Samsung Dryer Not Drying: What to Check

When a Samsung dryer leaves clothes damp, the usual causes are a clogged lint filter or vent, Eco Dry stretching the cycle, dirty moisture sensors ending the cycle early, or a load that is too small or too wet. Samsung says service is rarely needed for these symptoms, but if the dryer makes no heat at all, a part may have failed.

The first step is to see whether the dryer heats. Set Time Dry with Eco Dry off, run it about 30 seconds, and feel inside the drum. If it is warm, work through the checks below. If it is cold, go to our Samsung dryer not heating guide instead.

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Safety first

• Unplug the dryer, or switch off its breaker, before pulling it out or disconnecting the vent.
• For gas models: if you smell gas, get out of the house without using switches or your phone inside, then call 911 and your gas utility from a safe distance.
• A dryer that runs long and hot with a blocked vent is a fire risk. The U.S. Fire Administration warns never to run a dryer without the lint filter in place.

If the cycle takes too long

Clean the lint filter every load

Samsung calls a clogged lint filter the most common cause of long dry times because moist air cannot escape. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends cleaning it before and after each load.

Turn off Eco Dry

Eco Dry uses less heat, so cycles run longer. Samsung notes it can turn on automatically for Normal and Time Dry cycles.

Run the vent blockage test and clean the vent

With the drum empty and cool, run the vent blockage test if your model has it. Clg, Cg, C80 or C90 means the vent is partly or badly blocked. Clean the vent to the outside, and make sure it is rigid metal duct with sealed joints, no kinks, and a length within your model's limit. Every 90-degree turn reduces that limit by 6 feet. If the dryer heats but cycles are long, Samsung says the vent is the likely cause. Our clogged dryer vent guide covers what to look for.

Check how wet the load is

Soaking-wet clothes take much longer to dry, so make sure the washer is spinning properly. Bulky items like comforters also need more time. If your washer is the problem, our washer and dryer repair directory covers both machines.

If the cycle ends too soon

Clean the moisture sensors

Sensor Dry cycles stop when two curved metal bars inside the front of the drum detect that clothes are dry. Dryer sheet residue can coat them and make the dryer stop early. Samsung suggests wiping them with a soft cloth and a drop of dish soap.

Raise the Dry Level

Choose a higher Dry Level on Sensor Dry cycles if clothes come out a little damp.

Use Damp Alert for mixed loads

Damp Alert (called Mixed Load Bell on older models) signals when the load is about 80 percent dry so you can pull out light items. It does not stop the cycle.

Meet the minimum load size

Samsung recommends at least about four regular bath towels' worth of laundry so the sensors read correctly. For very small loads, add a few damp towels.

Also note that laundry can stay damp after a steam cycle. Hang it, lay it flat, or finish it on a regular drying cycle.

Keep it drying well

A few habits prevent most slow-drying complaints from coming back:

• Empty the lint filter before or after every load, as both Samsung and the U.S. Fire Administration recommend. A full screen is the most common reason loads start taking longer.
• Also clear lint that collects around the back of the dryer, another point the U.S. Fire Administration makes.
• Clean the exhaust vent once or twice a year, as Samsung suggests, and more often if you dry a lot of towels or bedding.
• Wipe the moisture sensor bars every few weeks if you use dryer sheets.
• Do not overload the drum. Clothes need room to tumble so warm air can reach them.
• Check the outside vent hood from time to time. The flap should open freely when the dryer runs, and nothing like a bird nest or lint mat should block it.

Parts a technician may check

If the lint filter and vent are clean, the settings are right, and clothes still come out wet, a technician will look at the parts that control heat and airflow:

• Heating element or gas burner parts: weak or no heat. On gas dryers, see gas dryer not heating.
• Thermostats and temperature sensor: can cut heat early. Error codes such as tS, tE or HC often point here; see our Samsung dryer error codes guide.
• Moisture sensor wiring or control board: can end Sensor Dry cycles too soon even with clean sensor bars.
• Blower or drive belt: poor airflow or a drum that does not turn properly also slows drying.

When to call a pro

• There is no heat at all after you reset the breaker and confirm the gas supply.
• The vent test passes and the vent is clean, but loads still take far longer than they used to.
• An error code keeps coming back.
• You smell burning; read our guide to a dryer that smells like burning and stop using it.

Our Samsung dryer repair directory lists local companies, including in New York and Phoenix. If your dryer is still under manufacturer coverage, check that before booking.

Rough costs

Fixr lists a typical dryer repair at $100 to $200, with heating element replacement at $150 to $350 and dryer vent replacement at $75 to $150. Angi puts most dryer repairs between $100 and $430. Cleaning the lint filter, sensors and vent yourself costs nothing and fixes many slow-drying complaints. See our dryer repair cost guide for more.