Independent repair · Tulsa, OK
Kenmore doesn’t build its own appliances; other companies make them under the Kenmore name. Colby works out who built yours, then fixes it.
The trouble chart
| If your… | It’s usually… | Colby checks |
|---|---|---|
| Kenmore dryers | A squeal from the idler pulley, a failed thermistor, or no heat at all | Pulley, belt, thermistor, fuse and heat source |
| Kenmore washers | Won’t drain, won’t spin, or leaks onto the laundry room floor | Pump, lid or door lock, drive and hoses |
| Kenmore refrigerators | Warm food, a frozen-up freezer coil, or an ice maker that won’t fill | The fans, defrost parts, the inlet valve |
| Kenmore freezers | An upright or chest freezer losing cold, or frost thick on the walls | Door seal, defrost parts, compressor start |
| Kenmore dishwashers | Dishes not getting clean, or water staying in the tub after the cycle | The filter, the drain pump, the spray arms |
| Kenmore ranges | An oven that won’t heat, or a gas burner that only clicks | Bake element or igniter, burners, switches |
What usually causes it
Kenmore appliances have been made by several companies over the years, including Whirlpool, LG and Frigidaire’s parent company, Electrolux. The first three digits of the model number, before the dot, identify the maker. A Kenmore washer or dryer starting with 110, for example, was built by Whirlpool.
Colby reads the prefix, then orders parts for the machine that’s really inside.
A large share of Kenmore washers and dryers came from Whirlpool, so they use the same pumps, lid locks, belts, pulleys and heating parts as Whirlpool and Maytag machines. That keeps parts available for plenty of older Kenmore laundry pairs.
He matches the Kenmore model number to the Whirlpool part it uses.
Two of the job files on this site are Kenmore dryers. One had been rattling on and off until it got loud: a worn idler pulley. The other kept misbehaving load after load, and the fault was the thermistor, the sensor that reports the dryer’s temperature to its control.
Both came down to a single part once the real cause was found.
Many Kenmore refrigerators and front-load washers came from LG or Frigidaire instead of Whirlpool. Those behave much like the LG or Frigidaire models they were based on, with the same weak points and the same parts.
Once Colby knows the maker, he diagnoses it the way he would that brand.
A Kenmore that’s been running for years is often worth one more repair, and Colby will tell you honestly when it isn’t. He answers your call or text himself and diagnoses the machine before any part is ordered. CJ Appliance Repair is an independent repair company, not affiliated with Kenmore.
Before you call
The model and serial number tell Colby exactly which parts your appliance takes. Here’s where to look.
Questions
AYes, gas and electric. The two Kenmore dryer jobs on this site were a worn idler pulley and a failed thermistor, and those are typical of what goes wrong.
AOften, yes. Because the maker’s own models used the same parts, Colby can frequently find them under the maker’s part number even after the Kenmore listing is gone.
AYes. Smell gas? Don’t touch any switches. Leave the house and call your gas company from outside. If there’s no smell and it just won’t heat or light, he tests the igniter and the gas valve coils.
AYes. There’s a diagnostic fee for the visit, and if you have Colby do the repair, the diagnostic fee is waived.
AMost appointments are within 48 hours, many within 24, and often the same day. Call or text and Colby will give you the soonest time he has.
Rather type it out?
Tell us what's wrong and how to reach you. Colby will call or text you back.
