Dryer · Samsung
Samsung Dryer Not Heating: HC/hE Codes and the Vent Blockage Test
Last verified September 17, 2026
Quick Answer: Likely Causes
- HC, hE, HC4, or 1HC error code — Samsung's heating-error code, commonly a clogged lint screen or vent
- Low-voltage electrical supply (for electric dryers, this can trigger the same code as a clogged vent)
- Vent Blockage Test returning a clog result (Clg, C80, C90)
Where to Start
If you have a code on the display, start there — it tells you whether Samsung's system is reading this as a heat/overheat problem or a temperature-sensor problem, which points down different paths.
Symptoms Checklist
- HC, hE, HC4, or 1HC on the display
- Vent Blockage Test returns Clg, C80, or C90
- tS, t5, tC, tO, t0, or tE temperature-sensor code
- Heating restored briefly after cleaning, then the code returns
Safety Notes
- Unplug the dryer before inspecting the vent or lint screen, same as the general checks.
- If your model flags a low-voltage cause on an electric dryer, that's an electrical-supply issue — have a licensed electrician check it rather than working on the dryer's internal wiring.
If you’ve already checked power, cleaned the lint screen, and confirmed the thermal fuse is good, the next step on a Samsung dryer is specific to Samsung: checking for a heating error code and, if your model has it, running the built-in Vent Blockage Test — which gives you a specific severity reading instead of a generic “check the vent” instruction.
If you haven’t worked through the general checks yet, start with the main dryer not heating guide — this page continues from there and doesn’t repeat the vent-cleaning or thermal-fuse basics.
Diagnostic Steps
Your progress
0 of 3 steps checked
Check for HC / hE / HC4 / 1HC
- What to look for
- Any of these on the display.
- What it indicates
- Per Samsung, this means the dryer detected overheating — commonly from a clogged lint screen or vent, same as the general cause. For electric dryers specifically, Samsung also flags low incoming voltage as a cause of this code, which is a detail worth checking with an electrician if the vent is already clear.
- What to do
- Clean the lint screen and vent thoroughly. If already clean and the code persists on an electric dryer, have the voltage supply checked.
- If nothing changes
- Run the Vent Blockage Test if your model has it.
Run the Vent Blockage Test
- What to look for
- Your model's vent test function (check your control panel or manual for how to start it — this varies by model).
- What it indicates
- This is a genuinely Samsung-specific diagnostic: the test returns its own result codes rather than leaving you to guess how bad the blockage is. Clg or Cg means the vent is clogged. C80 means roughly 80% clogged. C90 means over 90% clogged. C1 or CL1 means the test detected laundry in the drum rather than an actual vent problem — an easy false positive to rule out. Ct means the dryer's temperature is outside the test's valid range (below freezing or above 104°F) and the test itself isn't reliable right now.
- What to do
- Clear the vent fully for any clog result. If you get C1/CL1, just remove the laundry and re-run the test.
- If nothing changes
- If the vent tests clear and heating issues continue, check for a temperature-sensor code (tS/t5/tC family) next.
Check for temperature-sensor codes (tS, t5, tC, tO, t0, tE)
- What to look for
- Any of these on the display.
- What it indicates
- Per Samsung, these reflect sensor or temperature-reading issues, often resolved the same way as a heating code — by clearing the lint screen and vent system.
- What to do
- Clean thoroughly and retest.
- If nothing changes
- If cleaning doesn't resolve a temperature-sensor code, it needs professional service.
What Not to Do
- Don't run the Vent Blockage Test with laundry still in the drum — it will misread as a clog (C1/CL1) and send you looking in the wrong place.
- Don't ignore a low-voltage flag on an electric dryer's HC/hE code — if the vent tests clear and the code persists, the electrical supply is the more likely cause, not a dryer part.
When to Call a Professional
- HC/hE persists after confirming the vent is fully clear and, for electric dryers, voltage has been checked
- Temperature-sensor code (tS/t5/tC family) persists after cleaning
- Vent Blockage Test can't be completed or gives inconsistent results outside of the Ct temperature-range case
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between HC and hE on a Samsung dryer?
Both fall under Samsung's heating-error category and point to the same troubleshooting path — an overheat condition, most commonly from a clogged vent.
My Samsung dryer's Vent Blockage Test says C1 — is that a vent problem?
No — C1 (or CL1) means the test detected laundry in the drum, not a blocked vent. Remove the clothes and run the test again for an accurate reading.