Samsung Dryer Not Heating | 6 Actionable Tests

You grab a fresh batch of wet clothes from the washer and are ready to put them in the dryer. You turn on the appliance and the clothes start spinning and tumbling. By the time the dryer is finished, you open the door only to find that your clothes are still wet. This is a problem you’re likely to experience from time to time if you have a Samsung dryer. It can be extremely unpleasant, especially if you planned on wearing something from that batch of clothes. So, why is your Samsung dryer not heating? Here are some of the most common reasons.

Samsung Dryer Not Heating but Spins? Here’s Why

1. Clogged Vent and Lint Filter

The dryer vent is an important part of every Samsung dryer. It’s tasked with making sure that debris, dust, and other particles don’t end up on your clothes. Instead, they are caught in a filter. It’s recommended that you clean the vent at least once every few months. If you don’t, the particles inside it will build up to a point where the dryer stops heating. The appliance will likely continue to spin, but it will stop heating completely. When this happens, you can easily get it to work again by cleaning the vent.

How to Clean a Blocked Dryer Vent

Cleaning a blocked dryer vent is an easy process that won’t take up too much of your time. In case you have an electric dryer, start by disconnecting it from its power source. If you have a gas dryer, turn off the gas valve. After you complete this step, disconnect the duct that’s found in the back of your Samsung dryer. Grab your vacuum cleaner and use it to remove all of the dust and debris that’s stuck in the vent.

2. Faulty Heating Element

It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that your Samsung dryer stopped heating due to a broken heating element. After all, the sole function of this component is to generate heat inside the dryer. Although the heating element can be quite durable, it can break down at some point just like any other component. In case it does, you won’t be able to repair it. The only way to get your dryer to heat again is if you replace the heating element. Before you even think about doing this, you should first check whether the component is actually causing the problem.

How to Check Heating Element

The heating element is located in a metal box that you can find in the back of your dryer. Here’s how you can locate and test this component.

1. The first step is to get everything you’ll need to check the heating element. That means grabbing a screwdriver and a multimeter.
2. After you grab the equipment, you should remove the back panel of your Samsung dryer. Here you will find the component that features heating coils.
3. Unscrew the panel holding the heating element and grab your multimeter so that you can test the component for continuity.
4. Set your multimeter to the continuity setting.
5. Grab the leads of the multimeter and connect them to each of the terminals of the heating element one by one.
6. You should hear a beeping sound when you connect the leads. This sound means that the heating element is working properly.
7. In case you don’t hear any sound, it means that the heating element is broken and should be replaced.

If you want to see a visual guide on how to test a heating element for continuity, you should check out the video below.

How To Test A Dryer Heating Element For Continuity

Cost To Replace Heating Element

The cost of replacing a heating element varies depending on whether you want a repair technician to do it or you want to do it yourself. In case you call up a technician, it would cost you $250 for the replacement. The replacement heating element itself costs between $20 and $120, depending on the model of your Samsung dryer. However, you should know that replacing this component is not an easy job if you don’t have any experience fixing appliances.

3. Blown Thermal Fuse

The thermal fuse serves as a safety mechanism within your Samsung dryer. It was designed to become activated only if the dryer reaches extremely hot temperatures which would likely lead to a fire breaking out. The thermal fuse won’t allow a fire to start on its watch, which is why it has the power to shut off the dryer and prevent it from producing heat until the fuse is replaced. It’s an amazing component that everyone should be thankful for, even though it can temporarily shut off the appliance.

How to Locate the Thermal Fuse

You can find the thermal fuse close to the exhaust vent on your appliance. You can easily spot the fuse since it’s only one or two inches long and there are two wires that connect to it. The best way to access the thermal fuse is to remove the drum and the front panel on your dryer. Once you do that, you’ll be able to find out the product number of the fuse and order an adequate replacement.

4. Defective Thermostat

Having a defective thermostat in your dryer means that the appliance will not be heating while it’s running. The thermostat is a component that’s involved in regulating the temperature within the appliance. In case you’re worried the thermostat in your dryer is not working properly, you can test it with a multimeter.

Testing a Defective Thermostat

Before you remove the thermostat from the dryer, you will first need to unplug your dryer. Grab a screwdriver and use it to remove the screws that hold the back access panel of the dryer. You’ll find the thermostat either on the blower wheel housing or in the venting system. The location varies depending on which dryer you have.

Take your multimeter and set it to the ohm setting. Grab its leads and connect them to the thermostat’s terminals. You should get a reading of 0 if the thermostat is working.

5. Igniter Switch Failure

Do you have a Samsung gas dryer that’s spinning but not heating? If so, you’ll have to check whether the igniter is working. This component serves the very important function of generating the heat that’s required to ignite the gas inside your appliance. The igniter is constantly exposed to high temperatures, which is why it may start to malfunction after some time. If this happens, you will need to replace it. But first, you should check whether the igniter is working as it should.

How to Check the Igniter for Continuity

You can determine whether an igniter switch failure occurred in your gas dryer with the help of a multimeter. Shut off the gas valve before you begin the testing process. Follow these steps to test the igniter for continuity.

1. Remove the front panel of your Samsung gas dryer to access its internal components.
2. You will have to remove both the belt and the drum from the appliance to reach the igniter.
3. The igniter looks like a metallic cylinder and is found on the lower left side of the dryer.
4. You will have to unscrew the component and remove it from the dryer to test it for continuity.
5. Now grab a multimeter and set it to the lowest ohm setting.
6. If you get a reading of 50-400 ohms, you can rest assured that the igniter is working properly.

You can check out more information on how to test an igniter in the video below.

6. Flame Sensor Failure

Gas dryers rely on flame sensors to ensure that the burner assembly is working properly. You can find the flame sensor right next to the igniter in your dryer. To check whether it’s working, you’ll need to test it for continuity.

Testing a Flame Sensor for Continuity

1. To test a flame sensor for continuity, you’ll need a digital or analog multimeter. Here’s how you can do it.
2. Remove the front access panel located near the bottom of your dryer.
3. Remove the flame sensor that looks like a black box with two wires connected to it.
4. Set your multimeter to the lowest ohm setting and connect its leads to the sensor’s terminals.
5. In case you get a reading of 0 ohms, the sensor is fine and the problem is in another component.

You may also be interested in LG Dryer Spins But Is Not Heating

Samsung Dryer Won’t Heat: SOLVED

Is your Samsung dryer not heating? If so, you can easily find the reason why this problem is happening in this article. Best-case scenario, you will only have to clean certain parts of the dryer for it to start working properly again. The worst-case scenario is that you’ll have to replace a part or two. In any case, you should start figuring out exactly what’s causing the problem. Use the tips provided in this article to find out why your dryer stopped heating.

FAQs Samsung Dryer Not Heating