Dryer Error Codes
Whirlpool Dryer Error Codes
Common Whirlpool dryer error codes explained, including F01, F22, F23, F28, AF, and PF, and which ones point at your vent.
Whirlpool uses two formats: an F followed by a number for component and control faults, and letter codes for operating conditions. Codes vary between model years, so check yours against the owner manual. The model number is on the door frame or inside the door.
Note that Whirlpool manufactures for several brands, so these codes commonly appear on Maytag, Amana, Roper, Estate, and KitchenAid units as well.
Airflow
AF — Restricted airflow. The most actionable code on the list. Clean the lint screen, then check the full duct run and the exterior hood. If AF returns after a thorough cleaning, the restriction is deeper in the concealed run and needs proper equipment to reach.
Heat and temperature sensing
F22 — Exhaust thermistor open circuit.
F23 — Exhaust thermistor shorted.
Both point at the exhaust thermistor or its wiring, and both are tested with a meter rather than assumed. If the readings are within range, the control board becomes the suspect.
Moisture sensing
F28 and F29 — Moisture sensor fault. The dryer cannot reliably tell when the load is dry. Sometimes residue on the sensor strips, sometimes the sensor or its wiring.
Control and interface
F01 — Main control board fault. Often follows a power surge or outage. Sometimes clears with a reset; if it returns, the board needs replacing.
F02 — Keypad or user interface fault, commonly a stuck button. Check the panel for a key that is not returning.
Power
PF — Power failure during a cycle. The dryer lost power mid-run. Restart the cycle. Repeated PF codes suggest a supply problem worth investigating.
L2 — Low line voltage. Points at the electrical supply rather than the dryer.
What to do first
Unplug the dryer for a minute and restore power. Some codes are transient. If the code returns, it is reporting a real condition.
For AF specifically, do not just reset it. The code exists because the dryer measured restricted airflow, and running it that way overheats the machine every cycle. See dryer vent cleaning.
Common questions
Does AF mean my dryer is broken?
No. AF reports restricted airflow, which is a duct condition rather than a component failure. Clear the lint screen, the full run and the exterior hood. If AF returns after a thorough cleaning, the restriction is deeper in the concealed run.
I have a Maytag. Do these codes apply?
Generally yes. Whirlpool builds for Maytag, Amana, Roper, Estate and KitchenAid, so the same code set usually applies. Confirm against the manual for your model number.
How do I reset a Whirlpool dryer?
Unplug it, or switch off the breaker, wait about a minute and restore power. That clears a transient fault. A code that comes back is reporting a real condition.
F22 came up. Should I just replace the thermistor?
Test it first. F22 and F23 point at the exhaust thermistor or its wiring, and if the readings are in range the control board becomes the suspect. Replacing on the code alone is how people buy the part twice.
PF keeps appearing. Is that the dryer?
PF means the machine lost power mid-cycle, so it is usually the supply rather than the dryer. Repeated PF codes are worth having an electrician look at, particularly alongside an L2 low-voltage code.
Where is the model number?
On the door frame or inside the door opening on most models, sometimes on a plate at the back. It is the model number you need, not the serial.
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