Dryer won't stay hot
I have a Sears Kenmore 80 Series Gas Dryer (Model 110.72822101) that dries only when it feels like it. Since it's over 25 years old, it doesn't owe me a thing. However, I think it's probably something simple to fix. I watched through the hole in the front, and this is what happens: 10 secs after I push Start, the igniter glows for about 10 secs and then the flame catches. It burns for about 7-8 mins and goes out. I continued to watch for about 5 mins, and every 45 secs the igniter would glow but the flame wouldn't catch. I've left it running for about 15 mins and checked it every few minutes... same thing. It doesn't matter if I have it set on Auto Moisture Sensing or Timed Drying. I Googled the "symptoms" and several videos came up. Apparently, my problem may be 1) No gas reaching the dryer (clearly this isn't it since it ignited for 7-8 mins); 2) gas valve assembly; 3) gas valve coil; 4) clogged orifice. When I let the dryer cool and then try again, the flame usually catches. Any ideas?
Is this a good question?
2 Comments
No Oldturkey this is a good reliable, better built than than the ones today, machine. The gas dryers produced today use the same technology used to build this one. If this had a pilot light on it I might come closer to agreeing with you. I currently use a Maytag gas dryer 15+ years older than this one, but of similar design.
by ABCellars
You know, if a gas dryer flame runs 7 or 8 minutes, it SHOULD go out, because it will have heated the dryer enough for the cycling thermostat to turn off, unless there has a large load of cold wet clothes inside.
And yes, the dryer has to cool down for the thermostat to make a connection again. That's how a dryer works.
However, if the igniter comes on, glows for a minute or two and the igniter temp sensor (a bi-metal next to it) clicks the igniter off without the flame starting, then the chances are good the gas valve coils are at fault.
In gas stoves though, it is almost always the igniter when it fails to light, unless the expensive gas valve is at fault. You can tap it lightly to see if it works. The oven igniter stays on, as that is how the temperature is controlled, by turning it off and on. The oven gas valve can also fail to close completely, a rather alarming feature when the igniter and switch are off, but the oven has a small flame burning all night.
by Dan Grantham