LG Dryer HE Error Code: Diagnosis and Solutions

⚠️ SAFETY WARNING / ELECTRICAL RISK. This appliance operates at 230V. Before any inspection or physical intervention, it is essential to unplug the appliance from the electrical outlet or deactivate the dedicated general miniature circuit breaker. Working on live electrical components carries serious risks of electrocution and must be entrusted exclusively to a qualified technician. ReeFix provides this diagnosis for informational purposes only.

MAIN CAUSE

The HE (Heater Error) error on an LG dryer indicates an anomaly in the heating circuit. The most frequent cause (approximately 45%) is a fault in the heating relay on the main electronic board (Main PCB) or deterioration of its solder joints.

This often happens due to thermal and mechanical stress: the relay, which manages the high power of the heating element (up to 3000W), continuously switches on and off. Vibrations and heat can create micro-fractures in the solder joints or damage the internal contacts of the relay, interrupting power to the heating element. The control board detects that the heat is not increasing as expected and stops the cycle for safety.

Many technicians confirm that re-soldering the relay pins on the main board often resolves the HE error without having to purchase a new PCB. If you notice circular cracks or dark halos around the relay contacts, a quick tin solder will restore the electrical contact.

Key signals/indicators:

• The dryer starts the cycle but only emits cold air.
• The HE error appears a few minutes after startup.
• On the electronic board, you may notice dark halos, burn marks, or cracked solder joints around the power relay.

Estimated costs: The cost of the relay alone is low (5-15€), but the repair requires electronic soldering skills. If the board is irreparably damaged, replacing the entire PCB can range from 100 to 250€.

VERIFICATION

Verifying the HE error requires caution and, for most steps, the intervention of a technician.

Quick checks (for user, with appliance unplugged):

1. Clean Filters and Ducts: Ensure that the lint filters are perfectly clean and that the external exhaust duct is not obstructed. Insufficient airflow can cause overheating and trigger thermal protections, simulating a heater fault. This is a common problem that the user can solve independently.
2. External Visual Inspection: Check the power cord and outlet for signs of burns or overheating.

Checks for technician (requires multimeter and skills):

1. Electrical Isolation: Disconnect the dryer from the electrical grid.
2. Access to PCB Board: Remove the panels to access the main electronic board (usually at the top or rear). Visually inspect the solder joints of the heating relay. Look for micro-fractures, burns, or damaged traces.
3. Continuity Test (with Multimeter):
   • Heating element resistance: Disconnect the connectors and measure the resistance (should be between 15 and 30 Ohms, depending on the model). An infinite value indicates an open circuit.
   • Safety thermostats and thermal fuse: Measure continuity across the terminals. They should show continuity (approximately 0 Ohms). An infinite value indicates an open circuit (faulty component or triggered by overheating).
   • NTC thermistor: Measure resistance at room temperature (approximately 10 kΩ at 25°C, varies by model). Anomalous values can mislead the board.
4. Verify Voltage to Heater (only by qualified technician and with appliance under tension): With the dryer running and the multimeter set to V AC, check if voltage (230V) reaches the heater terminals. If the heating element and thermostats are intact but no voltage is supplied, a relay or board fault is likely.

Tools needed for the technician:

• Professional Digital Multimeter
• Professional Soldering Station (if planning to repair the board)
• Specific spare parts: LG Dryer Heating Element Replacement, LG Dryer Safety Thermostat and Thermal Fuse, 12VDC Power Relay for LG Dryer Board, NTC Thermistor for LG Dryer.

OPERATIONAL OUTCOME

The decision depends on the outcome of the evaluation and your experience.

• Repair yourself: If the HE error is resolved simply by cleaning the filters and air ducts, you can proceed independently. This is the only situation recommended for a DIY intervention without specific skills.

• Contact a technician:

  • If the error persists after cleaning, a fault in the electronic board relay is highly probable (45%). The repair requires a specialized electronics technician for soldering or board replacement.
  • If the technician detects an open circuit in the thermal fuse or safety thermostat (30% probability), the cost of the spare part is medium (10-30€) and labor is manageable.
  • If a broken heating element filament is diagnosed (15% probability), the cost of the spare part is higher (30-80€), plus labor.
  • Faults in the NTC thermistor or wiring (10% probability) are less common but manageable by a technician.

• Replace the device: Consider replacement if the dryer is old and the report indicates a fault in the main electronic board that requires a complete replacement (high cost, 100-250€ for the spare part alone), or if multiple components are damaged simultaneously, making the repair uneconomical compared to the appliance's residual value.

Quick operational decision:

1. Clean filters and ducts: If the error disappears, the problem was an airflow blockage (self-resolution at no cost).
2. Contact a technician for internal diagnosis: If the error persists, internal components need to be tested. The most probable cause is a fault in the electronic board relay (45%) or an open circuit in the thermostats/thermal fuse (30%).
3. Evaluate repair or replacement: If the fault concerns the relay (repairable with soldering) or the thermostats/heating element, repair is cost-effective. However, if the main electronic board needs to be replaced entirely (cost 100-250€) and the dryer is more than 5-7 years old, consider replacing the appliance.