Samsung Dryer heating element keeps failing...does yours?

October 13, 2024 8:42 AM

I've had to replace the heating element in our Samsung clothes dryer 4 times in the last decade...does anyone have insight into what might be the underlying cause?

We own a Samsung clothes dryer, model DV396ETPARA/A1 specifically although there appears to be a dozen slightly different similar models. Every 3 years or so it just stops heating, and it's always that the heating element has blown somehow. I can get a replacement unit on Amazon, and have replaced it now like 4 times in 10 years.

Does anyone have any insight as to whether these are just "consumable" in that they are expected to only last a few years, or if maybe something else (electrical?) could be causing them to fail? I'm glad that I can repair it, but am real tired of crawling behind the dryer every 3 years.

posted by griffey to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

First thing I would check is how clean your vent system is. These heating elements use moving air to draw energy off the coil and push it into the drum. If there's anything to impede airflow the coil may run hotter than expected and shorten its lifespan. Is the exhaust hose blocked or linked? Anything at the outside exit?

Secondary thing I would check is your line voltage. Perhaps it's over the normal range and making the coil, again, run hotter than normal. If you're handy with a voltmeter you can check this yourself.
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:25 AM on October 13 [4 favorites]

It might be a poorly specified part (or properly specified as planned obsolescence).

However making sure your vent pipe is clear may help increase air flow and reduce stress on the element. Along with that try to minimize any flexible duct as it has 5-10x the resistance of hard ducting.
posted by Mitheral at 9:28 AM on October 13 [1 favorite]

For reference, my Samsung electric dryer has worked without any issues the last 7 years.
posted by funkaspuck at 9:24 AM on October 14

A question: will it dry if you put it on the time dry option and it's just not working on the cycle options? If that's the case, it could be that the "how dry is it" sensor may be crudded up with dryer sheet residue. We had this happen and it was very confounding that we could get heat using one mode and not the other. If that's not your situation then I also suggest looking into your vent system, especially where your lint trap is located. I excavated 10 years of compressed lint when I finally got around to clearing it out (because the lint tray would no longer fit).
posted by drossdragon at 3:21 PM on October 14