LG Dryer Error Codes: d80, d90 and d95 Are Blockage Percentages

LG's d codes are the most useful error codes any appliance maker publishes, because the number is a measurement. LG states it plainly: a d75, d80, d90 or d95 code means the exhaust duct is clogged 75%, 80%, 90% or 95% respectively.

So d95 is not a vaguer version of d80. It is the same problem four fifths of the way to completely closed. LG's own description of d90 and d95 is that the dryer "has detected a 90% or 95% blockage in the duct work, prompting immediate attention."

That changes how you read the code. Most dryer faults tell you a part may have failed. These tell you how much of your vent is left.

What the d codes actually measure

LG says the restriction is "airflow is restricted somewhere between the dryer and the outside exhaust exit." That span matters, because it includes the parts you cannot see: the duct inside the wall, the run through the roof space, and the exterior hood.

LG's position on what to do is consistent across both of its pages, and it is not a repair. It calls a d80, d90 or d95 "typically a signal to have the yearly vent cleaning completed by a professional vent cleaner," and says that if you need help, "contact a local vent cleaning company." On the d90 and d95 page it says "it is recommended that you call a professional for duct cleaning."

LG also names the structural causes rather than blaming lint alone. It says "long duct runs or runs with multiple elbows bends or transition ducts can create problems," and that "if the ductwork is too long or has too many bends, blockages can occur." Notably, LG publishes no maximum length or bend count, so there is no official number to check yours against.

If you do call a vent specialist, LG's own page lists the two questions they will need answered: the length of the ventilation system from the dryer to the outside exhaust, and the number of 90 degree angles in it. Worth measuring before you phone.

Flow Sense, and the bar count that matters

Many LG dryers show a Flow Sense indicator alongside the codes. LG gives one specific reading for it: "if you see two or four bars on the Flow Sense indicator this means that the exhaust system is severely restricted."

Flow Sense is the early warning and the d codes are the alarm. A dryer showing bars but no code yet is telling you the vent is on its way to a d75.

On a gas dryer, d80 may not be the vent at all

This is the exception that catches people, and LG states it directly: "Note that on gas dryers a d80 display code may indicate a lack of gas supplied to the unit."

So an identical code means two different things depending on how your dryer is fuelled. On an electric dryer, d80 is 80% blockage. On a gas dryer it may be a gas supply problem instead, which no amount of vent cleaning will fix.

LG also documents a related display message. It says the 9A5 reading "is not an error code, but rather a display message" spelling GAS, meaning the machine "is not getting the proper gas supply." A general gas error code "means that the dryer is not receiving gas."

LG's gas checks are short: make sure the gas supply valve is turned on and the gas line is not kinked. If the valve is open and the line is fine, LG says the unit will require repair service.

Two codes that point at your house wiring

These are worth separating out, because they are electrical supply problems rather than dryer faults, and one of them LG sends to an electrician.

Code	What LG says it means	What LG says to do
nP	"there is a problem with the electrical wiring in the home and that no current is being detected at the heater."	Check the 240V cord and reset the breaker, off for 10 seconds. LG then says it "may need to be checked by a licensed electrician." If it still will not heat, a repair is required.
PS	"an improper voltage within the power cord," which LG attributes to "the white and red wire being reversed."	Breaker off for 10 seconds. If it still does not heat, it needs repair.

A reversed white and red wire in the cord is an installation error, not wear. If your dryer has shown PS since the day it was connected, that is where to look.

The rest of LG's dryer codes

Code	What LG says it means	What LG says to do
dE	"A dE code means door error. This indicates that the dryer is not completely closed."	Unplug or trip the breaker, wait 5 seconds, close the door firmly, select any cycle and press start. If the code returns, "it will need service."
F0, or a flashing insert filter message	"indicates that the lint filter is out."	Reinsert the filter. If it persists it may need repair service.
HS	A humidity sensor code. LG notes "The HS code will cause the dryer to run for two and a half hours."	Clean the sensors below the lint filter and let them dry. If it persists it may need repair service.
E13	On hybrid condensing dryers only: "indicates that the drain hose is kinked, crushed, clogged or that the water in the sump is frozen."	Check the hose. If it recurs, the unit will require repair service.
tE1, tE3	Thermistor codes.	LG says the fix is "usually a simple factory reset," then repair service if it persists.
PF	Appears after a power outage.	"The fix is usually a simple factory reset." Unplug, hold start or pause for 5 seconds, then restore power.

Note the 2.5 hour detail on HS. A dryer that suddenly takes far longer than usual, with a humidity sensor code, is not broken so much as running blind: with no usable moisture reading it falls back to a long fixed time. Cleaning the sensor strips below the lint filter is a two minute job.

Five displays that are not faults

LG documents several messages people reasonably mistake for errors.

• Check Filter or clean filter. LG calls it "a reminder to clean the lint filter before each use," and says it "turns off when you turn the cycle knob." It is not reporting a blockage.
• Wrinkle care. LG says "The drum will rotate for 10 seconds and then stop for six minutes," for "up to three hours." Opening the door turns it off. A dryer that keeps briefly tumbling hours after the cycle finished is doing this on purpose.
• CL. The child lock is active. Hold the child lock key for 3 seconds to disable it.
• The cooling or drying light. LG notes "The cooling portion does not begin until the last five minutes of the cycle," so seeing it only near the end is normal.
• Add. "An Add message means add water, indicating a water supply error," which applies to the steam feature rather than the drying itself.

Frequently asked questions

What does d80 mean on an LG dryer?

On an electric dryer it means LG has detected that the exhaust duct is 80% clogged. On a gas dryer, LG notes that d80 may instead indicate a lack of gas supplied to the unit, so check the gas valve before cleaning the vent.

What is the difference between d80, d90 and d95?

The number is the measurement. LG says d75, d80, d90 and d95 indicate the exhaust duct is clogged 75%, 80%, 90% and 95% respectively. d90 and d95 are the ones LG says prompt immediate attention.

Can I clear a d95 code myself?

You can clean the lint filter and check the duct behind the dryer, but LG treats these codes as a signal for a yearly vent cleaning by a professional vent cleaner, and points you to a local vent cleaning company. The blockage is often in the part of the run inside the wall or at the exterior hood.

Why does my LG dryer run for two and a half hours?

If it is showing HS, that is the humidity sensor code, and LG says the code causes the dryer to run for two and a half hours. Clean the sensors below the lint filter and let them dry.

What does nP mean on an LG dryer?

LG says there is a problem with the electrical wiring in the home and no current is being detected at the heater. Check the 240V cord, reset the breaker for 10 seconds, and LG says it may need checking by a licensed electrician.

Is Check Filter an error?

No. LG describes it as a reminder to clean the lint filter before each use, and it turns off when you turn the cycle knob. The codes that report an actual airflow restriction are the d codes.

Sources: LG's dryer error code list and its guide to the d90 and d95 codes. LG notes that model specific information is in your product user manual, and its pages vary by region.

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