RepairWell
Whirlpool · Dryer · independent service

Whirlpool dryer repair and error codes

RepairWell repairs Whirlpool electric and gas dryers, including stacked laundry centres, in Ottawa and Gatineau. We are independent and not authorized by Whirlpool, so repairs under Whirlpool's warranty should go through Whirlpool Canada. Otherwise the diagnostic is $89, waived when you go ahead with the repair, with a written finding and quote before any work.

Whirlpool dryer codes split cleanly into two kinds. A handful (AF, L2, PF, ERR, Loc) describe something an owner can check: airflow, the home's power, the door or a locked panel. The F-and-E codes, which alternate on the display as F# and E#, are the control reporting a fault in a part or circuit; Whirlpool's general rule for them is that they require service, although for some it suggests a power cycle first.

Book onlineCall (613) 880-3013

RepairWell is an independent repair service and is not affiliated with or authorized by Whirlpool.

Whirlpool dryer error codes

The codes below come from Whirlpool's product-help pages: its Error Codes in Dryers summary and the individual code pages it links to. Whirlpool says the summary may not include every code and refers owners to the owner's manual for others. Many individual F-code pages give only a power-cycle step and no meaning; we have listed only codes whose meaning Whirlpool states. Codes vary by model, so check the manual for your model number.

The Check Vent light is a feature, not a fault: Whirlpool says it is available on Automatic cycles on certain models and lights during the sensing phase if it detects a blocked vent or low airflow.

CodeWhat Whirlpool says it meansChecks Whirlpool lists for ownersWhen to bookSource
AF or Check Vent lightRestricted airflow: the lint screen or vent is clogged, or the vent is crushed, kinked or has too many turns. The dryer keeps running, but Whirlpool says poor airflow affects drying time and performance.
  • Clean the lint screen.
  • Check the vent from the dryer to the wall is not crushed or kinked, and is free of lint.
  • Check the outside exhaust hood is free of lint and debris. Whirlpool's test: run the dryer 5 to 10 minutes and hold your hand under the hood; air movement weaker than a hair dryer on high means the system needs cleaning.
  • Restart on a Timed Dry heated cycle.
Book if AF persists after the whole vent run has been cleaned by a venting specialist, as Whirlpool suggests.Whirlpool product help
F4 E3Restricted airflow, the same condition as AF: lint screen or vent clogged, or the vent crushed, kinked or with too many turns. The dryer keeps running.
  • Follow the same checks as AF: lint screen, the vent behind the dryer, the outside hood, and whether the vent length and number of elbows are within the installation instructions.
  • Whirlpool says the home venting should be cleaned every one to two years, or sooner if drying slows.
Book if F4 E3 continues with a cleaned and correctly sized vent.Whirlpool product help
L2Low or no line voltage: a problem with the home power supply is keeping the heater from turning on. The dryer keeps running. Whirlpool's summary notes this code shows only during initial installation.
  • Check for a blown fuse or tripped breaker; Whirlpool says electric dryers use two.
  • Select a Timed Dry heated cycle and restart.
  • Whirlpool says the power cord must be installed correctly; on a new installation, have the installer or a qualified electrician check it.
Book if both breakers are on, an electrician has confirmed 240 V at the outlet, and the dryer still does not heat.Whirlpool product help
F4 E4Low or no line voltage, the diagnostic form of L2: a problem with the home power supply is keeping the heater from turning on.
  • Check both of the dryer's circuit breakers. Whirlpool says electric dryers need a separate 30-amp, 240 V circuit, with one side running the motor and the other the heating element, so one tripped breaker can leave the drum turning with no heat.
  • Turn the breakers off for 1 minute, back on, and start a Timed Dry cycle.
Book if the breakers and supply are confirmed and F4 E4 remains.Whirlpool product help
PFPower failure: the drying cycle was interrupted. Whirlpool adds that power-line noise during an outage, or pressing keys within 10 seconds of power returning, can also trigger it.
  • Touch and hold START to restart the cycle, or press POWER to clear the display.
  • After an outage, turn off the dryer's breaker for 1 minute, turn it back on and watch for a minute to see that the code does not return.
Book if PF keeps appearing without any power interruption.Whirlpool product help
ERRThe door is not completely closed and latched; the dryer will not run until it is.
  • Push on the door to engage the latch. Whirlpool notes some models have an upper and a lower latch, and both must be secure.
  • Turn the breaker off for 1 minute, back on, and start a Timed Dry cycle.
Book if ERR remains with the door firmly closed.Whirlpool product help
LocControl Lock is on; the dryer will not start or operate.
  • Press and hold the Control Lock key for 3 seconds until the display counts down. Whirlpool says it may be a shared key, such as Steam or another option; hold the button itself, not the text below it.
Book only if the dryer still will not respond once unlocked.Whirlpool product help
F3 E2 or F3 E5Moisture sensor issue: five loads in a row were dried without the dryer registering moisture sensor data.
  • Press Power to clear the code and restart.
  • Check the dryer is level; Whirlpool says an unlevel dryer may stop clothes touching the moisture sensors. Measure on the cabinet edge, as the top may be curved.
  • Dry larger loads rather than single items, or use an Automatic cycle instead of Timed Dry.
  • If it persists, turn the breakers off for 1 minute and back on.
Book if the code returns on normal, full loads with the dryer level.Whirlpool product help
F3 E1Exhaust thermistor.
  • Turn the breakers off for 1 minute, back on, start a Timed Dry cycle and watch for a minute.
Book if F3 E1 returns after the power cycle.Whirlpool product help
F3 E3Inlet thermistor.
  • Turn the breakers off for 1 minute, back on, start a Timed Dry cycle and watch for a minute.
Book if F3 E3 returns after the power cycle.Whirlpool product help
F4 E1Heater system: there may be a problem with the heater or heater relays.
  • Turn the breakers off for 1 minute, back on, start a Timed Dry cycle and watch for a minute.
Book if F4 E1 returns; heater and relay checks involve live-circuit testing and are technician-only.Whirlpool product help
F1 E3, F1 E4 or F1 E5There may be an issue with the control unit or its associated wiring.
  • Touch POWER, select a cycle, then hold START/PAUSE. If that does not work, Whirlpool says to unplug the dryer, or switch off its breakers, and restore power.
Book if the code comes back after power is restored.Whirlpool product help
F2 E1, F2 E2, F2 E4 or F2 E5Whirlpool labels F2 E1 as the keypad and F2 E2 as the keypad or control; F2 E4 and F2 E5 indicate an issue with the user interface or its wiring.
  • Touch POWER, select a cycle, then hold START/PAUSE; if that fails, cut power at the breakers for 1 minute and restore it.
Book if an F2 code returns or buttons stop responding.Whirlpool product help
F6 E1Communication error: there may be a problem with the main control board, the user interface (touchpad) or the wiring between them.
  • Turn the breakers off for 1 minute, back on, start a Timed Dry cycle and watch for a minute.
Book if F6 E1 returns after the power cycle.Whirlpool product help
F7 E1Motor system: there may be a problem with the motor, the control, or the associated wiring.
  • Turn the breakers off for 1 minute, back on, start a Timed Dry cycle and watch for a minute.
Book if F7 E1 returns, or the drum does not turn.Whirlpool product help

A code tells you what the control board measured, not which part failed. Tell us the code when you book; it shortens the diagnosis. How to read any error code →

Symptom guides for Whirlpool dryers

Finding the model and serial number

Whirlpool's product-help page gives these locations. Dryer: inside the dryer door, on the rim of the opening. Ventless dryer: behind the water tank. Stacked laundry centre: on the inside of the dryer door. Pedestal: on the storage drawer, inside or outside wall.

Photograph the label and send us the model number, and say whether the dryer is electric or gas.

General guide to model labels →

What's specific to Whirlpool dryers

  • Vent material and size. Whirlpool recommends rigid or flexible metal venting on all its dryers, and says foil or plastic can collapse or be crushed, including when the dryer is pushed back against it. It specifies 4 in (102 mm) heavy metal exhaust vent; larger or smaller diameters reduce airflow and lengthen drying. Runs longer than the vent system chart in the installation instructions shorten the dryer's life and raise energy use. See our dryer vent safety guide.
  • Outside hood and snow. Whirlpool says the exhaust hood must be at least 12 in (305 mm) from the ground or anything that may obstruct it, and names snow among those obstructions, along with plants, rocks and animal nests. In Ottawa and Gatineau a hood that is fine in summer can be buried in February, which shows up as AF, F4 E3, the Check Vent light or long cycles. Whirlpool also offers a dryer vent test kit (part W11224254).
  • Two breakers on electric models. Whirlpool explains that an electric dryer needs a separate 30-amp, 240 V circuit fused on both sides, one side for the motor and one for the heating element. A single tripped breaker gives a dryer whose drum turns but does not heat, which is why L2 and F4 E4 start with the panel. Outlet and panel repairs belong to an electrician.
  • Gas models. Whirlpool notes the drum of a gas dryer turns but does not heat if the gas shut-off valve is closed; the valve is open when its handle is parallel to the pipe. Look only. We diagnose gas dryers; burner, igniter, valve and gas-connection work is done by a certified gas contractor we work with, not by our own technicians.
  • Air Only cycles. Whirlpool points out that Air Only (Air/Fluff) never adds heat, so a no-heat complaint is worth checking against the cycle chosen before anything else.
  • Related brands. Whirlpool Corporation lists Maytag and Amana among its brands. A shared parent does not mean a given Maytag or Amana dryer uses the same codes as a Whirlpool, so we always work from the model number.

Recalls and notices

We found no Health Canada recall of Whirlpool clothes dryers when this page was reviewed in September 2026. We searched the Government of Canada Recalls and safety alerts site and its open-data export, which held records to 24 September 2026. The Whirlpool Corporation recalls listed there are for electric radiant cooktops (2019), KitchenAid electric kettles (2018) and Jenn-Air built-in wall ovens (2015), and a 2010 notice covers certain Maytag-family dishwashers; none is a dryer. A keyword search of the whole export for dryers returned hair, pet and grooming dryers, not clothes dryers from any brand.

A recall is a formal safety action published by Health Canada. A service bulletin is a manufacturer's repair note for technicians, and a complaint is an owner's report; neither is a recall. If you have a safety concern, search recalls-rappels.canada.ca with your model number.

When to book

Book when an F-and-E code returns after one power cycle, since Whirlpool's rule is that those codes require service; when AF, F4 E3 or the Check Vent light stays on after the full vent run has been cleaned; or when L2 or F4 E4 continues after the breakers and outlet have been checked. Stop using the dryer and book if it smells of burning or the cabinet is too hot to touch. Tell us the exact code, whether the dryer is electric or gas, and the model number. The diagnostic is $89, waived if you go ahead with the repair, and the finding and quote are written before any work.

The visit: $89 diagnostic with a written finding, waived when you go ahead with the repair. Dryer repair → · All Whirlpool appliances →

Whirlpool dryer questions

What does AF mean on a Whirlpool dryer?

Whirlpool says AF means restricted airflow: the lint screen or vent is clogged, or the vent is crushed, kinked or has too many turns. The dryer keeps running but dries slowly. Clean the lint screen, check the vent and the outside hood, and have the whole vent run cleaned if it persists.

My Whirlpool dryer runs but won't heat and shows L2 or F4 E4. Why?

Whirlpool says both mean low or no line voltage. Electric dryers use two breakers, one for the motor and one for the heater, so one tripped breaker leaves the drum turning without heat. Check both, and have an electrician confirm the supply if it continues.

What does F3 E2 mean on a Whirlpool dryer?

It is a moisture sensor code. Whirlpool says it sets when five loads in a row finish without moisture sensor data, often because the dryer is not level or the loads are very small. Level the dryer, dry fuller loads, and book if it comes back.

Why is the Check Vent light on?

On certain Whirlpool models the Check Vent light comes on during Automatic cycles when the dryer senses a blocked vent or low airflow. It stays on for the cycle. Whirlpool's advice is to clean the lint screen and the vent run, including the outside hood.

Is a Maytag dryer the same as a Whirlpool?

Whirlpool Corporation lists Maytag and Amana among its brands. That does not mean a given Maytag model shares Whirlpool's codes or parts, so we always work from the model number on the label.

Are you authorized by Whirlpool?

No. RepairWell is independent. If your dryer is under Whirlpool's warranty, contact Whirlpool Canada for warranty service; we repair out-of-warranty dryers.

Other brand guides for this appliance

Sources

Sources checked 2026-09-24.

Book Whirlpool dryer repair

Tell us the model number and the code or symptom. We confirm the window before we come.

Book onlineCall (613) 880-3013

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