How to Test and Repair a Samsung Dryer That is Not Heating

Tossing in a load of laundry only to find your Samsung dryer blowing cold air instead of heat? Frustrating, right? Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through the likely culprit and how to fix it yourself, saving you time and money.

If you need any replacement parts for your Samsung dryer, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to order them. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have thousands of free guides to show you how to install your new parts.

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

What you need

• Multimeter
• Needle nose pliers
• Phillips screwdriver

Safety precautions

When working on any appliance, remember to keep safety first. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before you attempt any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by eliminating any risk of electric shock. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time to cool down before working on it. 
• Take your time while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries. Rushing is the enemy of precision.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can see and access appliance parts.
• Keep your workspace free of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check the user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions related to your appliance or replacement part. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause personal injury.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris.
• When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.
• Always take photos or make a note of wiring terminals or other connections before disconnecting them to make reassembly easier.
• Don’t test live voltage with a multimeter if you’re unfamiliar with how to prevent short-circuiting.
• Consider wearing safety glasses and/or a dust mask when working with chemicals, dust, or a large amount of debris to prevent irritation or injury.
• Turn off the water supply at the outlet before beginning repairs. Keep towels ready to catch any residual water in the system when removing parts.

How to troubleshoot a non-heating Samsung dryer

Follow these steps to identify and resolve the issue preventing your Samsung dryer from heating properly.

Step 1. Check the thermistor

1. Disconnect power to the dryer by unplugging the power cord or turning off the circuit breaker.
2. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the top panel at the back.
3. Slide the top panel towards the rear, lift it up, and set it aside.
4. Remove the three screws securing the main control housing to the frame.
5. Rotate the main control to access the wire connections.
6. Locate the CN4 connection and disconnect the wires.
7. Set the multimeter to resistance (Ω symbol, which looks like an upside-down horseshoe).
8. Place the meter probes on the blue and red wires.
9. A proper thermistor should read around 10K Ohms at 77°F.
10. If the reading is outside the 10% range, replace the thermistor.
11. If the resistance is within range, continue troubleshooting.

Step 2. Test the main PCB

LIVE VOLTAGE WARNING: For this test, the dryer needs to be plugged in and powered on. Please be very careful to protect yourself from electric shock, which has the potential to cause serious injuries. Don’t ever test live voltage if you’re uncomfortable using a multimeter.

1. Reconnect the wires to the CN4 connection.
2. Make sure no bare wires are touching metal components.
3. Plug in and power on the dryer.
4. Set the multimeter to Volts AC (V with a squiggly line).
5. Locate the heater relay, which has a black wire and a blue wire.
6. Start a drying cycle with regular heat.
7. Place the meter probes on the black and blue wires.
8. The expected reading should be 0 Volts AC.
9. If the reading shows 240 Volts AC, the relay isn’t closing, and the main control has failed.
10. If the reading is 0 Volts AC, unplug the dryer and continue troubleshooting.

Step 3. Check the thermal cut-off

1. Disconnect the wires behind the console on the right.
2. Lift the console and pull it away from the dryer, feeding the wires through the top bracket.
3. Set the console aside.
4. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws behind the door in front of the lint trap.
5. Remove the four screws at the top of the front panel.
6. Lift the front panel slightly, rotate it forward, and disconnect the door switch harness.
7. Remove the front panel completely and set it aside.
8. Remove the lint filter and unlatch the wire retainers from the wire harness.
9. Disconnect the wires from the drum lamp.
10. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five screws securing the top plate, then set it aside.
11. Remove the four screws securing the front bulkhead and disconnect the sensor bar wire connector.
12. Remove the screws securing the lint duct, pull the duct down, and set it aside.
13. Reach back and remove the belt from the idler pulley.
14. Lift the front bulkhead up and pull it forward.
15. Lift the drum off the rollers and set the bulkhead aside.
16. Remove the drum and belt, setting them aside.
17. Set the multimeter to continuity (symbol looks like a sideways Wi-Fi symbol).
18. Remove one wire from the thermal cut-off at the center side of the heating element.
19. Test for continuity.
20. If there is no continuity, replace the thermal cut-off.
21. If there is continuity, continue troubleshooting.

Step 4. Test the high-limit thermostat

1. Locate the high-limit thermostat, positioned in front of the thermal cut-off.
2. Remove one wire.
3. Test for continuity.
4. If no continuity is detected, replace the high-limit thermostat.
5. If continuity is present, continue troubleshooting.

Step 5. Check the heating element

1. Set the multimeter to resistance (Ω symbol).

NOTE: Generally, for every 1 degree in temperature difference, 2 Ohms could be added or subtracted. If the temperature in your home is cooler, resistance would be subtracted.

1. Remove one wire from the heating element terminal.
2. Measure resistance.
3. A functioning heating element should read approximately 10 Ohms.
4. If the meter reads open or OL (overload), the heating element has failed and needs replacement.
5. If the resistance is good, continue troubleshooting.

Step 6. Test the motor

1. Set the multimeter to continuity.
2. Locate the motor terminals at the farthest ends of the motor terminal block.
3. Test from the red wire at terminal 1 to the red wire at terminal 2.
4. Insert the multimeter probes in place.
5. Locate the disc of the motor behind the belt pulley.
6. Pull the disc toward yourself.
7. If the meter does not read continuity, the motor has failed and needs replacement.

Need more help?

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helped you get your Samsung dryer working again.

If you have any other appliance repair needs or projects, don’t hesitate to explore our other troubleshooting guides and videos. 

If you need replacement parts or some extra help with ordering them, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com, where you can chat with a pro, read our DIY blog and more.

Don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!