My Kenmore Dryer Runs Hot

Wrong Setting

• Some clothes react differently than others in the dryer. While fabrics such as polyester can stand up to a great deal of heat, the same amount of heat can damage more delicate items. If the dryer heat is damaging your clothing, set the appliance to a more delicate cycle before trying further repairs.

Vent Clog

• If even delicate or low-heat settings do not help relieve the heat damage to the clothes, check the dryer vent on your home for a clog. A clog in the dryer vent prevents exhaust from escaping the drum. This causes a buildup in the machine that can lead to overheating. In mild cases, this leads to increased heat during the drying cycle; in more serious cases, the machinery can overheat and cause the dryer to shut down entirely.

Lint Trap

• Kenmore dryers feature a lint trap that collects loose lint from drying clothes and stores it on a screen. This helps keep clothes lint free but more importantly, it prevents the lint from collecting in the dryer vent and creating a fire hazard. The lint trap is usually only a small screen that requires frequent cleaning for optimum effectiveness. Neglecting this can block air from leaving the dryer and create circumstances similar to a dryer vent clog.

Thermostat

• Both electric and gas Kenmore dryers feature a thermostat that activates and deactivates the heating element. If this part of the machine is malfunctioning, temperature issues can range from no heat at all to too much heat to handle properly. If the thermostat is the possible issue, contact a repair professional before using the dryer.

Heating Element

• While gas dryers use gas-powered flame for heat, electric dryers rely on a heating element that heats up as electricity is pumped into it. An overheating dryer may suffer from a malfunctioning heating element. Checking or changing the heat element in a dryer requires disassembly of the unit. Contact a repair technician for repair and replacement options.