Kenmore dryer warranty and free repair

What Kenmore’s own warranty says about dryers

Kenmore publishes one US warranty statement for its home appliances, and dryers are in it. The latest version shown on its site was revised in January 2024. In plain words:

• It lasts one year from the date of the original sale. It covers defects in material or workmanship.
• The fix is a free repair. If the dryer cannot be repaired, it is replaced free of charge.
• It is for private household use. If the dryer is used for anything else, the cover drops to 90 days.
• To claim, you need proof of the original sale, and you go through a Kenmore authorized retailer.

What it leaves out:

• Parts that wear out in normal use, such as filters and belts.
• Service calls to fix an install that was not done by Kenmore’s authorized service, and damage from an install that did not follow electrical or gas codes.
• Damage from accidents, misuse, wrong care or upkeep, changes made to the dryer, or a flood, fire or storm.
• A visit just to clean or maintain the dryer, or to show you how to use it.
• A dryer whose model and serial plate is missing, changed or hard to read.

Terms differ for every dryer and plan, and Kenmore can revise its statement, so read the current one and your own papers. We do not run any manufacturer warranty. We are an independent repair service.

Source: Kenmore warranty statements, United States (latest revision shown: January 10, 2024).

Does an independent repair void your warranty?

Not just for that reason. In a July 2022 consumer alert, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said that under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a company cannot void your warranty or deny coverage only because you used a part made by another company. It also cannot void coverage because you used an independent repair shop, unless it provides that service free under the warranty. It can still refuse cover for damage that the outside part or repair caused.

This is general information, not legal advice. If your dryer is still under warranty, call the maker or the seller first. If you do pay an independent shop, keep the invoice with your warranty papers.

Check for a recall before you pay

A recall can make a repair free. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists recalls on its recalls page, and Kenmore’s site has a recalls link too. Keep your model and serial number handy, because many recalls cover only some serial ranges.

One example from 2012: LG and Sears recalled about 21,000 gas dryers sold as LG and as Kenmore Elite between November 2009 and August 2010. The gas valve could fail to shut off, so the dryer kept heating after the cycle ended. That can scorch the drum and burn the clothes inside, which is a fire risk. The notice lists these Kenmore Elite models: 796.90512900, 796.90518900, 796.91022900, 796.91028900, 796.91029900, 796.92192900, 796.92198900 and 796.92199900. A match needs the serial number too. It told owners to turn off the gas and stop using the dryer until it was repaired.

That notice is old, so check the CPSC page or the maker to see if the free repair is still offered. If your dryer is not on any recall list, a normal repair check is the next step.

Sources: FTC consumer alert, July 7, 2022 and CPSC recall notice 12-251, LG Electronics and Sears gas dryers.

A local reminder

If your dryer is fairly new, call the seller or manufacturer before you book a repair, in case it is still covered. If it is older, a repair check from us is often the faster route.