Kenmore Dishwasher Not Drying: Heated Dry and Vent Fixes

Quick Answer

A Kenmore dishwasher not drying is usually caused by a disabled Heated Dry setting or an empty rinse aid dispenser. Ensure rinse aid is full to help water sheet off dishes and test the heating element for continuity if the issue persists.

Here's what most people don't realize: ignoring this long enough causes spotting on all your glassware, and eventually you're looking at a burned-out heating element that could've been a $15 rinse aid fix. I've seen the 665 series eat through elements way faster when people skip rinse aid for months. And if your vent's stuck shut on the 796 models, that moisture just sits in there and starts smelling. Get it sorted sooner rather than later.

KenmoreDishwasherSeverity: moderateDifficulty: intermediate75% DIY Success

Time to Fix

15–90 min

Difficulty

intermediate

Parts Cost

$0 (no parts needed)

Tools Needed

Phillips #2 screwdriver, Flat-head screwdriver (medium)

Kenmore Dishwasher Not Drying: Heated Dry and Vent Fixes

OK so here's the deal. Most of the time when I get called out for a Kenmore not drying, it's not actually broken. Someone hit the wrong button and turned off Heated Dry, or the rinse aid ran out two months ago and nobody noticed. That said, the 665 series is genuinely notorious for heating element failure around the 7-year mark. Figure out which situation you're in before you buy anything.

Most Likely Causes

Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:

Component failure in the Kenmore dishwasher40%

Sensor or thermostat out of operating range24%

Control board fault14%

Power or electrical supply issue12%

Mechanical wear requiring inspection10%

Symptoms You May Notice

Dishes come out soaking wet even after a full cycle with the Heated Dry light on the whole time.
There's standing water pooled inside plastic bowls and cups that you have to dump out before putting them away.
Glassware comes out covered in water spots and streaks, not just one or two but basically every single glass.
You open the door right after the cycle and a huge cloud of steam hits you, which tells you the vent isn't opening and that moisture has nowhere to go.
The inside of the tub feels barely warm when you open it, not hot, which means the heating element probably didn't fire at all during the dry phase.

Can you reset a Kenmore dishwasher to clear the NOT-DRYING code?

If the heater tripped a safety limit, you'll need to hard reset the control board to clear the fault. Kill the circuit breaker for 5 full minutes, don't just flip it right back. When you restore power, start a high-heat or Sani-Rinse cycle right away. That forces the board to re-evaluate the heating circuit from scratch and clears any latched error state.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Phillips #2 screwdriverFlat-head screwdriver (medium)Multimeter with continuity and ohms settingsFlashlight or headlampTowels for water cleanupNeedle-nose pliersRinse aid (Jet-Dry or store brand)

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

ComponentComponent Under Test

Expected Range10–30 ohms

ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to fix a Kenmore dishwasher that won't dry?

If it's just the rinse aid, you're out maybe $5-8 for a bottle. Best case. If I'm coming out to replace a heating element on a 665-series, you're looking at $150-250 including labor. The element itself is around $30-50 for most models. If the control board got taken out when the heater shorted, that bill can climb to $400-450. At that point I'd seriously ask how old the machine is before committing to that repair.

Why are my plastic containers always wet even when everything else is dry?

Honestly, this is the number one complaint I hear. Plastic doesn't hold heat like ceramic, glass, or stainless. The way Kenmore's drying system works, the dishes themselves absorb heat during the wash and slowly radiate it during the dry cycle to evaporate moisture. Plastic cools almost instantly, so there's nothing to drive off that water. Best you can do is use a good rinse aid and always run Heated Dry. Even then, you'll probably want to crack the door open a few minutes after the cycle for plastic stuff.

Is it worth fixing a Kenmore dishwasher that won't dry?

If it's under 8-9 years old and the rest of it runs fine, yeah, almost always worth it. Heating element and thermostat are solid repairs that'll add years to the machine. If you've got a 796-prefix LG-built unit with a failed vent motor, same thing, totally viable repair. Where I'd pump the brakes is if the machine is 12+ years old and you're staring down a control board replacement. That's when you start doing the math on a new unit.

How do I know if my Kenmore is a 665 or 796 series?

Open the door and check the left side of the door frame or the inside edge of the tub opening. There's a sticker with the full model number. If it starts with 665, that's a Whirlpool-built unit with a traditional heating element. If it starts with 796, that's an LG-built unit that uses condensation drying plus a vent fan. Totally different setup and they fail in completely different ways. I ask this on every service call because you don't want to go chasing the wrong part.

Should I use rinse aid even with all-in-one detergent pods?

Yes, and this trips up a lot of people. Those all-in-one pods do have a little rinse aid built in, but it's not nearly enough for most water conditions. If you've got hard water, which most of us do, you need the dedicated rinse aid dispenser filled up to get decent drying results. I've tested this back-to-back on the same machine. Pods alone, dishes come out wet. Pods plus a full rinse aid dispenser set to level 4, dishes come out dry. Don't skip it.

Same Fix Works on These Brands

Kenmore shares the same hardware platform with these brands. The diagnosis and repair steps are identical.

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Models Known to Experience NOT-DRYING Errors

This repair applies to most Kenmore dishwashers with this error code. Common model numbers include:

665.13242K900, 665.13252K901, 665.15832K900, 665.16302403, 665.17302K901, 665.13223N410, 796.41503210, 796.41513210

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 15, 2026