Samsung dryers are a popular choice for those who want a reliable appliance from one of the market’s most trusted and well-established manufacturers. Yet despite their fantastic reputation for quality, they will inevitably run into issues from time to time that you, as an owner, may need to contend with.
While at first glance these problems might seem challenging to fix, before you go rushing ahead and spending money on expensive repairs, be sure to read through this guide as I’ll be detailing all the main issues your Samsung Dryer will run into, and give you in-depth guidance on how to get each problem fixed up so you can restore your dryer to working order.
Common Samsung Dryer Problems
The types of issues that occur with Samsung dryers can range from the drum not spinning all the way to it powering itself down mid-cycle.
So let’s first walk through each of these issues so you can gain a better understanding of what problems can occur on a Samsung Dryer.
1. Not Producing Enough Heat
Dryers work by heating the air inside the drum to evaporate the moisture from the clothes. This means that when the dryer cannot produce enough heat, your clothes may still be wet even after the wash cycle has finished.
If your dryer isn’t producing enough heat, it may mean that the thermostat is malfunctioning, or the heating element may be faulty. It’s also possible that your dryer was overheating at some point which caused the thermal fuse to blow, which means it will no longer be able to produce heat until you replace the fuse.
2. Dryer Won’t Start
A few potential problems may cause your Samsung dryer not to start, including a door latch not latching properly or a faulty switch. If the door is not fully latching, the dryer won’t start as it requires the door to be completely closed so that it doesn’t leak water and throw your clothes out into your kitchen as it operates.
If the door is fully latched, then it may be the door switch that’s defective. The switch is responsible for sending the electronic signal to the control board to let the dryer know the door’s closed, so when this breaks, your dryer might still think the door is open.
3. The Dryer’s Excessively Noisy
If your dryer is unusually noisy or produces a lot of vibration, it may indicate that something is wearing down and preventing the drum from spinning smoothly.
This may be the drum rollers, a damaged idler pulley, or a bearing that has worn down. These components will need to be inspected and replaced as needed.
4. The Drum Won’t Spin
If the drum is not spinning or seems to be slipping as it tries to rotate, it mainly indicates something is wrong with the main drive belt.
It may have completely snapped, or it may just be wearing down and becoming loose. In either case, the best course of action is to replace the belt with a new one.
5. Dryer Stops Mid-Cycle
A dryer will usually stop mid-cycle because some kind of safety mechanism has been triggered, which then causes the dryer to shut off in order to protect the other components from further harm.
This may be the thermostat becoming faulty, so the dryer thinks it’s too hot; the door switch may be failing, so it thinks the door is open; or the moisture sensor may be faulty, so it thinks there’s too much water inside the clothes dryer.
Each of these components should be tested for functionality using a multimeter and replaced as needed.
6. The Dry Cycle Takes Too Long
Dryers dry clothes by heating up the air inside the drum, which causes the water to evaporate from the clothes; this now moist hot air needs to be expelled from the dryer in order to dry the clothes.
So if the lint filter is clogged or the extraction hose is filled with dust and dirt, the hot air cannot escape, causing the clothes to dry much slower than usual. You’ll need to clean these components out to increase the efficiency of the drying process.
7. Dryer Gets Too Hot
Quite a few reasons could cause your dryer to be getting too hot, including a clogged lint filter. If this filter is clogged, it can cause the vent to become partially blocked with debris; it will then trap the hot air inside the drum, making it overheat.
If the thermostat is malfunctioning, then this may also cause the dryer to overheat.
8. The Front Display Isn’t Working
Most modern dryers utilize a digital front display to present information about the current wash cycle, such as the cycle type and how much wash time is left. When they stop working, it becomes very difficult to operate the dryer.
This problem usually occurs when either the display board or the control panel malfunctions. The usual course of action is just to replace both of these components.
How To Troubleshoot A Samsung Dryer?
Now that you better understand what kinds of problems can crop up with your Samsung dryer, let’s walk through how you can fix each of these issues to restore your dryer back to working order.
1. Inspect the Heating Components
If your dryer isn’t producing enough heat to dry the clothes effectively, you will have to inspect the thermostat and the heating element. These should be tested with a multimeter to determine their functionality, and if they are found not working, you should replace them.
Additionally, the thermal fuse may also have blown. When this blows, your only option is to replace it, as these are single-use components:
- First, turn off the power supply; unplug the power cord or switch the circuit breaker off.
- Locate the thermal fuse, most commonly found underneath the heating element. But this can vary from dryer model to model, so we suggest double-checking your user manual to determine its exact location.
- Remove the old thermal fuse by disconnecting the wires and unscrewing it.
- Insert the new fuse in its place and reconnect the wires.
- Reassemble the dryer and power it up; run a test drying cycle to make sure it can now produce heat.
2. Check and Replace the Door Switch
Even if the door physically latches, when the door switch becomes defective, it will not be able to signal to the dryer that the door’s shut, preventing it from starting.
- Turn the power to the dryer off.
- Locate the door switch, usually located on the front of the dryer, around the door frame.
- Disconnect the old switch by removing the wires; it’s a good idea to note down the wiring configuration, as you’ll need to use the exact same configuration on the new one.
- Place the new door switch in its place, and plug the wires back in.
- Close the dryer door and turn the power back on.
- Test the new switch is working by running a test cycle.
3. Replace the Drum Rollers
The drum rollers assist the drum as it spins and help it to rotate smoothly and not vibrate excessively. However, these rollers can wear down over time, causing the drum to shake and be noisy as it spins; this can potentially harm the dryer, so you’ll need to get this replaced.
If you are unsure how to do this yourself, we recommend contacting Samsung customer support, who will arrange for a technician to help install new rollers.
4. Replace the Belt
A broken or loose drive belt can often cause the dryer drum to not spin, or it may slip as it operates. To check this, remove the front panel and inspect the belt for wear and tear; if it looks old, you should replace it with a new one.
5. Check the Safety Components
If the thermostat or moisture sensor is running into issues, it may cause the dryer to stop mid-cycle. You should inspect these internal components to determine their functionality.
If they are found to be defective, then you should replace them with new ones to stop your dryer from turning itself off.
6. Clean the Lint Filter and Vent
In order to properly expel heat, the lint trap and dryer vent need to be able to let air through. So if the hot air is kept inside the dryer due to a blockage, the drying times will increase.
Start by cleaning the lint screen, usually located inside the dryer door. You can use your fingers or a soft brush to remove the lint from the screen and reinstall it.
Once this is complete, you can unblock the vent by detaching it from the dryer and using something like a flexible brush vacuum, leaf blower, or even just your hands.
7. Replace the Thermostat
If the thermostat fails, your dryer may not monitor the internal temperature correctly, causing it to overheat. So you’ll need to test the thermostat for continuity using a multimeter; if it’s not functioning correctly, it should be replaced immediately.
8. Replace the Front Display or Control Board
If your front digital display is not working or behaving erratically, it means either the digital display has gone bad, or the associated control panel is malfunctioning.
In both scenarios, they will need to be replaced as these are too difficult to self-diagnose and fix by yourself. We recommend contacting Samsung customer support, who will help arrange for a trained technician to perform this replacement for you.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
