The Kenmore Dryer Makes a Continuous Sound in the Exhaust Pipe When Not Running

Impediment

• If the Kenmore dryer’s exhaust pipe becomes obstructed, it could cause condensation to form on the pipe’s interior walls. After the dryer turns off, exhaust air doesn’t vent will linger in the pipe and eventually drip back into your dryer. This could sound as if water is dripping or trickling down into your dryer. Detach the exhaust pipe from your dryer and clean it out with a wet-dry vacuum cleaner. Clean your dryer’s exhaust pipe about every six months to a year to avoid condensation collecting inside.

Invader

• Inspect the exhaust pipe’s exterior vent on the side of your home or roof. If the vent is wide open because its screen is cut or its slats are broken, animals and insects could enter the vent and build a nest inside the exhaust pipe. After you run your Kenmore dryer, you might hear whatever has inhabited the pipe make scratching, banging or screeching sounds, depending on the infestation. Contact an exterminator to remove the animal or exterminate the pipe. Repair the vent so it allows air to exit without inviting unwanted critters inside.

Lint Fan

• Certain Kenmore dryers have a lint fan in the exhaust pipe to help push exhaust outside. The fan should come on when the dryer starts and shut off soon after the drying cycle ends. However, if lint builds up on the impeller or fan blades, it could cause the fan to surge and run for an extended period after your dryer is off. If you hear humming coming from the vent pipe, it may be the fan. Disconnect power to the fan and access it by detaching the vent pipe. Clean the impeller with a dry cloth and vacuum out the area right before the fan where lint may have gathered.

Considerations

• If you clean your exhaust pipe regularly and still have condensation problems, the vent pipe isn’t configured properly and air isn’t being eliminated from your dryer quickly enough. The exhaust pipe should be as straight and short as possible. Although 25 feet is acceptable for a pipe length based on local industry exhaust standards, this length is often too great for exhaust to travel and exit the vent effectively, which leads to condensation in the pipe, states Don Vandervort's Home Tip's website. Additionally, the more bends and curves in the pipe, the greater chance of debris getting caught in the pipe and a blockage forming. Contact a Kenmore dryer repair specialist to correct and improve your exhaust pipe’s configuration.