We have a 5yr old Kenmore electric dryer model #84052. It does not get hot enough to completely dry the clothes. I have completely taken the dryer apart. I do not see any breaks in the element. I have a multi-meter. I am getting 240V at the wall outlet. I am trying to check the ohm resistance on each part, but I'm not sure or don't understand which reading I should be getting.
I get a reading of 0 if I check the element at both ends, I get a reading of 0 on the high-limit thermistor, and get more than a 0 reading on the thermistor that was connected to the exhaust housing. All readings were conducted with no power and no wires connected to the terminals.
Is a reading of 0 good or bad? Should I get a 0 on some parts but not others? I'm kind of at a loss because I'm not sure which part is bad. Can anyone help?
I have already cleaned out the exhaust. I even disconnected it from the dryer, turn it on, and the air coming out the back of the dryer still wasn't very hot. I can hold my hand there and it only feels warm, so I am getting some heat, just not enough.
I re-checked the element heating coils at the ends of terminals, and am getting a reading of 12. I rechecked the high-limit and the thermal limiter and am getting readings between .4 and .8. Are these too low, or should they be at 0? If they are too low, then I may just replace both parts and be done with it.
Tagged with: clothes • electric dryer • element • heating coils • high limit • kenmore • ohm resistance • thermistor
Filed under: Clothes Dryer Parts
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You say zero the element should have some resistance through it and not read zero. How is the vent, is it clogged or the dryer may need cleaned out down in the filter tray compartment as well.
Try plugging the element in and starting the dryer to see if it is indeed getting hot. One of two things that I can think of from what you are saying here.
Clean out the exhaust vent.
0 means no electric present, thats ok.
I may as well tell you that heating elements slowly burn themselves out over time and 5 yrs is a good length of time, Go to a sears with a service dept and order a new element and install it. If your in Westchester NY, you can go to the one in Whiteplains