makes it one of the most sought-after appliances. Their dryers reduce odors and cut down the need for ironing which makes your clothes ready to wear in about 20 minutes after heating.
The main function of your dryer is to produce heat that removes moisture from your clothes. This makes the heating issue the most obvious problem with all types of dryers including the Kenmore 70 series dryer. When your dryer gets faulty it stops providing heat that is enough to dry your cloth.
If you recently purchased your Kenmore 70 series dryer and you experience this issue. You can return the product as the warranty covers you for the first 12 months of purchase. But this rarely happens as your appliance might not develop a fault within the first 12 months. That’s why we are here to help you solve issues you may encounter with your home appliances.
In this article, we would be discussing how to fix issues you may encounter with your Kenmore 70 series dryer.
Kenmore 70 Series Dryer Gas or Electric
The Kenmore 70 series dryer has the electric type and the gas type. The electric Kenmore 70 series uses an electric supply and it has a power cord that plugs into a power outlet. While the gas type uses a gas supply, the gas dryer has a hose or pipe that connects to a gas supply and can be turned off and on.
For the electric Kenmore 70 series dryer:
- Make sure you have a stable power supply
- Ensure you use a good wall outlet.
- Firmly plug the power cord into the wall outlet.
For the gas Kenmore 70 series dryer:
- Make sure you have enough gas supply.
- Check the gas valve coils.
- Check the flame sensor.
Ensure there are no leakages to the pipe or hose that transfers gas to the dryer.
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Kenmore 70 Series Dryer Not Heating
Defective Main Control Board
The purpose of the control board is to control or regulate the temperature of our dryer. If the main control board gets damaged, you won’t be able to control the temperature of your dryer to the desired temperature. The control board can be easily tested with the multimeter. A defective main control board needs to be replaced.
Faulty Thermostat
A faulty thermostat won’t be able to regulate or control the flow of heat and temperature. This could make your Kenmore dryer not heat properly. You can test the reading of the thermostat with a multimeter.
To replace a faulty thermostat:
- Remove the back panel using a Philips or flat head screwdriver as suitable.
- Locate the thermostat, then remove the lead wire that connects to the thermostat.
- Use the multimeter to find connectivity, if the multimeter doesn’t read you need to replace the thermostat.
- Replace the thermostat and necessary parts.
- Plug your dryer back and crosscheck its working condition.
Faulty Burner Assembly
The burner assembly consists of three parts thermal fuse, flame sensor, and igniter. You need to observe the operation of the burner assembly in your Kenmore dryer, to diagnose the problem in the burner assembly.
- Remove the access panel at the bottom front of your gas dryer.
- Pick a high-temperature setting to start the dryer.
- Carefully inspect the burner assembly as it should start to glow.
- You would hear the click of the gas valve coil
- A blue flame would appear and it should remain on for a few minutes.
Note: If the igniter glows for about 15 seconds and then goes off, then there is an issue with the coil. But if the ignitor glows and stays on, the flame sensor is the problem. If the ignitor glows and then quickly goes off, this should be an issue of inadequate air or gas flow.
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Blown Thermal Fuse
The thermal fuse is a safety mechanism and it blocks the flow of electricity when the dryer gets overheated. When there is a power surge the thermal fuse trips off in response thereby preventing a fire outbreak. When the thermal fuse gets burned it needs to be replaced.
- Unscrew the thermal fuse from the exhaust vent at the back of the dryer.
- The thermal fuse is a flat, long piece of metal and can be found on the exhaust duct.
- You should test the thermal fuse for continuity using a multimeter. If the multimeter fails to read, the thermal fuse needs to be replaced.
Replace Flame Sensor
The flame sensor is also a safety mechanism, it prevents gas from building up in our dryer system. The flame sensor detects heat moving from the igniter. If the flame sensor is faulty, it would fail to shut the igniter as gas won’t flow to the burner and in return, your dryer won’t be able to produce heat. The flame sensor can be found in the burner assembly and should be replaced.
To replace your Kenmore dryer flame sensor:
Disconnect the radiant sensor and test for continuity by using a multimeter. If the multimeter fails to read the flame sensor should be replaced.
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Replace Burned Igniter
The igniter produces heat that is enough to produce flames inside the burner assembly. If the igniter gets burned, your Kenmore 70 series dryer won’t be able to complete a gas circuit and therefore would no longer produce heat.
To locate the igniter, it can be found at the bottom of your dryer. it connects to 2 thin wires.
To check the igniter for continuity:
- Remove the wires that are connecting the igniter to the dryer.
- Unscrew it from the base of the large, metallic cylinder.
Set the multimeter and place the wires to the red and black terminals of the igniter. If the multimeter doesn’t read then you need to replace the igniter.
Kenmore 70 Series Dryer Heating Element
The Kenmore 70 series dryer heating element includes the heating coil or solenoid and thermostat.
Faulty Heating Element
An electric dryer uses an electric heating element, unlike the gas dryer which uses a burner assembly. If the heating element burns out or if any part of it gets faulty, then your dryer will be faced with heating issues. You can use a multimeter to test the heating element for continuity. If the element does not read then the heating element has to be replaced.
- Faulty Heating Coil or Solenoid
- To test for a faulty coil or solenoid, you can follow the steps below:
- Unplug the power cord connecting to the wall outlet.
- Get a screwdriver to remove the coil panel. The coil panel looks like a metal box.
- You can find the heating element at the back of your dryer.
- Remove the screws that are holding the heating element.
- Then gently slide the panel out of your dryer.
- You will see 3 lead red wires that are attached to the bottom left area of the panel.
- Finally, connect the multimeter to the wires on the heating coils to check for connectivity. If the multimeter doesn’t read that means the leads are no longer functioning and require to be replaced.
Kenmore 70 Series Dryer Won’t Start
In case you are trying to start your Kenmore 70 series dryer and it doesn’t respond. Here are troubleshooting tips that need to be followed:
Power Supply Problem
Most gas dryers require 120 volts of alternating current to operate while an electric dryer will operate on 240 volts which run on 2 legs of voltage each of 120 volts. If your power supply doesn’t meet these power requirements, then your dryer would fail to start, and even if it starts it would fail to heat properly.
Faulty Power Cord
Ensure that the terminals of the power cord are not damaged or burned as this could lead cause your dryer to fail to start. Ensure you firmly plug the power cable into a good wall outlet.
Defective Start Switch
If your dryer does not respond when trying to start the dryer, this could be from a defective start switch. You can see a multimeter to test the start switch which should be replaced if found to be faulty.
Door Switch
If the door of your Kenmore 70 series dryer is not properly closed or aligned then your dryer would fail to start. The door switch should make a click sound when the door is properly closed. The door switch may fail to respond when it gets defective. You can test the wires of the door switch to check for connectivity.
Broken Drive Belt
The drive belt connects to the drum, drive motor, and idler pulley. A faulty drive belt would fail to rotate your dryer. A broken or worn-out drive belt needs to be replaced.
Faulty Drive Motor
The drive motor rotates the dryer drum when powered, the drive motor makes an audible humming noise when the dryer is in operation. The drive motor connects to the dryer drum through the drive belt. You should replace a faulty drive motor.
In conclusion, if you are using a Kenmore 70 series dryer, you can shop to replace faulty parts from licensed online and in-store stores such as Amazon, eBay, Lowes, Kmart, Howards, Costco wholesales, Sears, etc. If you are not a DIYer or if you don’t have technical knowledge. It is best to call a trained dryer repairer or contact Kenmore directly.