How to Test and Replace the Heating Element on a Samsung Dryer

Is your Samsung electric dryer running but leaving your clothes damp? A faulty heating element might be to blame—but don’t worry, we’ll walk you through how to test and replace it like a pro!

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 test and replace the Samsung dryer’s heating element

Here are the steps to access, test, remove, and replace the heating element in a Samsung dryer. Following this process will help restore proper heating if the element has failed.

Access the heating element

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 of the dryer.
3. Slide the top panel towards the rear, lift it up, and set it aside.
4. Disconnect the wires located behind the control console on the right.
5. Lift the console, pull it away from the dryer by feeding the wires through the top bracket, and set the console aside.
6. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws located behind the door in front of the lint trap.
7. Remove the four screws at the top of the front panel.
8. Slightly lift the front panel, rotate it forward, and disconnect the door switch harness.
9. Remove the front panel completely and set it aside.
10. Remove the lint filter and set it aside.
11. Unlatch the wire retainers from the wire harness and disconnect the wires from the drum lamp.
12. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five screws from the top plate and set it aside.
13. Remove the four Phillips screws from the front bulkhead.
14. Disconnect the sensor bar wire connector.
15. Remove the screws securing the lint duct, pull the duct down, and set it aside.
16. Reach back and remove the belt from the idler pulley.
17. Lift the front bulkhead up, pull it forward, and remove it.
18. Lift the drum off the rollers and set the bulkhead to the side.
19. Remove the drum and belt, then set them aside to access the heating element.

Test the heating element

1. Set a multimeter to resistance mode (Ω symbol).
2. Disconnect one wire from the element terminals and test for resistance.
3. If the reading is around 10 Ohms, the heating element is working. If it shows open or “OL,” it has failed and must be replaced.

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.

Remove the faulty heating element

1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the mounting screws from the high-limit thermostat and thermal cutoff.
2. Disconnect the second wire from the heating element.
3. Remove the mounting screw at the front of the heating element housing that secures it to the front bracket.
4. Lift the front of the heating element housing and pull it forward.
5. Remove the Phillips screws along the rim of the heating element housing to separate the two shells.
6. Use needle-nose pliers to bend the locking tabs in line with the terminals so they can be pushed out of the ceramic block.
7. Lift the heating element up and out of the housing.

Install the new heating element

1. Insert the new heating element into the housing and close the two shells together.
2. Secure the shells using the Phillips screws removed earlier.
3. Use needle-nose pliers to bend the locking tabs on the terminals.
4. Angle the heating element housing back into place and secure it to the front bracket with a Phillips screw.
5. Reconnect the high-limit thermostat and thermal cutoff to the heating element housing and secure them.
6. Reconnect the heating element terminal wires.

Reassemble the dryer

1. Install the drum and belt, securing the belt to the motor and idler pulley.
2. Position the front bulkhead and secure it with the Phillips screws removed earlier.
3. Reconnect the sensor bar wires.
4. Install the lint filter housing.
5. Connect the drum lamp wires.
6. Install the top plate and secure the wire harness with the retainers.
7. Guide the front panel onto the bottom hinges, connect the door switch wires, and rotate it into place.
8. Secure the front panel with the screws removed behind the door and at the top.
9. Place the console back in position, guide the wires through the top plate, and push the console into place.
10. Reconnect the console wires.
11. Check that all wires are connected properly.
12. Slide the top panel onto the dryer and secure it with the final screws.
13. Plug the dryer back in or turn the breaker back on to restore power.

More information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you test and replace the heating element in your Samsung dryer. 

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We have over two million parts in stock and most orders arrive in two business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

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