Kenmore 397909A User manual

Owner's Manual and
Installation Instructions
27-Inch Wide
ELECTRIC DRYERS
im rmm
IMPORTANT:
Read and follow all safety
and operating instructions
before first use of this product.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.
www.sears.com
3979091A PRINTED IN U.S.A. 1/01

BEFORE USING YOUR NEW DRYER 2
KENMORE ELECTRIC DRYER WARRANTY 3
DRYER SAFETY ...... 4
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 6
OPERATING YOUR DRYER 2O
LAUNDRY TIPS ...... 27
CARING FOR YOUR DRYER 29
TROUBLESHOOTING ..... 33
WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL 35
Please read this manual. It will help
you install and operate your new
Kenmore dryer in the most economical
way.
If you need more information about the
care and operation of Kenmore appliances
call your nearest Sears store. You will
need the complete model and serial
numbers when requesting information.
Your dryer's model and serial numbers are
located on the Model and Sedal Number
Plate.
ModelNo.and
SerialNo.Plate
Use the space below to record the model
number and serial number of your new
Kenmore dryer.
Model No.
Serial No.....
Date of Purchase
Keep this book and your Sears
Salescheck (receipt) in a safe
place for future reference.

Full One Year Warranty on
Mechanical and Electrical Parts
For one year from the date of purchase,
if this dryer is installed and operated
according to the instructions in this manu-
al, Sears will repair or replace any of its
mechanical or electrical parts if they are
defective in material or workmanship.
NOTE: Exhausting your dryer with
a plastic vent may void this warranty,
See "Installation Instructions" for the
complete exhaust requirements for this
dryer.
Warranty Restriction
Ifthe dryer is subjected to other than
private family use, all warranty coverage is
effective for only 90 days.
Warranty Service
Warranty service is available by contacting
your nearest Sears Service Center in the
United States.
This warranty applies only while this dryer
is in use in the United States.
This warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state,
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Dept. 817WA,
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179.
For Sears Warranty information or to contact a
Sears Service Center, please reference the service
numbers located on the back page of this manual

Your safety and the safety of others are very important.
We have provided many important safety messages in this manual and
on your appliance. Always read and obey all safety messages.
This is the safety alert symbol. This symbol alerts you to
potential hazards that can kill or hurt you and others.
All safety messages will follow the safety alert symbol
and either the word "DANGER" or "WARNING."
These words mean:
You can be killed or seriously
injured if you don't immediately
follow instructions.
You can be killed or seriously
injured if you don't follow
instructions.
All safety messages will tell you what the potential hazard is, tell you how
to reduce the chance of injury, and tell you what can happen if the
instructions are not followed.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: Toreducethe riskoffire,electricshock,or injurytopersons
when using the dryer, follow basic precautions, including the following:
• Read all instructions before using • Do not repair or replace any part of
the dryer.
• Do not place items exposed to cook-
ing oils in your dryer. Items contami_
nated with cooking oils may contribute
to a chemical reaction that could
cause aload to catch fire.
• Do not dry articles that have been pre-
viously cleaned in, washed in, soaked
in, or spotted with gasoline, dry_
cleaning solvents, other flammable, or
explosive substances as they give off
vapors that could ignite or explode,
• Do not allow children to play on or in
the dryer, Close supervision of
children is necessary when the dryer
is used near children.
• Before the dryer is removed from
service or discarded, remove the door
to the drying compartment,
• Do not reach into the dryer if the drum
is moving.
• Do not install or store the dryer where
it will be exposed to the weather.
• Do not tamper with controls.
the dryer or attempt any servicing
unless specifically recommended in
this Owner _ Manual or in
published user-repair instructions
that you understand and have the
skills to carry out.
• Do not use fabric softeners or
products to eliminate static unless
recommended by the manufacturer
of the fabric softener or product.
• Do not use heat to dry articles
containing foam rubber or similarly
textured rubber-like materials.
• Clean lint screen before or after
each load.
• Keep area around the exhaust
opening and adjacent surrounding
areas free from the accumulation
of lint, dust, and dirt.
• The interior of the dryer and
exhaust vent should be cleaned
periodically by qualified service
personnel.
• See the "INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS" section for
grounding requirements.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Tools and Parts
Check that you have everything neces-
sary for correct installation, Proper
installation is your responsibility.
• flat*blade screwdriver
• adjustable wrench that opens to 1 in.
or hex_head socket wrench (for
adjusting dryer feet)
• level
• wire stripper (direct wire installations)
• #2 Phillips screwdriver
• safety glasses
• duct tape
• caulking gun and compound (for
installing new exhaust vent)
• gloves
• tin snips (new vent installations)
Parts supplied:
Remove parts package from dryer drum.
Check that all parts were included.
4_veling legs
Parts needed:
Check local codes, check existing
electrical supply and venting and see
"Electrical Requirements" and "Venting
Requirements" before purchasing parts.
Mobile home installations require:
• Metal exhaust system hardware
available for purchase from your local
Sears store or Sears Service Center.
Location Requirements
Explosion Hazard
Keep flammable materials and vapors,
such as gasoline, away from dryer.
Place dryer at least 18 inches (46 cm)
above the floor for a garage
installation.
Failure to do so can result in death,
explosion, or fire.
You will need
•A location that allows for proper
exhaust installation. See "Venting
Requirements."
• A separate 30 amp circuit.
• A grounded electrical outlet located
within 2 ft (61 cm) of either side of the
dryer, See "Electrical Requirements,"
• A sturdy floor to support the total dryer
weight of 200 Ibs (90.7 kg).
• A level floor with a maximum slope of 1
in. (2.5 cm) under entire dryer. (If slope
is greater than 1 in, [2.5 cm], install
Extended Dryer Feet kit, Part No,
279810.) Clothes may not tumble prop-
erly and models with automatic sensor
cycles may not operate correctly if
dryer is not level.
Do not operate your dryer at tempera-
tures below 45°F (7°C). At lower temper-
atures, the dryer might not shut off at the
end of an automatic cycle. Drying times
can be extended.
Install the dryer where it is protected from
water and/or weather.
Check code requirements. Some codes
limit, or do not permit, installation of the
dryer in garages, closets, mobile homes,
or sleeping quarters. Contact your local
building inspector.

Installation Clearances
Most installationsrequire a minimum 5/2in.
(14 cm) clearance behind the dryer for the
exhaust vent with elbow. See "Venting
Requirements." The location must be large
enough to fully open the dryer door.
Recommended/Minimum Clearances
Recessed Back Sides Top Front
and Closet (Closet
only)
5V2"/0" 1"/0" 18"/18" 1"/1"
(14 cm) (2.5 cm) (45.7cm) (2.5 cm)
Dryer Dimensions
_i_,
(743ore)
1_m)
Recommended installation spacing for
recessed area or closet installation
The dimensions shown following are for
the recommended spacing allowed,
except the closet door ventilation open-
ings. The dimensions shown for the clos-
et door ventilation openings are the mini-
mum spacings required.
(_,7=.)
3[_
1,-)
Cs=n)
14 rt_(.
_1 (_.8 _) _--
olo
I2
_t.ecm)
48 "l
($10Qazj- _1_
24 "2
_.s a'nI
3
1. Recessed Area
2. Side view -closet or confined area
3. Closet door with vents
•Additional spacing should be
considered for ease of installation and
servicing.
• Additional clearances might be
required for wall, door and floor
moldings.
• Additional spacing of 1 in. (2.5 cm) on
all sides of the dryer is recommended
to reduce noise transfer.
• For closet installation, with a door,
minimum ventilation openings in the
top and bottom of the door are
required. Louvered doors with
equivalent ventilation openings are
acceptable.
• Companion appliance spacing should
also be considered.
Mobile Home-Additional Installation
Requirements
This dryer is suitable for mobile home
installations. The installation must con-
form to the Manufactured Home
Construction and Safety Standard, Title
24 CFR, Part 3280 (formerly the Federal
Standard for Mobile Home Construction
and Safety, Title 24, HUD Part 280).
Mobile home installations require:
• Metal exhaust system hardware which
is available for purchase from your
local Sears store or Sears Service
Center.
• Special provisions must be made in
mobile homes to introduce outside air
into the dryer, The opening (such as a
nearby window) should be at least
twice as large as the dryer exhaust
opening.

Electrical Requirements
It is your responsibility:
•To contact a qualified electrical
installer.
• To be sure that the electrical connec*
tion is adequate and in conformance
with the National Electrical Code,
ANSI/NFPA 70-latest edition and all
local codes and ordinances,
A copy of the above code standards
can be obtained from: National Fire
Protection Association, Batterymarch
Park, Quincy, MA 02269.
• To supply the required 3 or 4 wire, sin-
gle phase, 120/240-volt, 60-Hz., AC-
only electrical supply (or 3 or 4 wire,
120/208-volt electrical supply, if speci-
fied on the serial/rating plate) on a
separate 30-amp circuit, fused on both
sides of the line. A time-delay fuse or
circuit breaker is recommended.
Connect to an individual branch circuit.
Do not have a fuse in the neutral or
grounding circuit.
• Do not use an extension cord.
• If codes permit and a separate ground
wire is used, it is recommended that a
qualified electrician determine that the
ground path is adequate.
Electrical Connection
To properly install your dryer, you must
determine the type of electrical connec-
tion you will be using and follow the
instructions provided for it here.
• If local codes do not permit the con-
nection of a cabinet ground connector
to the neutral wire, see "Direct Wire or
Power Supply Cord."
• This dryer is manufactured with a 3-
wire, cabinet-ground conductor con-
nected to the NEUTRAL (white or cen-
ter wire) of the wiring harness at the
terminal block.
• Use a 4-wire conductor cord when the
dryer is installed in a mobile home or
an area where local codes do not per-
mit grounding through the neutral.
If using apower supply cord:
Dryer power supply cord must be:
•ULqisted
• 120/240 volt minimum
• 30 amp
• Type SRD or SRDT
• At least 4 ft (122 cm) long
The wires that connect to the dryer must
end in ring terminals or spade terminals
with upturned ends,
If your outlet looks like this:
©
4-wire receptacle (14-30R)
Then choose a 4-wire power supply cord
with ring or spade terminals and UL
approved strain relief. The 4-wire power
supply cord, at least 4 ft (122 cm) long,
must have 4, 10 gauge solid copper
wires and match a 4-wire receptacle of
NEMA Type 14-30R. The ground wire
(ground conductor) may be either green
or bare. The neutral conductor must be
identified by a white cover.
If your outlet looks like this:
©
3-wire receptacle (10-30R)
Then choose a 3-wire power supply cord
with ring or spade terminals and UL
approved strain relief. The 3-wire power
supply cord, at least 4 ft (122 cm) long,
must have 3, No.*10 copper wires and
match a 3-wire receptacle of NEMA Type
10-30R.

If connecting by direct wire:
Power supply cable must match
power supply (4-wire or 3-wire) and
be:
• Flexible armored or non-metallic
sheathed copper cable (with ground
wire). All current-carrying wires
must be insulated.
• 10 gauge solid copper wire (do not
use aluminum).
• At least 4 ft (122 cm) long.
GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS
• For a grounded, cord-connected dryer:
This dryer must be grounded. In the
event of malfunction or breakdown,
grounding will reduce the risk of e]ectric
shock by providing a path of least resis-
tance for electric current. This dryer
uses a cord having an equipment-
grounding conductor and a grounding
plug. The plug must be plugged into an
appropriate outlet that is properly
installed and grounded in accordance
with all local codes and ordinances.
• For a permanently connected dryer:
This dryer must be connected to a
grounded metal, permanent wiring
system, or an equipment-grounding
conductor must be run with the circuit
conductors and connected to the
equipment-grounding terminal or lead
on the dryer.
WARNING: Improper connection
of the equipment-grounding conductor
can result in a risk of electric shock.
Check with a qualified electrician or ser-
vice representative or personnel if you
are in doubt as to whether the appli-
ance is properly grounded. De not mod-
ify the plug on the power supply cord. If
it will not fit the outlet, have a proper
outlet installed by aqualified electrician.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Power Supply Cord
Electrical Connection
Direct Wire
Fire Hazard
Use a new UL approved 30 amp
power supply cord.
Use a UL approved strain relief.
Disconnect power before making
electrical connections.
Connect neutral wire (white or center
wire) to center terminal (silver).
Ground wire (green or bare wire)
must be connected to green ground
connector.
Connect remaining 2 supply wires to
remaining 2 terminals (gold).
Securely tighten all electrical
connections.
Failure to do so can result in death,
fire, or electrical shock.
1. Disconnect power,
2. Remove the hold-down screw and
terminal block cover.
1 2 3 4
1 Terminal block cover
2. Extemal ground connector
3. Center', silver-colored terminal-block
screw
4. Hold-down screw location
5. Neutral grounding wire (green/yellow)
6 Hole below terminal block opening
Fire Hazard
Use 10 gauge solid copper wire.
Use a UL approved strain relief.
Disconnect power before making
electrical connections.
Connect neutral wire (white or center
wire) to center terminal (silver).
Ground wire (green or bare wire) must
be connected to green ground
connector.
Connect remaining 2 supply wires
to remaining 2 terminals (gold).
Securely tighten all electrical
connections.
Failure to do so can result in death,
fire, or electrical shock.
3. Assemble a 3_4in, (1,9 cm) UL
approved strain relief (UL marking on
strain relief) into the hole below the
terminal block opening, Tighten strain
relief screws just enough to hold the
two clamp sections together, Put
power supply cord through the strain
relief, The strain relief should have a
tight fit with the dryer cabinet and be
in ahorizontal position.
4. Now complete installation following
instructions for your type of electri-
cal connection:
4-wire (recommended)
3-wire (if 4-wire is not available)
10