MAINTAINING
THE EXHAUST
SYSTEM
The most common cause of dryer problems is poor exhaust venting. Poor exhaust venting may result from the
following
conditions:
• DIRTY OR DAMAGED
EXHAUST DUCTS
• WRONG VENT MATERIAL
• RESTRICTED OR DAMAGED VENT HOOD
• EXCESSIVELY LONG VENT
• THE USE OF PLASTIC OR FOIL VENTING
Maintaining
the Exhaust System
Vent ducts should be checked for lint buildup and
cleaned
at least once per year. If any noticeable
reduction
in drying performance
occurs, check the ducts
for obstructions
and blockages.
If the CHECK VENT indicator
illuminates,
the exhaust
system should be checked
immediately
for damage
or obstructions.
The CHECK VENT indicator
signals a
serious reduction
in exhaust airflow which will greatly
reduce energy efficiency
and increase drying
times.
Damaged
or restricted exhaust systems are not covered
by the dryer warranty.
Damage to the dryer that is
caused by damaged,
restricted,
or otherwise
inadequate
exhaust systems is not covered by the dryer warranty.
CHECK VENT Indicator
The CHECK VENT warning
system is designed
to
help you avoid the reduced
performance
caused by
restrictions
in the household exhaust system. The CHECK
VENT indicator
illuminates
to alert you when problems
in the system occur, so you can have them repaired.
While
you should always check and maintain
your
exhaust system regularly,
the CHECK VENT warning
system will detect and alert you if serious problems
develop
in your home's exhaust system. This includes
exhaust systems that are unsatisfactory
for any reason
including
a blockage
in the venting, crushed/kinked
venting, or venting which exceeds the maximum
recommended
length requirement
as described
in the
installation
section.
NOTE: The total length includes the length from the
back of the dryer to the outside vent hood, PLUS a
factor
for every 90 ° elbow in the exhaust system. For
example,
if the distance from the back of the dryer to
the vent hood is 30 feet, and there are four elbows in
the system, then it exceeds the 28 foot maximum
length
allowed
for those conditions
as specified
in the Duct
Length Chart.
The CHECK VENT indicator
on the control panel will
alert you that the exhaust system is not moving enough
air from the dryer to the outside. This lack of airflow
will
lead to long dry times, poor drying
and possibly dryer
failure.
As a reminder, external dryer venting is considered
part of your home and is not covered by the product
warranty
or protection
agreements.
There are services
available
for cleaning/maintaining
the external venting.
Sears provides this service via Sears Carpet, Upholstery,
and Duct Cleaning.
Call 1-800-661-6594
to schedule
duct cleaning
service from Sears (if it is available
in
your area).
CHECK VENT Operation
The CHECK VENT system uses components
already
in the dryer. By monitoring
these components
over the
course of several cycles, the control is able to determine
how much restriction
there is in the exhaust system. If
it detects a high level of restriction,
it will turn on the
CHECK VENT light to alert you to the condition.
The
dryer will continue to operate
after the light comes
on, but you should have the exhaust system cleaned
or
repaired
immediately
to avoid longer dry times and
higher energy consumption.
IMPORTANT:
In order for a dryer to properly
and
efflciently
dry your clothes, it is extremely
important
that
the exhaust system is as short and clean as possible. It
MUST be less than the maximum
length specifications
as outlined
in the installation
section. It is also very
important
that you make sure that when the dryer is
installed,
the exhaust system is clean and clear of any
restrictions
and is not kinked or crushed.
Failure to meet these guidelines
will result in long dry
times, increased energy consumption
and possibly even
clothing
damage
or dryer failure. When exhaust system
restrictions
become extreme, the CHECK VENT light will
blink to alert you to the condition
so you can have the
exhaust system cleaned
or repaired.
OTo
false alarms and for increased
prevent
reliability,
the dryer will monitor the exhaust condition
for
several loads. If multiple, consecutive
cycles exceed
the restriction
limits, the control will blink the CHECK
VENT indicator.
O
A blinking
CHECK VENT indicator
means the external
venting should be checked for potential
restrictions
as
soon as possible.
O
The CHECK VENT indicator
will remain active
(blinking)
until the restriction
is resolved AND the
control has verified the improved
airflow
for
several cycles.
O
After the exhaust is cleaned
it will take
repaired,
or
several cycles for the CHECK VENT indicator
to reset
and turn off: the light.
NOTE: The CHECK VENT indicator
is designed
to
measure performance
over several consecutive
cycles
before activating
or deactivating,
to avoid false alarms.
A very large load, such as a large comforter,
could
cause the CHECK VENT system to sense that the exhaust
system is restricted,
but this would
not cause the light to
blink. However, if several large loads were to run back
to back, the CHECK VENT indicator
could be activated.
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