Samsung tumble dryer HE or hE error: overheating

HE   hE   HC   HC4   1 HC

Why it happens

Samsung UK's dryer code list gives HC and HE the meaning "Compressor overheating / High temperature heating check." Samsung USA's dryer error code page explains the mechanism in plain terms: "This means that the dryer is getting too hot. The most common cause is a clogged lint screen or vent system trapping heat in the dryer." Samsung USA also describes the opposite case: "In some cases, the error can occur when the heater is not hot enough, which can be caused by low voltage (on electric dryers)." That is a supply problem, not something cleaning will solve.

How to fix it

1. Clean the lint filter. Samsung UK's lint filter guide says to clean it after each load. Its steps:
   1. Open the door and pull the lint filter upward to remove it.
   2. Open the outer filter and remove the inner filter.
   3. Unfold both the inner and the outer filter.
   4. Remove the lint from both filters, clean them with the cleaning brush, rinse them in running water, then dry them completely.
   5. Put the inner filter back into the outer filter and reinsert the lint filter in its original position.
2. Make sure the filter is dry and complete. Samsung UK warns: "Do not operate the dryer without the inner filter inside the outer filter," and says a wet lint filter may cause mould, bad odours or poorer drying. Samsung USA adds that, to prevent fire risk, you should never run the dryer without the lint filter in place.
3. Deal with the vent (vented dryers). Samsung USA says to clean the lint screen, vent system or both to correct the error. Its cleaning guide says to clean the exhaust vent once or twice a year and recommends a professional vent cleaning service for it.
4. Run the dryer again. If the code clears, keep cleaning the lint filter after every load.
5. Check the breakers, leave the wiring to a professional. Samsung UK's list tells you to check the circuit breakers in your home's electrical box and reset any that have tripped. It marks checking the wiring connections on the heating element as work that "requires a licensed professional electrician." Samsung USA says that for an electric dryer you should contact an electrician to check the voltage supplied. Do not open the dryer or work on the wiring yourself.
6. Book service if it persists. Samsung UK: "If this information code remains, please contact a local Samsung service centre." Samsung USA says the same: if the error continues, request service.

Check that it worked

Run a normal programme with a clean, dry lint filter in place. The dryer should complete the cycle without stopping on HE. If the code returns with a clean filter and a clear vent, the remaining causes on Samsung's pages are the heating element wiring and the voltage supply, which Samsung leaves to an electrician, so contact Samsung's service centre.

Model and region variants

• Code spelling. Samsung USA and Samsung Canada group HC, hE, HC4 and 1 HC as heating errors. Samsung UK lists HC and HE. Samsung UK states that "It may have a different code depending on the model."
• UK and US wording. The UK list words the code as "compressor overheating / high temperature heating check", while the US and Canadian pages describe it as the dryer getting too hot and lead with the lint screen and vent. Samsung UK's lint filter page also refers to a separate guide for cleaning the heat exchanger on dryers that have one; follow your manual for that.
• Vent blockage codes. Samsung Canada's code page lists separate codes after a vent blockage test, such as Clg or Cg ("The vent is clogged"), C80 or C8 ("About 80% of the vent is clogged") and C90 or C9 ("Over 90% of the vent is clogged"). Those point at the vent directly; HE is the overheating result.
• No display. Samsung USA notes that dryers without a digital display show error codes as blinking lights instead.

Samsung washing machines use their own codes: a washer that will not fill shows 4C or 4E, covered on the Samsung 4C page. For drain faults, see the LG OE error page for washers and the Bosch E24 page for dishwashers.

An HE code is most often a dryer that cannot get rid of its heat, and the lint filter is the part Samsung expects you to clean every time. Once the filter and vent are clear, anything left involves the heater, the compressor or the electricity supply, which Samsung hands to an electrician (wiring, voltage) or to its own service centre.