[mmhanko]

Sheila, I have a Sears Kenmore dryer, purchased in 1990, model no. 69848, it recently it has stopped blowing hot air. Every thing else works fine. I have tried getting the back off to check the heating element, but have not had much success. Any suggestions?

[PS Staff - Sheila]

Have you check the power at the wall to see if you have 240 volts?

You may have a wire off.

To open the dryer remove the lint screen in the top panel and remove the two screws.

Between the front panel and the top there are two spring clip, using a putty knife push the clips in to release the top.

Can you please verify your model number?

[mmhanko]

Model number is 86984810. I have checked the plug and it is fine. The fuse box shows no tripped breakers, so we're ok on power. The dryer works, the drum spins, but all we get is cold air, no hot. I got the top panel off, but I can't get the back panel off. All the wires I can see in the back appear to be well connected to the controls. On this model, the lint screen is inside the dryer door.

[mmhanko]

While my daughter and her boyfriend took the dryer apart, I took apart my files, looking for the dryer manual. Amazingly, although I thought it was lost, I found it and also the parts list for the dryer which has an exploded view!

Found out how to access the heater element assembly. So we put the back of the dryer back together and accessed the heater element assembly through the lower front panel.

Cleaned out the years of accumulated lint, some of it looking very black
, and all around the heater element.

The wires were all attached and the only problem appeared to be all the blackened lint. We cleaned it all out as well as the area around and inside the lint trap, then reassembled the dryer. Have a wet dishrag in it now. Tumbles fine, just waiting to see if it heats up. If not, I'll take out the heater assembly, find someone to test it for me and if its bad, either order one myself online or have them order it for me. Thanks for giving me the courage to DIM!