Kenmore Dishwasher Not Drying? Try These Quick Fixes!

Kenmore dishwashers are a rising home appliance option that is known for being excellent dishwashers as they have unique cleaning features and are equipped with numerous facilities and qualities. Although it is a widely used dishwasher, there are some issues that you may face as a customer. One such problem that causes our customers a lot of frustration is the problem of Kenmore dishwashers not drying. If you are constantly facing this issue, follow our detailed guide below so that you can get to the root cause of this problem and solve this in several different ways. 

If we are to summarize the reasons behind your Kenmore dishwasher not drying, they range from having a faulty heating assembly to a mistake while selecting the wash cycle type. A quick summary to fix this problem would be to inspect all the electrical and mechanical components involved in the drying system of the dishwasher as well as the temperature and heating elements so that you can carry out their respective fixes in case you find the culprit. 

Read below to understand the reasons and follow the different solutions accordingly.

Why Is Your Kenmore Dishwasher Not Drying?

If you are looking for a solution to this problem, it is first important to recognize why exactly we are facing the problem itself. Generally, there can be a lot of reasons behind your Kenmore dishwasher not drying but if we are to talk about a major fault behind this, it could be due to faults in the heating element assembly, thermal sensors, or control board. 

Let us now move on to understand the different causes behind this issue

1) Faulty Kenmore Dishwasher Vent

The first reason why your Kenmore dishwasher is not drying is due to a faulty dishwasher vent. If your Kenmore dishwasher vent is not opening properly, there will be moisture left behind on the dishes which in normal conditions gets out as steamy evaporated air during the rinse cycle. It is important to check the vent before starting the machine so that it is opening correctly. 

2) Faulty Vent Fan Motor

The second reason why your Kenmore dishwasher is not drying is due to a faulty vent fan motor.  The vent fan motor helps to dry the dishes at the end of the rinse cycle which means if there is any fault in this motor, it will also lead to incomplete drying of the dishes. 

To fix this you have to first check whether it is working properly by having a look at its continuity. This can be done using a multimeter to test the readings. In addition, you may also want to check the fan blade to make sure it is spinning smoothly. In case of any physical damage to the fan blade such as burning out or wear and tear, it will not be able to spin smoothly. This means you will have to get the vent fan motor replaced. 

3) Faulty Turbidity Sensor.

Your Kenmore dishwasher comes with an installed turbidity sensor that performs the function of measuring the number of food particles present in the water during the wash cycle. This is done so that the time taken for a single wash cycle can be determined from before and how long it will last. If your turbidity sensor is faulty, this can cause your dishwasher to stop entering the drying phase of the cycle hence it is the third reason why your Kenmore dishwasher is not drying.

4) Heating Element Failure

In general, dishwashers have a heating element that is used for heating up the dishwasher when the wash cycle reaches the drying phase. Failure in the heating element may cause your Kenmore dishwasher to stop drying. To check whether your heating element is functional, you may use a multimeter to check for continuous readings. If the readings are non-continuous, you might have to get the heating element fixed or replaced. 

You must remember that some models of the Kenmore dishwasher may have a reset fuse button that can trip which means that the voltage is blocked from reaching the heating element. This means that a quick way to fix this can be by pressing the fuse button, you can reset and restore the power back to the element.

5) Kenmore Dishwasher Loose Wirings.

In your Kenmore dishwasher, there are wire harnesses that allow the smooth flow of voltage from the control board to the heating element. If this wire harness has loose wiring or connections, it may be unable to supply the power continuously and this may be why your Kenmore dishwasher is not drying the dishes. 

To fix this, assess all your wirings for any damage, burn marks, or loose connections. If you notice them, get them repaired or replaced accordingly.

6) Stuck Float Switch.

The float switch is a component in your Kenmore dishwasher that is designed as a safety device to shut down the water inlet valve in case the dishwasher ends up overfilling. If you notice that the float switch is stuck, it will interfere with the smooth running of the wash cycle and thus cause the problem of your Kenmore dishwasher not drying. 

To check for a working float switch, as mentioned before, use a multimeter to test its continuity, and in case of any issue, get it replaced. 

7) Heat Dry Not Selected 

Sometimes your problem with the Kenmore dishwasher not drying could be a result of a very simple mistake of not selecting the right option from the dishwasher. What this means is that since not all wash cycles are the same, if you notice that your dishes are still moist, you should recheck the cycle option that you have selected as heated dry so that the dishes are completely dry when the wash cycle is over. 

8) Thermostat Malfunction In Kenmore Dishwasher 

This is one of the important reasons to look out for when you notice that your Kenmore dishwasher is not drying. The thermostat helps to monitor the temperature inside the dishwasher and as soon as it senses any overheating, it shuts off the heating element. When your thermostat is defective, it may block the flow of voltage toward the heating element, which means the heating element is also not working. 

This usually occurs in more serious cases and is mostly rare so make sure that you have checked for all the reasons mentioned above first, only then, proceed to get your thermostat checked for continuity before you decide to get it replaced since it is costly. 

9) Main Control Foard Failure

If your Kenmore dishwasher is still not drying, you may want to check your main control board now. This is because the main control board is responsible for regulating the voltage being supplied to the heating element circuit. If there is any sort of defect or failure in the main control board, other components will also not work which will prevent your dishes from drying indirectly. 

It is important to note that it is easy to make mistakes while troubleshooting the control board so this should be your last component to check. Only when all else fails should you proceed to assess the control board. 

The Bottom Line:

We have looked at the various reasons and solutions that you can read through and follow easily in the comfort of your home when you read our article. If your Kenmore dishwasher is not drying, we have provided you with the best troubleshooting guide that you may follow at your convenience. 

The main cause of your Kenmore dishwasher not drying usually arises due to a fault in the heating system or the heating element since they are affected indirectly as well. It is important to find out when they and how they are being influenced due to any other component in the dishwasher. Additionally, some other basic things that cause this problem include the type of rinse aid you use so make sure you are using an appropriate type. We are confident that through our guide, you will have found the exact reason behind your issue. 

However, If your Kenmore dishwasher is still not drying, it is time to seek professional help from a plumber or contact Kenmore customer service although we hope that after reading our article you will not need much external support.