Kenmore is a store brand, not a factory. The name belongs to Transform SR Brands LLC (the Sears successor) and the appliances are built by other manufacturers under contract, including Whirlpool, LG, Electrolux and GE over the years. Two Kenmore washers of the same age can have nothing in common inside.
This page explains how to find out who built your unit, the problems owners report most, where the model tag is, how to get the manual, how the warranty works, and when an independent repair business is the right call. It is not affiliated with Kenmore, Transformco or Sears.
Callbook is not affiliated with, authorized by or endorsed by Kenmore. This page is written for owners of its products; warranty service may need to go through the maker.
What people own
- Top-freezer, side-by-side, bottom-freezer and French door refrigerators, under the Kenmore, Kenmore Elite and Kenmore Pro names.
- Top-load and front-load washers and matching electric and gas dryers.
- Dishwashers with front or top controls.
- Freestanding electric and gas ranges, wall ovens and cooktops.
- Chest and upright freezers.
- Over-the-range and countertop microwaves, and window air conditioners.
Common problems and what they usually point to
Refrigerator not cooling or ice maker stopped
A defrost problem, a failed evaporator fan, dirty condenser coils or a door gasket. For ice, an overdue filter, a frozen fill tube, a failed inlet valve or the ice maker. Kenmore Elite refrigerators built by LG share LG's compressor and sealed-system design, a technician-only repair.
Washer not draining, not spinning or shaking
On Whirlpool-built top-loaders, a lid switch or lid lock, a drive belt or a clogged pump; on LG-built front-loaders, the drain pump filter, a door lock or an unbalanced-load condition. The code on the display, if any, follows the original maker's scheme.
Dryer not heating or taking too long
A restricted vent first. Then a heating element, thermal fuse or high-limit thermostat on an electric dryer, or an igniter, flame sensor or gas valve coil on a gas dryer.
Dishwasher not draining or not cleaning
A clogged filter, a blocked drain hose or air gap, or the drain pump. Poor cleaning usually comes from a blocked spray arm, a clogged filter or low water temperature.
Range or oven not heating or showing a code
A failed bake element or igniter, a temperature sensor or the control board. Codes follow the original maker's table, which is in the Kenmore manual for that model.
Model numbers, manuals and warranty
- The model and serial tag is a sticker: on an inside wall of a refrigerator, under the lid or around the door opening of a washer, inside the door opening of a dryer, on the edge of a dishwasher door, and behind the oven door or inside the drawer on a range. Kenmore says model numbers are at least 11 characters long; enter the whole number, including the digits after the period.
- The first three digits of a Kenmore model number (before the period) identify the company that built the appliance. Give the full model number to any repair business so the right parts and service information are used.
- Use and care guides are on the Kenmore manual search page by model number. The guide for your model includes the troubleshooting section and any error-code table.
- Kenmore states that most of its major appliances carry a one-year limited warranty against defects, with longer coverage on specific parts for some products, and that coverage requires proof of purchase from an authorized Kenmore retailer. In-warranty service is arranged by Kenmore; its warranty page lists phone numbers by product category, including 1-844-553-6667 for most major appliances.
- Kenmore's contact page directs product questions by retailer and lists Sears Home Services for repair and Sears PartsDirect for parts; both are separate businesses from Kenmore. Its recalls page points to recalls.gov.
When a local repair business is the right call
- The appliance is out of its warranty and you want a local technician and a quote.
- A refrigerator needs sealed-system work (compressor, evaporator, refrigerant), which requires EPA-certified refrigerant handling.
- A gas dryer or gas range needs igniter, valve or gas-line work.
- A washer needs bearings, a gearcase, a drum or a motor, which means a teardown.
- You are not sure who built the appliance and want someone to read the model number and bring the right part.
Questions people ask
Who made my Kenmore appliance?
Look at the first three digits of the model number. Each prefix belongs to a manufacturer that built Kenmore products under contract, and the answer decides which parts and service procedures apply.
Can an independent business repair a Kenmore?
Yes. The parts come from the original maker and are stocked by the usual distributors. Any qualified business can do the work with the full model number in hand.
Does Sears still service Kenmore appliances?
Sears Home Services still operates as a repair business and is linked from the Kenmore site, but it is a separate company and you are not required to use it outside the warranty.
Is a Kenmore Elite refrigerator the same as an LG?
Many Kenmore Elite refrigerators were built by LG and share LG's inverter compressor and control design. Sealed-system repairs on those units are handled the same way as on an LG model and need a technician set up for that work.
Sources
- Kenmore: Warranty information (terms and service phone numbers by product) www.kenmore.com
- Kenmore: Use and care guide search (manuals by model number) www.kenmore.com
- Kenmore: Contact us www.kenmore.com
- Kenmore: Product recalls www.kenmore.com