Kenmore dryers are a reliable dryer choice for many users across the world. Their 70 series dryers are great and provide amazing performance when it comes to drying operations.
You may sometimes find that the Kenmore 70 series dryer is not heating, spinning or working and ask how you can resolve these issues. Let us answer that question and provide you with some necessary information regarding this matter.
Why is my Kenmore 70 series dryer not heating?
Kenmore 70 series dryers may not heat up due to the lack of proper voltage, malfunctioning of the heating element or timer motor and even defective thermal fuse or thermostat. There might be other reasons causing this problem, but these are the common reasons behind this issue.
As Kenmore 70 series dryer consists of various mechanical and electrical elements, it is possible that due to the malfunctioning of a component, it is not heating up properly. Any defective parts may also cause this issue as well.
Therefore, there are a lot of possibilities behind this problem.
If you want to know the reasons behind this issue, let us discuss the common reasons behind your Kenmore 70 series dryer not heating. Let us also provide the solution to the reason as well.
Malfunctioning thermal fuse:
A defective thermal fuse in a Kenmore 70 series dryer is the most common reason behind this issue. This component is used to protect the device from overheating. If the dryer overheats, the fuse will blow and prevent the dryer from heating up anymore.
You can resolve this issue by replacing the thermal fuse with a new one.
Damaged gas valve solenoid:
A damaged gas valve solenoid is another reason your Kenmore 70 series dryer is not heating. This valve gives the dryer access to the gas required to heat up. If this component is damaged, the dryer will not heat up.
To fix this, you need to check if the gas valve solenoid is blocked by something or not. If not blocked, then you will have to replace the part.
Defective igniter:
Igniter helps the dryer to start heating up. If the igniter is not working correctly, the heat will not be produced in your Kenmore 70 series dryer. If you find that this component is not working, you will have to replace it with a new replacement part.
Flame sensor not working correctly:
The flame sensor detects if the dryer is heating up or not. If this is not working correctly or is damaged, the dryer will not heat up correctly as it does not receive the proper heating information. You may need to clean the sensor head or replace it.
Defective timer:
A defective timer can also be why your Kenmore 70 series dryer is not heating. If the motor of the timer is not working correctly, the dryer will not work.
If the timer is not working properly, you may need to replace the motor or the whole part, depending on the severity of the problem.
Why is my Kenmore 70 series dryer not spinning?
Kenmore 70 series dryer may not spin due to a defective driver belt, drum roller or drum roller axle. Other components like the drum bearing, drum support roller, drum support axle, drum glide, support bearing and driver motor can also be the reason behind why the dryer is not spinning.
As the spinning part of the Kenmore 70 series dryer is made of many mechanical parts, it is common to find that the dryer is not spinning. But this issue can be resolved easily.
You may want to know the common reasons behind this issue and the simplest way to solve the issue. Here are the reasons and solutions that we think you should know:
The drum roller is worn out:
Drum roller not spinning properly is a common reason your Kenmore 70 series dryer is not spinning. If the drum roller is worn out or clogged by something, it will not spin the drum of the dryer. To resolve this issue, you will first have to clean out the shaft properly.
If the dryer is still spinning, you will have to install a new drum roller.
Defective drum belt:
A drum belt is one of the key components in spinning the dryer. The belt moves the drum with the help of a drum motor. Sometimes the drum belt may lose tension or even break. As a result, the drum of the dryer will not spin.
To resolve this issue, check if the drum belt is losing friction on the drum or not. If yes, change the drum belt. Otherwise, tighten up the belt properly so that the drum belt does not lose friction.
Worn out drum roller axle:
The drum roller axle holds the drums inside the dryer and helps them spin properly. Over the course of time, the roller axle may wear out. As a result, the drums inside the dryer will no longer spin properly.
Sometimes if the drum is not set properly on the drum roller axle, it causes the drum to wobble.
If the drum axle is the problem behind your Kenmore 70 series dryer not spinning, then check if the drum is set on the drum axle properly or not and secure it properly on the axle if not set properly. Replace the drum roller axle if the drum was set properly.
Kenmore 70 series dryer not starting:
In most cases, Kenmore 70 series dryers may not start due to a bad thermal fuse. The thermal fuse helps to provide electricity to the dryer. If the fuse is blown, the dryer will not get the electricity to start. To fix this, you will have to replace the thermal fuse properly if it is blown.
If it is not blown, check if it is set properly or not. A bad start switch can also cause this issue. In this case, you will have to replace the switch with a new one.
Kenmore 70 series dryer not drying clothes:
Kenmore 70 series dryer will not dry clothes if it does not heat properly. There are many reasons why this dryer will not heat up. If any one of the reasons persists, your dryer will not heat and will not dry your clothes.
If the thermal fuse is blown, you will need to replace it in order to dry clothes. If the gas valve solenoid is damaged or blocked, remove the blockage or replace the damaged gas valve solenoid component of your Kenmore 70 series dryer to dry your clothes.
If the timer or igniter is damaged, replace them with a new one. If the flame sensor is not working properly, clean the sensor head or replace it if required.
Kenmore 70 series dryer not turning off:
A faulty timer motor or faulty wiring harness may cause Kenmore 70 series dryer from not turning off. Sometimes the timer may malfunction and get stuck over time due to high current flow. It may also happen that the timer motor is damaged and is not working properly.
Both of these may cause the dryer not to turn off. This can be fixed by replacing the timer with a new one.
A faulty wiring harness may also cause the dryer not to turn off. Although this is not a common problem that may happen, it can cause the dryer to turn off. Insulate any open wires with electrical tape to resolve this issue.
How to change the belt on a Kenmore 70 series dryer?
There are some simple ways that you may follow if you want to change the belt on a Kenmore 70 series dryer. You may follow these simple steps to change it on your own. First, you will have to purchase the correct replacement belt for your Kenmore 70 series dryer.
After that, unplug the Kenmore 70 series dryer from the power source and remove the lint trap & the frame. Remove the other sections of the dryer until you reach the dryer drum. Remove the old belt from the drum and attach the new one.
Check if the belt is properly set on the drum and the motor or not. Attach all the components you have removed and plug the dryer with the power source.
How to replace the heating element in Kenmore 70 series dryer?
Replacing the heating element in the Kenmore 70 series dryer is simple. First, unplug the dryer from the power source. Then remove the back panel of the dryer by removing the screws.
After getting access to the back of the dryer, unplug connecting wires of the heating element. Pry out the old heating element from the back of the dryer by removing the screw holding it in place.
Transfer the high limit thermostat from the old heating element to the new heating element.
Place the new heating element at the spot of the old one and secure it properly by attaching the screws. Connect the heating element with the wires, place the back panel of the dryer back again and connect the dryer to the power source.
How to reset Kenmore 70 series dryer?
There is no actual way to reset the Kenmore 70 series dryer. Unlike other dryers available in the market, which come with a reset button, Kenmore 70 series dryers do not come with a dedicated reset button.
If you still want to reset your Kenmore 70 series dryer, you may try unplugging it from the power source, waiting for 5 minutes and then plugging it again. This may reset the Kenmore 70 series dryer.
You may also flip the two circuit breakers of the dryer two – three times to check if that resets the dryer.
Final thoughts
Kenmore 70 series dryers may not heat, spin or work for many reasons. It can be caused by a defective thermal fuse to the timer if it is not heating. It can be due to a torn drum axle belt or a faulty drum motor if it is not spinning. These can be fixed by changing parts and by proper maintenance.