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How to Replace the Heater in a Kenmore Stackable Dryer

Lisa Wampler

The heater or heating element in your stackable Kenmore dryer is a series of metal coils mounted inside a box. As air passes through your dryer, it goes past the heating element and warms up. That warm air then goes into your dryer's drum and dries your clothes. If the metal coils inside the element break, it does not produce heat. Although you can solder the metal wire, opting to replace the element completely is a time-saving decision.

  1. Disconnect the electrical plug from the outlet and then slide the dryer away from the wall.

  2. Loosen the screw on the band clamp that holds the heater vent to the vent port on the bottom corner of the dryer. Pull the heater vent off the dryer.

  3. Remove the screws that secure the back panel to the dryer, using the screwdriver. Place the panel off to the side.

  4. Locate the large canister that has a wiring harness attached to it. The heating element is inside the canister. Unplug the canister element harness and remove the screws that hold the cover to the canister.

  5. Disconnect the wiring harness that plugs into the heating element located inside the canister. Remove the screws that hold the element inside the canister.

  6. Secure the new heating element to the inside of the canister with the original screws. Plug the heating element into the wiring harness.

  7. Secure the canister cover to the canister with the original screws. Plug the canister harness back in.

  8. Place the panel on the back of the dryer and secure it.

  9. Reconnect the dryer vent, then plug the dryer back in.