Samsung dryer owners have recently had issues with their dryers remaining on the cooling setting. This is not what you want, you want your laundry to come out warm, crisp, and cozy so that you can either fold it up and put it away or throw it on.
Luckily, we have created this helpful guide for you to not only narrow down the cause of the issue but also how to fix it.
Why is My Samsung Dryer Stuck on Cooling?
There are many reasons why your Samsung dryer might get stuck on the cooling setting. One of the most common and easiest to fix is something is blocking the airflow.
Blocked air flow can happen when someone has put a lot of clothes in the dryer or if there is too much lint in the lint filter. If you remove these obstructions, they should be able to cool down again.
Keep in mind that dryers function on the simple use of hot air and of course, spinning your clothes to ensure that all parts of the item are dry. However, this also means that the dryer needs to be able to release this built-up hot air and cool down.
If a dryer (including the subject Samsung), cannot release the hot air that it uses to dry your clothes, stuffed animals, and anything else dryable; it can become stuck on a certain setting, and in this case, it is the cooling setting.
This cooling part of some cycles on the Samsung dryer is quite helpful as this can help prevent wrinkling and can also keep the clothes from coming out scorching hot, instead, they typically come out dry, warm, and wrinkle-free.
However, if the dryer gets stuck on the cooling part of the cycle this can put a damper on your drying experience, quite literally.
While some of these reasons may be more common such as a full lint filter, others may be more in-depth such as the heating element. In any case, there is a reason why your dryer is remaining on the cooling part of the cycle.
So, let us get down to the possible reason why this may be occurring and what you can or cannot do to fix the said issue.
1. Your Lint Filter is Full
Believe it or not, one of the most common reasons for a Samsung dryer to get stuck on the cooling part of the cycle is due to the appliance not being able to cool down properly.
As we previously mentioned, a dryer must be able to release the hot air it uses to dry your clothes; however, it also must be able to get rid of the humid moisture that is created within the machine.
The lint catcher is not only responsible for gathering and holding the lint, but it is also responsible for releasing a good majority of the hot and moist air. So, let us give that humid air somewhere to go in our following fix.
Fix – Clear and Inspect The Lint Filter
If you believe that the root of the problem that is causing your Samsung dryer to remain on the cooling part of the cycle, is due to the lint filter being full or is being obstructed by something; you will want to clean out the lint catcher and make sure there is no other debris in the way of the vent to lint filter.
This is a simple yet effective solution, and a surprising number of people do not know that you should clear out your dryer’s lint catcher on a regular basis.
To Empty Samsung Dryer’s Lint Filter
Step 1. Let us start by turning off your dryer and then to be safe, go ahead and unplug the power cord as well.
Step 2. Next, locate the lint filter, which will typically be inside the drum close to the dryer’s door. Remove the filter and empty the lint/debris from the filter and clean the filter with a pipe cleaner.
Step 3. Now, with the lint catcher out of the holding slot, you can inspect the vent area for any debris or objects that may be blocking the vent/filter. Make sure to clear out anything that has accumulated in this area.
Step 4. Finally, you can put the lint filter back into place and close the dryer door.
2. Evaluate The Dryer’s Air Vent
While the lint filter being full is a common reason for a Samsung dryer to get stuck on the cooling part of the cycle, it is also quite common for an obstructed air vent to be the root of the problem.
Let us not forget what we discussed earlier, that a dryer needs to be able to release the hot, humid air that has built up in the drying process.
As we also mentioned, the lint filter is one of these vents but the main vent that releases the said hot, humid air, is the air vent. This part is integral to the dryer and its proper functioning.
With the air vent being the main vent to release the hot air, it can also become blocked or clogged up with debris from the drying process. Not only will it catch this debris but it can also build up over time and with each use of the appliance.
So, if the Samsung dryer cannot properly outsource the hot air, which in turn, does not allow the dryer to cool down properly; the dryer will remain in the cooling part of the cycle.
Fix – Check The Air Vent
The issue that causes your Samsung to stay on the cooling part of the cycle, could be that the air vent is clogged up with debris or bits of escaped lint.
Remember, that the air vent is responsible for releasing the fair majority of the hot air that is used during the drying process. You will want to make sure that this air vent is clear of any and all kinds of debris that could obstruct the airflow.
- Make sure the air vent is well-suited and sealed properly. You will want to also make sure there are no air escape points since this is where lint and other debris can become trapped and clog the airflow.
- Inspect the length of the air vent, as the vent should be longer than the appropriate length. You can refer to your Samsung dryer’s user manual for suggestions and appropriate lengths.
- Make sure the air vent is entirely clear of any debris and is also cleaned regularly to prevent future blockage.
3. The Dryer’s Heating Element
Another reason why your Samsung Dryer is not cooling down; therefore remaining in the cooling part of the cycle, is that the heating element might be damaged, burnt out, or faulty.
This part of the dryer is an integral part of the drying process since it is responsible for heating up the dryer.
So, if this part is damaged, faulty, or burnt out, it can lead to the dryer getting stuck in the cooling part of the cycle. Now, this part should typically last for at least 15 years before requiring a replacement; however, it can still become dysfunctional.
Fix – Inspect The Heating Element
As previously mentioned, the heating element is an important part of your Samsung dryer, which means you will want to make sure that it is functioning properly.
If the heating element is not working correctly, it can lead to the dryer staying on the cooling part of the cycle.
The heating element on a Samsung dryer is typically located on the bottom right-hand side of the dryer.
If you believe or even question that the heating element may be the cause of this issue, you will want to do the following.
- The first thing you will want to do is make sure to turn off the dryer and remove the power source (the power plug), and if your dryer is a gas dryer, you will want to make sure to turn off the gas as well.
- Locate the heating element on your dryer, it will be covered by a metal mount that keeps it together, which is on the bottom right-hand side of the dryer.
- Check the heating element for any damage, and also check the heating coils for any possible burnt-out coils.
- Make sure to use a multimeter to check and see if the heating element is functioning properly. If there are no signs of continuity, you will unfortunately, have to replace the part; which can be done DIY or by hiring a licensed appliance technician.
4. It’s All About The Cycle
It is all too easy to set the dryer for a cycle that may not use heat for the drying process. This especially applies to Samsung dryers since they have drying cycle settings that do not require heat for the drying process.
It is possible that you may have simply selected a drying mode that does not use heating in the cycle.
With that said, you could have easily been going about your day and thrown your clothes in while not realizing that the dryer is set to a drying mode that does not need heat in order to dry your clothes.
Fix – Change The Cycle on Dryer
The cycle setting that is on the Samsung dryer, which does not use heat to dry your clothes is the Air Fluff dry cycle.
This cycle will simply tumble your laundry in the drum while using room temperature air to dry the clothes/items.
When and if you are using this dry cycle on your Samsung dryer, the dryer will stay in the cooling setting since it is not using any heat from the heating element to dry your clothes.
This is not just an easy mistake to make but it is also a rather common one as well. So, be sure to check that you are using the correct dry cycle on your Samsung dryer.
5. Thermal Fuse
This issue may be brought on by the thermal fuse, this part is a protective measure for the machine. When the dryer encounters a power surge or is not functioning properly, the fuse will be tripped so that the dryer does not take the full hit. This means if the fuse is either blown out or is not functioning correctly, the Samsung dryer will not heat up.
Fix – Inspect The Thermal Fuse
If you believe that the thermal fuse on your dryer has blown out or is malfunctioning, you will want to inspect the fuse to check it for any damage or signs of burnout.
Luckily, you can check the thermal fuse relatively easily. You can check the thermal fuse yourself while also taking the proper precautions.
- As always when checking something on an electrically powered appliance, you should turn the dryer off and also unplug the power cord from the outlet.
- Now, you can remove the back panel of your Samsung dryer, which will allow you to reach the thermal fuse.
- You can find the thermal fuse nearby the heating element or the blower.
- Use a multimeter to test the fuse for continuity.
- Finally, if the fuse appears blown out or is broken, you will want to replace the fuse.
