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Kenmore dryer, maybe 3 years old, gas.
When drying, it runs and often at some point it starts to buzz. Not the timer buzzer - it's internal, coming from down in the dryer. Then it gets hot - the top is very hot to touch.
I replaced a thermostat about a year ago and it ran OK for 8 months or so.
Vent and duct are clean and it's venting properly.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
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When it starts to buzz, remove the front panel viewing cover, a small, white plastic piece and look at the flame.If the flame is still on during this time, you just might have a sticking cycling thermostat mounted on the blower housing.
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Thanks for the reply, Rich - I will check it out immediately.
Let me ask a dumb question - if the thermostat is "sticky" can it be unstuck or does it need replaced.
Thanks again
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I have seen a lot of the 4 terminal heated thermostats cut out at a much higher temprature, like 170 degrees. If you have one, it just might be bad. You can stick a metal thermometer in the output of the dryer to measure the temperature, should be around 145 degrees, but no higher than say 160.If too high,just replace the thermostat.
If the temperature is OK, you might have a vent problem. Look at the flame when it is making a noise. If it is not bluish, but orange, you have a vent problem.
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Rank: Member
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Rich - thanks for answering my questions.
I pulled the back off and cleaned it out. I also looked through the venting. It's jerry-rigged, runs through the floor and out the side of the house. The vent cap was blown off by the wind (I guess) and the pipe fell back into the wall. I pulled it out and reconnected it, but while I had the back of the dryer tore off, I ran it wide open (no vent). The flame was still orange, even with a cold start.
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Rank: Advanced Member
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That is your problem, poor venting. Check your blower, is the dryer blowing out a lot of air, maybe you have a lint clog in the dryer shute the filter goes into, just check
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Rank: Member
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Originally Posted by: richappy  I have seen a lot of the 4 terminal heated thermostats cut out at a much higher temprature, like 170 degrees. If you have one, it just might be bad. You can stick a metal thermometer in the output of the dryer to measure the temperature, should be around 145 degrees, but no higher than say 160.If too high,just replace the thermostat.
If the temperature is OK, you might have a vent problem. Look at the flame when it is making a noise. If it is not bluish, but orange, you have a vent problem. Rich - thanks again for the advice, I appreciate it. OK - since I last posted, I checked the venting and it's fine. Clear and flowing good. I pulled the drum out and cleaned it out and replaced the second thermostat. There are two on the exhaust manifold (I don't know what it's called, it connects to the burner and runs up the back of the dryer behind the drum and has both thermostats attached to it). So far, I've replaced both thermostats and the coils. Now with these in place, I ran the dryer and used a metal thermometer and checked the temperature. It runs to 165-170 before it cuts out and cycles back on at 145. Now when it cycles on, there's still a buzzing/rattling noise coming from around where the burner is. I haven't pulled the front back off and ran it yet, that's next but there's a little peephole cut-out to spy the burner and there are some little sparks coming from the flame occasionally and the flame runs half blue, half orange. Could the coils be making that buzzing noise and cause the dryer to run hot? Maybe the coils I replaced were bad. Thanks again for your help.
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