Kenmore Dryer No Heat in Winter? Top Fixes You Can Check

When the temperatures drop during Canadian winters, household appliances like your Kenmore dryer may seem to work less efficiently, or not at all. If you’re dealing with no heat coming from your Kenmore dryer, it could be due to seasonal conditions or mechanical issues that become more noticeable in the cold. Fortunately, many of these problems can be diagnosed and addressed before you call in the professionals.

Here’s what to check first if your Kenmore dryer isn’t heating in winter.

1. Check the Power Source

Before jumping to conclusions, verify that your dryer is receiving proper power. Kenmore dryers need a 240-volt power supply to generate heat. If only one leg of the circuit is active (120 volts), the drum might turn, but no heat will be produced.

Tip:
Check your breaker panel. If a dual breaker has tripped, reset it and try again.

2. Inspect the Thermal Fuse

A blown thermal fuse is one of the most common reasons a dryer stops heating. This safety feature shuts off the heat if the dryer overheats. Winter months may increase lint buildup as people do more laundry indoors, reducing ventilation and triggering the fuse.

How to Check:
Unplug your dryer, locate the fuse (usually on the blower housing), and test it with a multimeter for continuity. If it’s blown, it will need to be replaced.

3. Look at the Heating Element

A faulty heating element is another likely culprit. Over time, the coils can break or burn out, especially if your dryer is working overtime in the winter months.

Signs of Damage:

• No visible glow when the dryer is running.

• The element shows no continuity on a multimeter.

4. Check the Cycling Thermostat

The cycling thermostat regulates the dryer’s temperature. If it’s malfunctioning, the dryer may not heat properly or may overheat and shut off the heating element.

Winter Tip:
Colder air entering your dryer from the outside vent can confuse a faulty thermostat, making the heating issues more noticeable.

5. Examine the Ventilation System

Winter often leads to blocked or frozen dryer vents. Snow, ice, or critter nests can reduce airflow and cause the dryer to overheat or the thermal fuse to blow.

What to Do:
Inspect the vent outside your home. Make sure it’s free of obstructions and that warm air is flowing freely when the dryer is on.

6. Test the Timer or Control Board

If everything else checks out, your dryer’s timer or control board could be the issue. While less common, electrical problems in these components can prevent the heating cycle from starting.

Note:
These parts are harder to diagnose and typically require a professional technician for repair or replacement.

When to Call Express Repair

If you’ve checked all these parts and your Kenmore dryer still has no heat, it’s time to get help from the experts. At Express Appliance Repair, our licensed technicians are experienced with Kenmore appliance repair, and we service homes across Ontario and major Canadian cities—fast and efficiently.

Why Choose Express Repair?

• Same-day service available

• Certified Kenmore appliance specialists

• Transparent pricing and guaranteed repairs

Conclusion
A Kenmore dryer with no heat in winter can be more than an inconvenience—it can disrupt your daily routine. By checking the power supply, thermal fuse, heating element, thermostat, and venting system, you can often solve the issue or at least pinpoint the problem. And if it’s more complex? Don’t hesitate to book a repair with Express Repair and keep your home running smoothly all winter long.