Whirlpool 8280525 User manual

A Note to You ..................2
Dryer Safety......................3
Parts and Features ..........5
Checking Your Vent ..........6
Using Your Dryer ..............8
Starting your dryer ........8
Selecting a cycle
and temperature
setting ............................9
Loading........................10
Cycle descriptions ......10
Fluff Air cycle ..............13
Using the drying
rack..............................14
Caring for Your
Dryer ..............................15
Troubleshooting..............18
Assistance
or Service........................20
Warranty..........................24
1-800-253-1301
Call us with questions or comments.
8280525
27"
Electric and
Gas Dryers
www.whirlpool.com

2
A NOTE TO YOU
Thank you for buying a WHIRLPOOL®appliance.
The Whirlpool brand is committed to designing quality products that consistently perform for you to make your
life easier. To ensure that you enjoy years of trouble-free operation, we developed this Use and Care Guide. It is
full of valuable information about how to operate and maintain your appliance properly and safely. Please read
it carefully.
Also, complete and mail the Ownership Registration Card provided with your appliance. The card helps us
notify you about any new information on your appliance.
Please record your model’s information.
Whenever you call to request service for your
appliance, you need to know your complete model
number and serial number. You can find this informa-
tion on the model and serial number label/plate (see
diagram in the “Parts and Features” section).
Please also record the purchase date of your appliance
and your dealer’s name, address, and telephone number.
Keep this book and the sales slip together in a safe place for future reference.
Our Consumer Assistance Center number is toll free.
Model Number________________________________
Serial Number ________________________________
Purchase Date________________________________
Dealer Name ________________________________
Dealer Address ______________________________
Dealer Phone ________________________________
1-800-253-1301
To find detailed product information, the location of the nearest Whirlpool dealer or designated servicer, to
purchase an accessory item, or register your appliance on-line, please visit our Web site at
www.whirlpool.com

3
DRYER SAFETY
WARNING: For your safety the information in this manual must be followed to
minimize the risk of fire or explosion or to prevent property damage, personal
injury or death.
– Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity
of this or any other appliance.
– WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS
•Do not try to light any appliance.
•Do not touch any electrical switch; do not use any phone in your building.
•Clear the room, building or area of all occupants.
•Immediately call your gas supplier from a neighbor’s phone. Follow the gas
supplier’s instructions.
•If you cannot reach your gas supplier, call the fire department.
– Installation and service must be performed by a qualified installer, service agency
or the gas supplier.
continued on next page
You will be killed or seriously injured if you don’t
follow instructions.
You can be killed or seriously injured if you don’t
follow instructions.
Your safety and the safety of others is 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 hazards that can kill or hurt you and others.
All safety messages will be preceded by the safety alert symbol and the word “DANGER” or
“WARNING.” These words mean:
wDANGER
wWARNING
All safety messages will identify the hazard, tell you how to reduce the chance of injury, and tell you what can
happen if the instructions are not followed.

4
DRYER SAFETY
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons when using the
dryer, follow basic precautions, including the following:
•Read all instructions before using
the dryer.
•Do not place items exposed to cooking
oils in your dryer. Items contaminated
with cooking oils may contribute to a
chemical reaction that could cause a
load to catch fire.
•Do not dry articles that have been
previously 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.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
•Do not repair or replace any part of the
dryer or attempt any servicing unless
specifically recommended in this Use and
Care Guide 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 Installation Instructions for grounding
requirements.

5
PARTS AND FEATURES
The drawings in this book may vary from your dryer model. They are designed to show the
different features of all models covered by this book. Your model may not include all features.
Additional features your dryer may have:
CLEAN TOUCHTM control panel*
End of cycle signal selector (p. 9)
FINISH GUARD®feature selector* (p. 8)
FINISH GUARD®Plus feature selector (p. 8)
ACCUDRYTM electronic sensor (p. 10)
DRY MISER®automatic sensor (p. 10)
Drying rack (p. 14)
Drum light (p. 17)
* On some models
Cycle control
knob
(pp. 8-12)
Model and
serial number
label
(p. 2)
Dryer drum
(p. 16) Wide-opening
hamper door
Start button
(p. 8)
Lint screen
(p. 15)

2. Use a 4-inch exhaust hood. Smaller hoods
increase drying times.
6
CHECKING YOUR VENT
Your dryer must be properly installed and vented to achieve maximum drying efficiency and
shorten drying times. Use the minimum recommended installation clearances (found in your
Installation Instructions) to avoid blocking the flow of combustion and ventilation air. Install your
dryer in a well-ventilated room where the temperature is always above 45°F. Also make sure that
your dryer is leveled. Refer to your Installation Instructions for more information.
VENTING
If the dryer is not properly installed and vented, it will
not be covered under the warranty.
NOTE: Service calls caused by improper venting will
be paid for by the customer, whether it was a paid
installation or self-installed. For paid installation, call
the company that installed the vent for
adjustment.
1. Do not use plastic vent or flexible metal foil vent.
Use 4-inch heavy metal
or flexible metal vent.
Do not kink or crush
flexible metal vent. It
must be completely
extended to allow
adequate exhaust air
to flow. Check vent
after installation. Refer
to your Installation
Instructions for proper
length requirements of vent.
wWARNING
Fire Hazard
Use a heavy metal vent.
Do not use a plastic vent.
Do not use a metal foil vent.
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in death or fire.
4”
4”
4”

7
3. You can exhaust from the rear, left, right, or
bottom of the dryer.
•Exhaust from the
rear of the dryer: The
exhaust vent can be
routed up, down, left,
right, or straight out the
back of the dryer. Space
requirements are listed
in your Installation
Instructions.
CHECKING YOUR VENT
VENTING (CONT.)
6. Clean exhaust vent periodically, depending on use,
but at least every 2 years,
or when installing your
dryer in a new location.
•Disconnect vent from
the dryer and clean one
section at a time until
you reach the exhaust
hood.
•Use the hose attach-
ment on your vacuum,
or a pole or wire with a
feather duster or rag attached, to clean out lint.
•Be sure the flapper on the outside end of vent
moves freely.
•When cleaning is complete, be sure to follow the
Installation Instructions supplied with your dryer
for final product check.
4. Use the straightest path possible when routing
the exhaust vent. Use
the fewest number of
elbows and turns. Allow
room when using
elbows or making turns.
Bend vent gradually to
avoid kinking.
5. Use duct tape to seal all joints. Do not use
screws to secure vent.
Lint may catch on
screws.
wWARNING
Fire Hazard
Cover unused exhaust holes with one of the
following kits: #279818 (white), #279819
(almond), #279820 (ebony).
Contact your local dealer.
Failure to do so can result in death, fire,
electrical shock, or serious injury.
•Exhaust from left, right, or bottom of dryer: To
convert the dryer for exhaust out the right or left
side, or through the bottom, you must use one of
the following kits:
Exhaust Kit No. 279818 (white)
Exhaust Kit No. 279819 (almond)
Exhaust Kit No. 279820 (ebony)
An exhaust kit can be ordered by calling
1-800-442-9991 and following the instructions
and telephone prompts you hear.

Before using your dryer, wipe the dryer drum with
a damp cloth to remove dust from storing and
shipping.
1. Load clothes loosely into the dryer and close the
door. Do not pack the
dryer; allow space for
clothes to tumble freely.
8
wWARNING
Explosion Hazard
Keep flammable materials and vapors, such
as gasoline, away from dryer.
Do not dry anything that has ever had
anything flammable on it (even after
washing).
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in death, explosion, or fire.
2. Turn the Cycle Control knob to the recommended
cycle for the type of load
being dried, as described
in “Cycle descriptions”
later in this section.
•Use the Energy
Preferred Automatic
Setting (*) to dry most
loads.
NOTE: On some mod-
els, the Temperature
selector is part of the
Cycle Control knob.
USING YOUR DRYER
STARTING YOUR DRYER
3. If your dryer has a Temperature selector, set it to
the recommended setting for the type of fabric
being dried. The cycle descriptions on the
following pages include temperature setting
suggestions.
4. (OPTIONAL STEP) Some dryers have an On/Off
FINISH GUARD®selector or an Off/30 min. or
90 min. FINISH GUARD®Plus selector. These
features protect your clothes from wrinkling when
you do not remove them from the dryer as soon
as it stops.
•Set the FINISH GUARD selector to On to
tumble the load without heat every few minutes
up to 45 minutes after the drying cycle ends.
•The FINISH GUARD Plus selector lets you
choose up to 30 or 90 minutes of periodic
unheated tumble time after the drying cycle
ends.
•A signal will sound every few minutes while
FINISH GUARD (FINISH GUARD Plus) is
running if the Cycle Signal (End of Cycle
Signal) feature is set to On. The signal and cycle
end when you open the dryer door.
•Set the FINISH GUARD (FINISH GUARD Plus)
selector to Off if you do not want to run this
feature.
NOTE: Some dryers have a FINISH GUARD feature
that cannot be turned On or Off. See page 12.
wWARNING
Fire Hazard
No washer can completely remove oil.
Do not dry anything that has ever had any
type of oil on it (including cooking oils).
Items containing foam, rubber, or plastic
must be dried on a clothesline or by using
an Air Cycle.
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in death or fire.

9
5. (OPTIONAL STEP) If your dryer has a Cycle
Signal (End of Cycle Signal) selector, set the
selector to On if you want the dryer to sound a
signal when a cycle is finished.
•The signal is helpful when you are drying
permanent press, synthetics, and other items
that should be removed from the dryer as
soon as it stops.
•On some models, the End of Cycle Signal is
part of the Start button.
•On some models, the End of Cycle Signal
volume can be adjusted from Softer to Louder.
6. Push the Start button.
NOTE: Your dryer stops automatically when a
cycle ends.
STARTING YOUR DRYER (CONT.)
USING YOUR DRYER
SELECTING A CYCLE AND TEMPERATURE SETTING
The following pages describe the drying cycles on
your dryer. The descriptions include suggested
temperature settings and drying times for various
loads.
Cycle and temperature tips
•Make sure you have selected the correct cycle
and temperature for your load.
•Dry most loads using the Energy Preferred
Automatic Setting (*).
•Use an air cycle (or temperature setting), or line
dry rubber, plastic, delicate, and heat-sensitive
fabrics.
•If some types of loads in the cycle descriptions
on the following pages have more than one
suggested temperature setting, choose the
lowest setting available on your dryer.
•The last few minutes of all cycles are without
heat to make the load cooler to handle.
Drying tips
•Always follow care label directions when they are
available.
•If you use fabric softener sheets, always use
softener sheets that are labeled as dryer safe and
follow package instructions carefully.
•Remove the load from the dryer as soon as
tumbling stops to reduce wrinkling. This is
especially important for permanent press, knits,
and synthetic fabrics.
Stopping and restarting your dryer
You can stop your dryer anytime during a cycle.
To stop your dryer:
Open the dryer door or turn the Cycle Control knob
to Off.
NOTE: The Cycle Control knob should point to an
Off area when the dryer is not in use.
To restart your dryer:
Close the door, select a new cycle and temperature
(if desired), and push the Start button.

10
CYCLE DESCRIPTIONS
Automatic cycle(s)
Use an Automatic cycle to dry most loads.
Depending on your
model, the Automatic
cycle uses either the
electronic ACCUDRYTM
system or the auto-
matic DRY-MISER®
control that senses the
moisture in the load
and shuts off the dryer
when the selected
dryness is reached.
The Cycle Control knob does not move until the
load is almost dry. After the cool-down, the knob
automatically turns to an Off area and tumbling
stops.
•If the load is drier than you like, select a setting
closer to Less Dry the next time you dry a
similar load.
•If the load is not as dry as you like, complete
drying using a Timed cycle. Select a setting
closer to Very Dry the next time you dry a similar
load.
Loading suggestions
The chart below provides some guidelines on various types of drying loads. Load clothes loosely into the
dryer. Do not pack the dryer; allow space for clothes to tumble freely.
LOADING
Heavy Work Clothes
4 jeans
4 workpants
4 workshirts
2 sweatshirts
2 sweatpants
Towels
10 bath towels
10 hand towels
14 wash cloths
Mixed Load
3 sheets (1 king, 2 twin)
4 pillowcases
3 shirts
3 bouses
9 t-shirts
9 shorts
10 handkerchiefs
Delicates
3 camisoles
1 quilted robe
4 slips
4 panties
2 bras
2 nighties
1 baby’s dress
Drying time with an Automatic cycle varies accord-
ing to the type of fabric, size of load, and dryness
setting. Your model may not have all heat settings
listed. Some general guidelines are:
•Use a high heat setting for drying heavyweight
items, such as towels and work clothes.
•Use a medium heat setting for drying medium-
weight items, such as sheets, underwear,
permanent press clothes, and some knits.
•Use a low or extra low heat setting for drying
lightweight items such as lingerie, blouses,
dresses, and some knits.
NOTE: If you have any questions about drying
temperatures for various loads, refer to care label
directions.
USING YOUR DRYER