How to Start a Kenmore Washer

Quick Answer

To start a Kenmore washer, select your cycle using the dial, ensure the lid or door is fully closed, and then press and hold the Start button for three seconds. For older models with a mechanical timer, you usually select the cycle and then pull the knob out toward you to begin the fill process.

Nine times out of ten when someone calls me saying their Kenmore 'won't turn on,' the machine started just fine. They just didn't hold that Start button long enough. That three-second hold trips people up constantly. Ignore the right start sequence and you can trick the control board into throwing error codes that look serious but aren't, and that's a service call you didn't need to make.

KenmoreWasherSeverity: lowDifficulty:

Time to Fix

1–2 min

Difficulty

Parts Cost

$0 (no parts needed)

Tools Needed

Flashlight (to inspect lid latch and strike area for debris)

How to Start a Kenmore Washer

OK so here's the deal. Starting a Kenmore washer costs zero dollars and takes about thirty seconds, but there are a couple things about these machines nobody tells you upfront. The lid strike and latch area get gunky fast, and I've seen clean machines throw lid lock errors just because someone let dryer lint pile up around the latch. Wipe that area down every few weeks and you'll dodge a lot of headaches.

Can you reset a Kenmore washer to clear the HOW-TO-START code?

Press and hold the Start/Pause button for five seconds until the lights blink or the display clears. On older dial models, rotate the knob all the way counterclockwise past the Off position. Then unplug the machine for a full 60 seconds, plug it back in, and wait another 30 seconds before starting a new cycle. You should see the display lights cycle when it resets successfully.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Flashlight (to inspect lid latch and strike area for debris)

Diagnostic Checklist

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Kenmore washer just beep when I press start?

Nine times out of ten it's the lid. The lid lock sensor is telling the machine something's not right with the closure. Check for socks or small items jammed near the latch, wipe that area with a damp cloth, and try again. Also, remember you need to hold the button for a full three seconds, not just a quick tap. If you've done both of those and it's still just beeping at you, the lid lock actuator might be starting to fail. That's about a $25 part and a 20-minute fix on most models.

How do I start an older Kenmore washer with a pull-knob?

Those old mechanical timers are actually simpler than the digital ones in some ways. Push the knob in first to make sure it's disengaged, then rotate it to your cycle, then pull it straight out toward you. Water should start flowing right away. If nothing flows after you pull the knob, check that both water supply valves behind the machine are fully open, then listen for the lid switch clicking when you close the lid. Those old lid switches go bad pretty regularly on the 110-series machines, and a new one is usually under $15.

Can I add a garment after the cycle has started?

Yeah, you can on most models, but do it right. Hit Start/Pause once and wait. Don't just yank the lid open. Wait for the Lid Locked indicator to turn off, which usually takes 5 to 10 seconds. Then add your item, close the lid, and press Start again. Front-loaders are trickier. If the water level's above the door gasket, it physically won't unlock the door. Your add-garment window is usually only open in the first five or six minutes of the cycle, so don't wait too long.

The 'Sensing' light is flashing and it won't fill. What do I do?

First thing, check your water supply valves behind the machine. Both of them, hot and cold. I've shown up to 'broken' machines that were just running on one closed valve more times than I can count. If both are fully open, pull the hoses and check the inlet screens. Those little mesh screens inside the hose connection ports on the back of the washer get clogged with sediment and basically choke the water flow. Pop them out with a flathead screwdriver, rinse them under the sink, put everything back. Fixes this problem probably 30% of the time, and it takes five minutes.

My Kenmore washer won't start and there's no display at all. What's going on?

Start at the outlet. Plug something else in to confirm you've actually got power there. Then check the circuit breaker. Washers pull a lot of current at startup and sometimes trip a breaker without flipping it all the way off, so look for any breaker that's not sitting perfectly in line with the others. After that, check the lid latch area for physical damage. I've seen machines where someone forced the lid and bent the latch, and on some models that kills power to the whole control board. A visibly bent or cracked latch assembly needs to be replaced before anything else will work.

Models Known to Experience HOW-TO-START Errors

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

110.20222510, 110.26002010, 796.41272900, 110.45862400, 110.27032603, 796.29272900, 110.28002011, 110.21302010

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 17, 2026