Is your Samsung dryer not drying clothes? Is it not heating up altogether?
Don’t worry; the problem might not be as complicated as you think. Before you call a helper on it, let us walk you through troubleshooting your dryer first!
Why is your Samsung dryer not drying clothes?
One of the common reasons a Samsung dryer can’t dry clothes is because of vent blockage. A clogged vent prevents the moisture from clothes from airing out.
To check for a clogged vent, disconnect the vent exhaust from the dryer, see if there is lint or debris buildup in the area, and clean it.
Most new dryers come with a blockage test in their control panel. But the easiest way to test for a clogged vent is by doing the following:
- Disconnect the vent from your dryer.
- Run a dry cycle for 30 seconds.
- If the dryer drum is hotter than before, clean the vent pipe.
- Reconnect the vent pipe and make sure it is attached tightly.
For a more detailed explanation of these steps and other possible reasons why your dryer isn’t drying clothes, follow the troubleshooting options we’ll provide below.
Common Causes of a Samsung Dryer Not Drying and Their Solutions
If cleaning your vent pipe doesn’t solve the issue — relax. Here are other likely issues that are preventing your dryer from drying clothes.
Take a look at them in the table below.
| Cause | Solution |
| Vent Blockage | Run a blockage test on the dryer. Clean the vent pipe thoroughly. |
| Overloading or Underloading | Ensure that you only fill 3/4 of the drum to allow enough hot air to circulate. |
| Incorrect Cycle Setting | Check if your dryer is set to a cycle that requires less heat, i.e. Eco Dry. |
| Tripped Circuit Breaker | Turn the circuit off for 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. |
| Moisture Sensor Residue | Clean the moisture sensors with mild soap and water. Towel dry them. |
| Clogged Lint Filter & Drainage | Remove the lint filter and clean the lint off. Empty the water tank every 1-2 cycles. |
| Insufficient Voltage | Check if your outlet meets the required electric voltage (240V). |
| Thermal Fuse | Run a continuity test on the thermal fuse to check if it’s receiving electricity. If there’s no continuity, replace the thermal fuse. |
| Burned Heating Element | Observe if your dryer emits a burning scent when you power it on. Check the heating element behind the dryer’s front panel to see if it needs replacing. |
| Error Code | If an error code is being displayed on the control panel, refer to your manual for what it means. |
Now, we’ll elaborate on what causes these issues, how to fix them, and how to avoid them in the future, so keep reading.
Vent Blockage
A clogged vent isn’t a one-time problem. That is a common issue with dryers because lint, debris, and other residue accumulate with each use.
Newer dryer models have a built-in blockage test on their control panels. Refer to your manual for detailed step-by-step troubleshooting.
Meanwhile, older Samsung dryers don’t come with a blockage test, so we recommend doing the following:
- Run a heat test by removing the vent pipe
- Let your dryer run for about 30 seconds
- Check for heat in the dryer drum.
Solution: Solutions vary depending on how hot the dryer is after the test:
- If the drum is just as hot as when the vent was connected, the issue isn’t with the vent blockage.
- If there is no heat from the drum at all, check here for troubleshooting options.
- If the drum is hotter than when the vent was connected, clean it. If the issue persists, replace the vent pipe.
The main solution to a clogged vent is to disconnect the vent pipe and clean it.
Watch out for gaps when reconnecting it and make sure that it’s tightly secured to provide enough airflow for moisture from clothes to escape.
We also suggest regularly cleaning the vent pipe once or twice a year to avoid blockage.
Overloading or Underloading
Samsung dryers come with a minimum load size, which is ⅓ of the drum or 4 regular-sized bath towels. If you put less than that in the dryer, the moisture sensors might not pick up on them, hence no heating.
On the other hand, if you fill your dryer to the brim, hot air will not circulate properly, leaving your clothes still wet no matter how long you put them in a cycle.
Solution: Fill your dryer anywhere between ⅓ to ¾ of the drum only. If you have more laundry to dry, split them into groups — it’ll be more effective than jamming them all into one cycle.
Incorrect Cycle Setting
Different cycle settings on a Samsung dryer require varying heat levels. Specifically, there are two cycles that require less heat:
- Eco Dry: This setting reduces heat output in order to save energy, resulting in longer drying times. The beginning of this cycle setting also doesn’t use any hot air.
- Sensor Dry: This setting prioritizes drying lighter fabrics. When a light item brushes against the moisture sensors and signals that it’s dry, the drying cycle will stop even if the heavier fabrics are still wet.
Solution: Check which setting your dryer is in. We suggest putting your dryer on Damp Alert or Mixed Load Bell when you’re drying mixed loads.
This setting will signal you when 80% of your load is already dry so you can remove them and continue drying the ones that are still wet.
Note that missing the Damp Alert or Mixed Load Bell’s signal will not stop the cycle.
You can also combat the issue with Sensor Dry by adjusting the Dry Level to a higher setting.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Samsung dryers come with two circuit breakers that are designed to function simultaneously. When one of them trips, the dryer will spin without producing heat.
Solution: Turn the circuit off for 60 seconds before turning it back on again. Afterward, put your dryer on Time Dry for around 30 seconds and check the drum for some heat.
If there is, this means your circuit breakers are functioning properly.
Moisture Sensor Residue
Your dryer’s moisture sensor can accumulate residue with each cycle, especially if you’re doing it on the Sensor Dry setting.
Residue on these sensors can signal the dryer that the clothes are dry even if they aren’t.
Solution: Using a damp cloth with mild soap, wipe carefully at your moisture sensors (the curved metal bars found near the lint filter housing). Afterward, towel-dry the sensors.
Check to see if there are any residue or wet spots left on the metal bars. We recommend towel drying them another time to make sure that they’re free of moisture.
Clogged Lint Filter & Drainage
If your cycle on the Sensor Dry setting is taking longer than usual, this might mean that your lint filter is clogged. The most common culprit is moisture residue.
When moisture gets trapped in the lint filter instead of airing out properly, it leaves your clothes wet — possibly wetter — after every cycle.
Moreover, if your dryer uses a drain hose, make sure that it’s not submerged in water after every cycle.
Also, check the internal water tank on the front side of your dryer. Clean it out every 1-2 cycles.
Solution: Remove the lint filter from its housing and clean it with cold water without soap. Dry it thoroughly before putting it back inside the drum.
We suggest checking for lint filter blockage and trapped moisture every cycle. Never run your dryer without the lint filter in place.
Meanwhile, for dryers that use a drain hose, locate the drain hose housing on the back of your dryer and follow the steps below to drain water after your cycle:
- Step 1: Remove the drain hose from the left-side hole (A) and transfer it to the right-side hole (B).
- Step 2: Insert one end of the long drain hose into the first hole (A).
- Step 3: Insert the other end of the long drain hose and connect it to a drainage system, such as over a basin or directly into a basin’s drainage pipe.
Insufficient Voltage
Insufficient voltage is an issue you’ll likely face if your dryer is newly installed or if you recently changed your plugs.
A Samsung dryer runs on 240V outlets. If your outlet doesn’t meet this requirement, the dryer still turns on but it doesn’t produce heat.
Solution: Refer to your manual and double-check if your dryer is compatible with your outlet. If it isn’t, you might need a voltage converter or a new outlet with a higher voltage altogether.
Thermal Fuse
Your Samsung dryer uses high heat to air the moisture out of your clothes, so it’s no stranger to heating up. As such, it has a mechanism to cool itself when it starts overheating — the thermal fuse.
When the thermal fuse gets damaged, you might think this means your dryer will easily overheat. However, what actually happens is the opposite: your dryer won’t heat up at all!
And without the necessary heating, your dryer would naturally not be able to dry clothes even though it’s powered on.
Solution: Unplug the dryer and access the thermal fuse found at the back of its front panel.
This method will require you to open your dryer’s interior and deal with wires, so if this seems complicated for you to do, call a professional.
The thermal fuse is located near the blower fan or heating element below your dryer. Pull it out and run a continuity test on it using a multimeter.
If the test shows no continuity, the thermal fuse needs replacing.
Burned Heating Element
Your dryer’s heating component varies on the type or model you use. Gas-powered dryers typically use a gas valve for heating, while electric dryers use an electric heating element.
When an electric dryer’s heating element gets overworked, it may burn itself out — literally. A telltale indicator of a damaged heating element is a distinct burning smell when you attempt to start a drying cycle.
Your dryer’s heating element can get worn out over time, but the usual culprit of a burnt heating element is vent blockage.
Before you attempt to replace your dryer’s heating element, make sure to clean the vent pipe and lint filter first.
Power outages are another common culprit. Remember to unplug your dryer when the power goes out to avoid a sudden surge of electricity into your dryer when it comes back on.
Solution: If you notice a distinct burning smell, immediately power down your dryer and unplug it. For safety measures, have a professional replace your heating element.
If there’s no noticeable scent, unplug your dryer, then remove the top and front panels and the dryer drum. Run a continuity test on the heating element.
If there’s no continuity, replace the heating element.
Error Code
Samsung dryers are programmed with error codes to indicate a mechanical fault. If none of the troubleshooting methods above fixes the issue of your dryer not drying, check the display for an error code.
Solution: Refer to the Samsung dryer error codes to match the code with the error.
If the solution requires you to use technical tools or skills, call a professional.
These are all common issues you can DIY when your Samsung dryer isn’t drying. They also don’t require you to use tools or advanced repair skills.
But if these quick fixes didn’t work, you might need to check in with an expert for assistance.
