Thanks for the photo of the data plate. Your Kenmore 110.69622800 is a Whirlpool-built electric dryer from the Kenmore 600 series. The serial number shows it was made in Marion, Ohio, in mid-2009, so it is about 17 years old. A dryer that never shuts off on its own has a short list of causes, and the first test tells you which one.
First test: which setting keeps running?
Set the knob to Timed Dry for 10 minutes, start it and watch the knob.
- The knob doesn’t move on Timed Dry either: the timer motor has failed. The knob is turned by a small motor inside the timer, and when it stops, the dryer runs until you turn it off by hand. The fix is a new timer.
- Timed Dry works, but Auto Dry runs forever: go to the next section.
When only Auto Dry won’t stop
On Auto Dry, the knob only advances when the heat cycles off. Anything that keeps that from happening stops the timer:
- No heat at all. If the clothes are still damp and the air inside is cool, the heating element has probably burned open. On this dryer the timer advances through the element during Auto Dry, so a dead element means no heat and a cycle that never ends. This is the most common cause on Whirlpool-built electric dryers.
- Heat never cycles off. If the dryer gets very hot, the cycling thermostat may be stuck closed. Stop using the dryer until it is checked, since that thermostat is part of what keeps it from overheating.
Also check the vent
Clean the lint screen and make sure air blows strongly out of the outside vent hood while the dryer runs. A blocked vent makes cycles drag on and is a fire risk on its own.
Is it worth repairing?
Usually, yes. A timer, heating element or thermostat is a moderately priced part, and these dryers are simple to work on. Unplug the dryer before opening any panel.