Dryer error code guide
That code on your dryer? It’s usually the vent — not the machine.
Modern dryers measure their own exhaust airflow, and when the duct is choked with lint they say so: d80 and d90 on an LG, AF on a Whirlpool or Maytag, a Check Vent light, an HE heat fault on a Samsung. “My dryer says d80” is one of the most common calls we get at Vent Pro NYC — so here’s every code explained, including the ones a vent cleaning can’t fix.
Or read us the code: (718) 541-5567
Exhaust duct ~80% blocked
Every code at a glance
Find your code, see what the machine measured, and — the part that actually matters — whether it’s a vent cleaning or an appliance repair. We only do the first kind, and we’ll tell you which is which.
| Code | Brand | What the machine is saying | The fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| d80 | LG | Flow Sense estimates the exhaust duct is about 80% blocked. | Vent cleaning — our job |
| d90 | LG | Duct about 90% blocked — very little air is leaving the building. | Vent cleaning — our job |
| d95 | LG | Duct 95%+ blocked. The dryer is tumbling clothes in trapped heat. | Vent cleaning — our job |
| AF | Whirlpool · Maytag | Restricted airflow — lint in the line, a crushed hose, or a blocked exit. | Vent cleaning — our job |
| Check Vent | Whirlpool · Maytag · GE | The airflow check at the start of the cycle found low airflow in the duct. | Vent cleaning — our job |
| HE / HE1 | Samsung | Overheating fault. Most often the exhaust is choked and heat can't leave. | Vent cleaning — our job |
| EF1 | Electrolux · Frigidaire | Blocked-vent warning — the machine can't hold temperature with this airflow. | Vent cleaning — our job |
| dE / dC | Samsung | Door isn't latching or the door sensor failed. Nothing to do with the vent. | Appliance repair |
| tE1 / tE2 | LG | Temperature sensor (thermistor) fault inside the machine. | Appliance repair |
| F01 | Whirlpool | Main control board failure — an electronics problem, not an airflow one. | Appliance repair |
Prefer the full story — why the warnings show up on brand-new dryers, why they survive a DIY brushing? Read the long explainer on the blog.
LG’s d80, d90 and d95: the duct, graded
LG’s Flow Sense system is the most explicit in the industry. Instead of one vague warning light, it estimates how blocked your exhaust duct is and reports it as a number. The code shows up at the start or end of a cycle — and restarting the dryer only clears the display, not the duct. The next measurement brings it right back.
- d80
Duct about 80% blocked
Air is still moving, but not much. Loads finish slowly, the machine runs hot, and lint is settling in the line faster than ever — a partially blocked duct catches new lint like a net.
Book a vent cleaning soon — before it becomes a d90.
- d90Urgent
Duct about 90% blocked
The blower is pushing against a nearly closed pipe. Moisture has almost nowhere to go, so cycles stretch, clothes come out damp, and the safety thermostats start cutting the heat mid-load.
Book now and go easy on the dryer until the line is cleared.
- d95Urgent
Duct 95% or more blocked
Effectively sealed. The dryer is tumbling clothes in a hot box with no exhaust — this is the condition every safety feature in the machine exists to prevent.
Stop using the dryer until the vent line is cleaned.
One honest caveat: the percentage is the machine’s estimate, and it depends on the length and layout of your run. What the number reliably tells you is direction and urgency — a d95 is not a d80.
The other brands say the same thing differently
Every one of these warnings works on the same principle: the dryer feels how hard it has to push to move air through your duct, and it’s reporting on the duct — not on itself.
- HE / HE1Samsung
A heating fault: the dryer sensed temperatures out of range and shut the heat down. It reads like a broken heating element, but on the machines we see it's most often trapped exhaust heat — the element is fine, its heat just has nowhere to go.
What to do: If loads have also been slow or damp, have the vent cleaned before paying for parts. If the code persists after a professional cleaning, then it's an appliance repair.
- AFWhirlpool & Maytag
AF is short for airflow. The machine measured too much resistance in the exhaust path — packed lint, a kinked transition hose behind the dryer, too many elbows, or a blocked exit flap outside.
What to do: Power-cycling turns the light off, but it returns within a load or two if the duct is still restricted. A full-line cleaning is the fix.
- Check VentGE
GE runs an airflow check during the sensing phase at the start of each cycle and lights the Check Vent indicator when the duct isn't moving enough air. Some newer models spell out a vent-blocked message on the display.
What to do: The light re-arms every cycle, so it clears on its own once the vent line actually flows again — that's what the cleaning restores.
- EF1Electrolux & Frigidaire
The blocked-vent code: the dryer can't regulate its temperature with the airflow it's getting. Same story as the others — the machine is reporting on the duct in the wall, not on itself.
What to do: Clean the full run, including the exterior termination, and the code stops tripping.
The honest part
Some codes aren’t a vent problem — and we’ll tell you.
We clean vents; we don’t repair appliances. If the code on your display points at a door switch, a temperature sensor, or a control board, a vent cleaning won’t fix it — and we’ll say so on the phone instead of booking a visit you don’t need. We’re a family business; the call costs you nothing either way.
- dE / dC
Samsung
Door not latching, or a failed door sensor.
- tE1 / tE2
LG
A temperature sensor (thermistor) inside the machine failed.
- F01
Whirlpool
The main electronic control board failed.
These need an appliance repair technician. One nuance: a Samsung heat fault (HE) often is vent-related — see the card above — so when in doubt, call and read us the code.
No code? Older dryers can’t warn you.
Airflow sensors only became common in the last decade or so. If your dryer predates them, it suffers through a blocked duct silently — but the symptoms are the same ones the codes describe:
- Loads need a second cycle to dry
- Clothes come out hot but still damp
- The top of the dryer and the laundry room get hot and humid
- A burning or singed-lint smell while it runs
- The flap on the outside vent barely moves during a cycle
Two or more of those and your dryer would be showing a code — if it could. The full symptom list lives in the 11 warning signs of a clogged dryer vent.
Flat-rate pricing — never an upsell
Every price Vent Pro NYC lists is a flat rate. Short vent or long vent, light lint or heavy buildup — same price. We never charge by the foot, and the price you book is the price on your invoice. That's how our family-owned company has always worked.
The fix: clean the whole line, then prove it
The sensor responds to the whole exhaust path, so that’s what we clean — from behind the machine, through the concealed run, to the exterior termination. One flat price, published here, short or long vent the same.
Essential Vent Cleaning
$179.99
The full vent-line cleaning that clears airflow codes: machine to exterior exit, lint out of the building.
Book Essential Vent CleaningTotal Home Protection Package
$199.99
Everything in Essential Vent Cleaning, plus the deep clean under the lint trap and — the part code-watchers appreciate — a calibrated airflow test after the cleaning. Your dryer’s sensor measures airflow; so do we, with a meter, and you see the number.
Book Total Home Protection PackagePrices are for basement and first-floor dryers; a dryer on the 2nd floor or higher adds a flat +$50, applied at booking — never on site.
Trusted in 2,560+ NYC homes.
I knew something was up when my clothing was taking forever to dry but when the check vent light went on I knew it was a fire hazard. Eyal responded to my text in minutes, booked an appointment on the spot for the next day and showed up on time. He didn't mind that I was standing over to watch the whole process and boy was it satisfying. I couldn't believe the lint that was living in the dryer, behind the wall and at the exit vent on the side of my house. This is not the DIY job you think it is. well worth the visit!
ABOVE & BEYOND!!! Vent Pro is the only way to go when it comes to cleaning your dryer vent. The service of these top shelf professional with Eli at the helm took care and gave so much support and I would highly recommend them. You will never regret making them you choice.
Patricia C.Google · Local GuideEli from Ventpro was not only knowledgeable but also extremely kind. As a woman at home with a small child I felt super safe with Eli which is always a concern with people coming to service the home. He did the job, cleaned up afterwards and also left me with some great tips for our washer even though he came to fix the dryer. Will have him come back again and again.
Chinae A.Verified Google reviewAmazing service and very friendly serviceman. Very fair price compared to other companies, he went above and beyond removing a bird's nest from our pipe (as shown in the photos) and didn't charge extra from the price I was told over the phone. He also answers text messages which is a bonus. He came to the rescue very quickly, and he also resolved the issue in no time. He informed me that the landlord should be responsible for the payment. Highly recommend!
Shirly G.Verified Google reviewFantastic, professional service! Eyal provided excellent dryer vent cleaning, with options offered at fair pricing. A nice person too, being flexible when our schedule had to change due to circumstances beyond our control, accommodating all our needs on the day of our service.
Shari S.Google · Local GuideWe would definitely recommend Vent pro NYC. Eyal is very nice, professional, and accommodating. It is always easy to schedule an appointment with him and he does a great job. I can rest assured that my dryer vent is clean and safe after he leaves.
Muriel B.Verified Google reviewHe was so professional, and clean. This is a must for every household to do yearly!
Mariel D.Verified Google reviewMy dryer was taking 90+ minutes to dry a load of clothing. I wasn't sure if I needed a new dryer or just a good cleaning. Eyal came, right away I might add, and said he would check first to see if it's working because he wouldn't charge me for cleaning a broken dryer. Once he confirmed that my dryer was fine he went in and did a thorough cleaning. I can't believe the lint that was coming out of my dryer! He did an excellent job and will definitely recommend him and use him again!
SheriGoogle · Local GuideEyal was very professional. Arrived with all necessary equipment about 15 mins earlier than appointment time. Did a very good job and cleaned out our dryer vents. He took the time to explain how to maintain it and also cleaned up by vacuuming the debris. Very pleasant person to deal with. I have already booked complete duct cleaning with his company.
Anusha R.Verified Google review
The questions we answer on the phone every week.
Don't see what you're looking for? Call us at (718) 541-5567.
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Pick a time online in about two minutes, or read us the code over the phone and we'll tell you straight whether it's a vent job at all. Family-owned, flat-rate, Brooklyn-based.