Samsung dryer loses power or won't turn on
When your dryer won't turn on, or if it loses power suddenly, the most common causes relate to how the power is being supplied to the dryer. Here are the things to check for.
Clothes are not dry after using Samsung dryer
If your dryer is heating but the clothes are still damp, then your vent is probably blocked. If your dryer has weak heat and runs for a long time, this could also indicate a blocked vent. And if your dryer ends after only a couple of minutes with soaking wet clothes, then your moisture sensors could be dirty. To make sure you're performing the correct troubleshooting steps, first determine if your dryer has hot air at all, then we'll guide you through the steps to resolve the issue.
Clothes are not dry after using Samsung dryer
Important
Laundry may be damp at the end of a steam dry cycle; if so, the laundry will need to lay flat or be hung to dry, or finish drying on a different cycle.
What heating issue does your dryer have?
Dryer has no heat at all
Dryer is not hot enough
Dryer cycle ends too quickly
Dryer cycle takes too long
Important
Is an error code displaying?
Check our error code guide for dryers as an error code may mean that your dryer needs service and no other troubleshooting needs to be performed.
1
Check the cycle you're using.
Some settings, like Eco Dry, will cause portions of the cycle (like the beginning) to operate without heat. You can find out more about your dryer's cycles, settings, and features in our guide.
The following steps apply even if only one cycle is having the issue, as long as the cycle with the issue is one that is supposed to heat.
2
Check if the dryer will heat even a little bit.
Set the dryer to Time Dry, make sure Eco Dry is turned off, and then start a cycle. After 30 seconds, open the door and feel inside.
- If there is any heat or warmth, select Dryer is not hot enough instead.
- You should only continue with Steps 3-5 if the dryer does not heat at all.
Note
Has your dryer ever heated since it was last installed?
If the dryer has heated before, and the installation hasn't been changed in any way, you can skip step 3.
If the dryer has never heated since it's been installed in its current location, or since the installation was recently changed, then it is likely that installation is the cause of the issue and service is not required. Review step 3 closely.
3
Review the installation.
The following steps in the installation can cause no heat:
- Electric dryers require 240V outlets. If the outlet is not supplying enough voltage, the panel and motor may work, but the heater may not.
- For gas dryers, verify the gas line connection is installed properly and turned on.
- For electric dryers, inspect the power cord installation.
- The exhaust vent must meet the dryer's requirements.
The user manual contains all you need to know to install the dryer correctly, however, we recommend having a professional do it.
4
Cycle the circuit breaker.
Turn the circuit breaker off, wait 30 seconds, and then turn it back on.
Electric dryers have two circuits. In most homes, these circuits are connected so that they will trip together. However, it is possible for only one of the circuits to trip. If this happens, the dryer will turn on and spin but will not heat. By turning it off and back on, you can confirm that both circuits are turned on and no longer tripped.
5
Request service.
If you continue to have no hot air at all coming from your dryer, visit our Support Center to request service.
Important
Is an error code displaying?
Check our error code guide for dryers as an error code may mean that your dryer needs service and no other troubleshooting needs to be performed.
Are your cycles ending very quickly?
If your cycles end too quickly for the dryer to get warm, select Dryer cycle ends too quickly, as those troubleshooting steps may better address your issue.
1
Check if the dryer is heating at all.
(If you already know your dryer is heating, you can skip this step.)
Set the dryer to Time Dry, make sure Eco Dry is turned off, and then start a cycle. After 30 seconds, open the door and feel inside.
- If it still feels cold inside, and there's no hot air at all, select Dryer has no heat at all.
- If there is any warmth, service is almost never required. Proceed with the next steps.
2
Clean the lint filter.
The dryer will not be able to heat well if the lint filter is clogged, so clean the lint filter before or after every cycle.
3
Turn off Eco Dry (if applicable).
Eco Dry intentionally reduces heat output to save energy. (Clothes still get dry, but it may take longer which saves energy in the long run.)
Eco Dry doesn't use any hot air at the beginning of the cycle. If you feel like the dryer isn't as hot as it should be, make sure it's not because it's the beginning of a cycle using Eco Dry.
Note
You may be using Eco Dry without realizing it:
On models with the setting, Eco Dry will automatically turn on for certain common cycles (like Normal or Time Dry). To dry your clothes more quickly and with higher heat (but also higher energy expenditure), turn off the setting every time you run a Normal or Time Dry cycle, or run a different cycle.
This matches federal requirements for energy use in dryers, which all appliance manufacturers must follow.
4
Run a vent blockage test.
When the drum is cool and empty, press Adjust Time Up + Dry Level until "Ins" or "In" appears on the display. If that doesn't work, try Cycle 1 + Wrinkle Prevent or Air Fluff + Wrinkle Prevent. Next, hold Start/Pause. Do not open the door during the test. The results will display for five minutes when the test is finished:
- 0 or End: The duct is not clogged. Skip to step 7.
- CLg, Cg, C80, or C90: A clog was detected.
- Ct: The internal temperature is too low (less than 32°F) or too high (over 104°F). Leave the dryer at room temperature for an hour and check again.
- HC: An abnormal temperature was detected. Check the power cord, make sure nothing is in the drum, and test again. If the code appears again, check your vent (steps 5 and 6). If the error still appears even though the vent is clean, visit our Support Center to request service.
- dc: The door is open. Make sure it's shut and run the test again.
- C1 or CL1: There's laundry in the drum. Empty the drum and run the test again.
- 9C1: Abnormal voltage is detected. Make sure the power cord is fully plugged in and run the test again. If this code appears again, visit our Support Center to request service.
Note
If your model doesn't have a vent blockage test function:
If your dryer doesn't have the buttons mentioned, or you can't get the test to work, there is a different way to run a vent blockage test.
Important
Next steps after running the test:
A vent blockage test confirms if your dryer can exhaust through your vent.
- If the dryer passed the vent blockage test, you can skip steps 5 and 6 and go to step 7.
- Otherwise, repeat steps 5 and 6 until your dryer can pass the vent blockage test.
5
Clean your exhaust vent.
Clean your exhaust vent once or twice each year whether you experience issues or not. If your exhaust vent isn't clean, it will cause blockages that prevent heat and moisture from escaping, and cause your dryer to reduce its heat.
6
Check that your exhaust vent meets requirements.
The dryer will reduce heat if detects that heat and moisture are not leaving (to prevent overheating and fires in the vent.) Your exhaust vent needs to be:
- Correctly fitted and sealed, without gaps or air openings where lint could collect.
- The proper material, and not plastic or foil.
- Not longer than the maximum length. For this and other requirements for your exhaust vent, see your user manual.
- Not changing direction more often than necessary. Every 90 degree turn reduces the maximum length by 6 feet.
- Free from kinks or flattening. The vent should be completely open the whole way through, and not compressed. The image shown here is a good example of what not to do.
7
Consider whether to request service.
It is very rare for this issue to require service.
Dryer heater failure usually means no heat at all (check the Dryer has no heat at all section at the beginning of the article.)
If it heats but cycles are long, the vent is likely clogged (see steps 4, 5, and 6.)
However, if the vent blockage test passes, and you're certain that there is an issue or defect with your dryer, then visit our Support Center to request service.
1
Clean the moisture sensors.
The moisture sensors are two curved metal bars inside the front of the drum, typically in the housing for the lint filter or to the side of it.
On Sensor Dry cycles, (most cycles) the sensors stop the cycle when they detect dry laundry. The sensors can get residue on them from dryer sheets which may cause them to not work properly.
Clean them with a soft cloth and a drop of dish soap.
2
Use a higher Dry Level.
If you want drier clothes when using a Sensor Dry cycle, set a higher Dry Level.
Note
The Damp Alert doesn't stop the cycle, so if you miss or ignore the signal, the cycle will still finish and heavier fabrics will likely still be damp.
3
Use the Damp Alert when drying mixed loads.
(Damp Alert is also known as Mixed Load Bell on older models.)
When drying mixed loads, lighter fabrics will dry faster than heavier ones. When the lighter fabrics at the front of the drum brush against the sensor bars, a Sensor Dry cycle will stop, even though the heavier fabrics at the back of the drum are still damp. (Manual Dry cycles don't have this problem since they dry the clothes until the time runs out.)
The Damp Alert was designed to address this. It will signal when the load is about 80 percent dry. This is your cue to remove all the clothes that are dry and leave the rest, letting the cycle continue. It's also a good time to remove anything that you want to hang or air dry.
4
Meet the minimum load size.
The minimum load size is about 4 regular sized bath towels. If there's less than that in the dryer, there may not be enough to brush against the sensor bars to let the dryer know that wet laundry is still inside.
For extremely small loads, soak a few towels and throw them in with the load to increase the load size to the minimum.
5
Check for an error code.
It is very rare for the dryer to need service for this issue unless it is displaying an error code. In the vast majority of cases, the previous steps will resolve your issue. If further assistance is needed, visit our Support Center.
Important
Is an error code displaying?
Check our error code guide for dryers as an error code may mean that your dryer needs service and no other troubleshooting needs to be performed.
1
Check if the dryer is heating.
(If you already know your dryer is heating, you can skip this step.)
Set the dryer to Time Dry, make sure Eco Dry is turned off, and then start a cycle. After 30 seconds, open the door and feel inside.
- If it still feels cold inside, and there's no hot air at all, return to the selection at the beginning of the article and select Dryer has no heat at all instead.
- If it feels warm, service is almost never required. Proceed with the next steps to resolve the issue.
2
Clean the lint filter.
Sensor Dry cycles run until the clothes are dry. If it's taking a long time, the most common reason is that moisture isn't leaving the dryer.
The lint filter is the first place where moisture might get blocked, so clean the lint filter before or after every cycle.
3
Turn off Eco Dry (if applicable).
The Eco Dry setting reduces heat output in order to save energy. In fact, the beginning of the cycle doesn't use any hot air at all.
This extends the length of the cycle as a tradeoff for spending less energy total.
If you know you were using Eco Dry, this alone could explain why a cycle takes longer and you may not need any other troubleshooting. However, the following steps can help improve drying time performance so you may want to do them anyway, especially if you aren't sure whether you were using Eco Dry or not.
Note
You may be using Eco Dry without realizing it
On models with the setting, Eco Dry will automatically turn on for certain common cycles (like Normal or Time Dry). You will have to manually turn off the setting to run these cycles without Eco Dry, or run a different cycle. This matches new federal requirements for energy use in dryers, which all appliance manufacturers must follow.
4
Run a vent blockage test.
When the drum is cool and empty, press Adjust Time Up + Dry Level until "Ins" or "In" appears on the display. If that doesn't work, try Cycle 1 + Wrinkle Prevent or Air Fluff + Wrinkle Prevent. Next, hold Start/Pause. Do not open the door during the test. The results will display for five minutes when the test is finished:
- 0 or End: The duct is not clogged. Skip to step 7.
- CLg, Cg, C80, or C90: A clog was detected.
- Ct: The internal temperature is too low (less than 32°F) or too high (over 104°F). Leave the dryer at room temperature for an hour and check again.
- HC: An abnormal temperature was detected. Check the power cord, make sure nothing is in the drum, and test again. If the code appears again, check your vent (steps 5 and 6). If the error still appears even though the vent is clean, visit our Support Center to request service.
- dc: The door is open. Make sure it's shut and run the test again.
- C1 or CL1: There's laundry in the drum. Empty the drum and run the test again.
- 9C1: Abnormal voltage is detected. Make sure the power cord is fully plugged in and run the test again. If this code appears again, visit our Support Center to request service.
Note
If your model doesn't have a vent blockage test function:
If your dryer doesn't have the buttons mentioned, or you can't get the test to work, there is a different way to run a vent blockage test.
Important
Next steps after running the test:
A vent blockage test confirms if your dryer can exhaust through your vent.
- If the dryer passed the vent blockage test, you can skip steps 5 and 6 and go to step 7.
- Otherwise, repeat steps 5 and 6 until your dryer can pass the vent blockage test.
5
Clean your exhaust vent.
Whether you experience issues or not, you should clean your exhaust vent once or twice each year . If your exhaust vent isn't clean, it will cause blockages, prevent moisture from escaping, and cause cycles to take longer to complete.
6
Check that your exhaust vent meets requirements.
In order for moisture to leave your dryer, your exhaust vent needs to be:
- Correctly fitted and sealed, without gaps or air openings where lint could collect.
- The proper material. Not plastic or foil.
- No longer than the maximum length. For this and other exhaust vent requirements, see your user manual.
- Not changing direction more often than necessary. Every 90 degree turn reduces the maximum length by six feet.
- Free from kinks or flattening. The vent should be completely open the whole way through and should not be compressed. The image shown here is a good example of what NOT to do.
7
Expect longer cycles for certain loads.
It may be the case that your cycle is expected to take longer. Long cycles are expected in the following situations:
- Soaking wet clothes will take longer to dry. If your clothes are coming out of the washer soaked, see our guide for washer won't spin to correct the issue.
- Some items, such as large comforters, may take longer to dry. Make sure to select the correct cycles and settings based on what is drying. For more information, see our guide for dryer cycles.
8
Consider whether to request service.
It is very rare for this issue to require service.
Dryer heater failure usually means no heat at all (check the Dryer has no heat at all section at the beginning of the article.)
If it heats but cycles are long, the vent is likely clogged (see steps 4, 5, and 6.)
However, if the vent blockage test passes, and you're certain that there is an issue or defect with your dryer, then visit our Support Center to request service.
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