Kenmore Dishwasher Not Drying - Causes & Fix

Kenmore Dishwasher Not Drying — What’s Happening

When a Kenmore dishwasher is not drying, the unit completes its wash and drain cycles normally but fails to produce enough heat or airflow during the final dry phase. Dishes come out wet or covered in water droplets, especially plastics which retain less heat than glass or ceramic.

This symptom does not trigger a single dedicated fault code on most Kenmore models. Instead, the problem usually points to a failed heating element, bad thermistor, control board issue, empty rinse-aid dispenser, or wiring fault in the heat-dry circuit. User loading and low incoming water temperature can also make a healthy dishwasher appear to dry poorly.

Jump to Fix

Most Likely Causes

• Failed heating element The element has burned out or developed an open circuit, so no heat is produced during the dry phase.
• Empty or non-dispensing rinse-aid reservoir Rinse aid is required for modern dishwashers to sheet water off dishes and improve drying performance.
• Bad thermistor or temperature sensor The control board cannot read oven temperature correctly and will not command the heater on.
• Loose or burned wiring to the heater or sensor Damaged connectors or harness breaks prevent power from reaching the heating element or signal from the thermistor.
• Control board or keypad fault The electronic control fails to activate the heat-dry cycle even when the heater and sensor are intact.
• Door latch or switch problem A faulty door switch can interrupt normal cycle operation and prevent the unit from reaching or completing the dry phase.
• Low incoming water temperature or poor loading Cold inlet water or plastics-heavy loads reduce residual heat available for drying, making the machine appear to fail.

How to Diagnose and Fix

1. Run a full wash cycle and confirm the dishwasher washes and drains normally but produces no heat or leaves dishes wet.
2. Check that the rinse-aid dispenser is full and that rinse aid is being dispensed during the final rinse.
3. Unplug the dishwasher and inspect the heating element for visible cracks, blistering, or corrosion.
4. Test the heating element for continuity with a multimeter (power off) and check that its wiring harness is secure and undamaged.
5. Test the thermistor or temperature sensor and its wiring if the heater passes continuity but still does not energize during the cycle.
6. Inspect the control board and door latch switch if the heater, sensor, and wiring all check good but the unit never calls for heat.
7. Perform a power reset by unplugging the unit for two minutes, then run a full cycle to verify heat at the element and dry performance.
8. Replace the failed component (heater, sensor, board, or switch) and run a complete cycle to confirm dishes come out dry.

Parts You Might Need

Related Error Codes

If your appliance also shows a code on the display, these match this problem:

• Kenmore Dishwasher E04 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E05 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E06 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E07 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E08 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E09 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E10 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E11 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E12 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E13 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher E14 error code
• Kenmore Dishwasher F1E1 error code

When to Call a Pro

Call a pro if you are uncomfortable working with 120V wiring or testing live circuits with a multimeter. A technician can run diagnostic cycles, measure exact voltage and resistance at the heater and sensor, and pinpoint control-board or harness faults that are hard to isolate without a schematic. Professional service is also recommended if the unit has already had one part replaced without fixing the drying problem, since multiple interacting faults or a bad wiring harness may be involved.