Samsung Dryer HC Error Code: What It Means and How to Fix It

By Dan Mercer · Published October 5, 2026 · Updated October 6, 2026 · Codes covered: HC, hE, HC4, 1 HC · Sources

HC on a Samsung dryer is a heating error. Most of the time it means the dryer is getting too hot because hot air can't get out, and the fix is cleaning the lint filter and the exhaust vent. You can usually sort it out yourself. If the vent is clean and HC keeps coming back, a sensor, fuse or heater may need a technician.

Samsung groups HC, hE, HC4 and 1 HC together as heating errors, so the steps below apply to all of them.

This 3-minute fix saved 0 homeowners a technician visit this month.

What the HC code means

Samsung US support says the heating errors (HC, hE, HC4, 1 HC) mean "the dryer is getting too hot." Samsung says the most common cause is a clogged lint screen or vent system trapping heat in the dryer.

Less often, it means the opposite. Samsung says the error can show up when the heater isn't hot enough. On electric dryers, that can be caused by low voltage.

The user manual for one current Samsung model (DVE50BG8300) calls HC a "high temperature heating check" and says to clean the lint filter first.

HC after a vent test. On models with a Vent Blockage test, HC can also appear as a test result. Samsung says that means an abnormal temperature was detected. Check the power cord, make sure the drum is empty, and run the test again.

Look-alike codes:

• HC2 is a different code. Samsung lists it as a gas ignition error, not overheating.
• tC and tC5 point to a temperature sensor (thermistor) reading too high or too low. The checks are similar, but the code is different.

How your model shows the code varies. Check the information codes table in your user manual.

Likely causes (most common first)

1. A clogged lint filter. Samsung says this is the most common cause.
2. A clogged, crushed or kinked exhaust vent. Hot, damp air can't escape, so the dryer overheats.
3. The wrong vent material or an overly long vent run. Samsung says plastic or foil duct, or too many bends, can restrict airflow.
4. Low voltage on an electric dryer. Samsung says this can stop the heater getting hot enough.
5. A tripped breaker on one side of an electric dryer's circuit. Samsung says the dryer can then run but not heat.
6. A failed temperature sensor (thermistor) or thermal fuse.
7. A heating element fault or a control board problem. These need a technician to diagnose.

How to fix it, step by step

Try these in order. Run a short heated cycle after each step to see if HC clears.

1. Turn off the dryer and let it cool. Don't keep running it while it shows an overheating code.
2. Clean the lint filter. Pull it out, remove all the lint, and slide it back in.
3. Clean the lint filter housing. Unplug the dryer first. Vacuum out any lint that has collected where the filter sits.
4. Check the duct behind the dryer. Pull the dryer out gently and straighten any kinked or flattened sections.
5. Clean the vent run to the outside.
   • Disconnect the duct from the back of the dryer (unplug it, and turn off the gas valve on a gas model before moving it).
   • Clear the lint from the duct.
   • Go outside and make sure the vent hood flap opens freely and isn't blocked.
   • Samsung says to clean the vent once or twice a year even without problems.
6. Check the vent meets Samsung's requirements.
   • It should be fitted and sealed, with no gaps.
   • It shouldn't be plastic or foil.
   • It shouldn't be longer than the maximum in your manual. Samsung says every 90-degree turn reduces that maximum by 6 feet.
7. Run the Vent Blockage test, if your model has one. With the drum cool and empty, Samsung says to press Adjust Time Up + Dry Level until "Ins" or "In" appears, then hold Start/Pause. Some models use Cycle 1 + Wrinkle Prevent or Air Fluff + Wrinkle Prevent instead.
   • 0 or End means the vent is clear.
   • Clg, Cg, C80 or C90 means a clog. Clean the vent again.
8. Cycle the breaker. Turn the dryer's breaker off for 30 seconds, then on again. Samsung notes that electric dryers use two circuits, and only one may have tripped.
9. Electric dryers: have the voltage checked. If HC keeps returning with a clean vent, Samsung says to have an electrician check the voltage supplied. Don't test the outlet yourself.
10. Stop if HC keeps coming back. If the vent passes and the power is good, request Samsung service, or see "Test the part" if you're comfortable with basic checks.

Test the part

If the vent is clear but HC keeps coming back, the parts repair guides usually point to are the thermal fuse, the thermistor (temperature sensor) and, on electric models, the heating element. Where they sit depends on the model, so check your parts diagram first.

1. Unplug the dryer. On a gas dryer, also turn off the gas valve before moving it.
2. Remove the back panel (or the panel your parts diagram shows). Watch for sharp sheet-metal edges.
3. Look first. Check for scorched wires, melted connectors and lint packed around the heater or blower. Fix the airflow problem before replacing anything, or a new part can fail too.
4. Photograph the wires, then pull each connector off by its housing, not the wire.
5. Test the thermal fuse. AppliancePartsPros says to set the meter to the lowest ohms setting and touch the probes to the two terminals.
   • A reading close to 0 means the fuse is good.
   • "OL" or infinite means it has blown and must be replaced. Thermal fuses don't reset.
6. Check the thermistor. Measure across its two terminals.
   • A reading that's open ("OL") or close to zero suggests it has failed.
   • The correct reading depends on the model and the room temperature. Compare against your dryer's tech sheet if it lists one.
7. Electric dryers: check the heating element.
   • Measure across the element's terminals. You should see a reading (continuity), not "OL".
   • Then touch one probe to a terminal and the other to the element's metal housing. That should read "OL". A repair technician at The Tech Circuit found that an element shorted to its housing can heat without stopping and cause HC.

Stop and call a pro if you can't reach the parts, aren't sure which terminals to test, or everything tests fine and HC still returns. A stuck heater relay on the control board can also cause overheating, and checking it means live testing, which isn't a DIY job.

Safety notes

When to call a pro

Request Samsung service or call a qualified technician if:

• HC returns after you've cleaned the lint filter and vent, and the Vent Blockage test passes.
• An electrician confirms the voltage is correct, but HC keeps coming back on an electric dryer.
• A part tests bad, or you find scorched wiring.
• You see HC2. That's a gas ignition error, and gas parts are a job for a pro.
• Your dryer is under warranty. Check the terms before you open any panels.

Samsung US support: 1-800-SAMSUNG (1-800-726-7864), as listed on Samsung's Contact Us page.

FAQ

Related

• HC in the Samsung dryer error codes table
• HC2 – gas ignition (look-alike code)
• tS, tC, tE – temperature sensor (look-alike code)
• Bosch Dryer DR Error Code
• Insignia Dryer C9 Error Code
• LG Dryer d80 Error Code
• All dryer error code guides