LG Dryer PF Error
PF is also the origin of the factory reset that LG prescribes for tE1/tE3 — the procedure on this page is the canonical one.
What to check first
- PF = power failure, often after an outage (LG US).
- Factory reset: power off → hold Start/Pause 5 seconds unpowered → power on → run a cycle.
- PF persists → service (LG's endpoint).
- PF with no outage = supply evidence — say so when you book.
A PF code means power failure — LG's US list notes it will often be received after a power outage. The dryer is reporting that its power was interrupted, and LG's answer is its factory reset: unplug (or trip the breaker), press and hold Start/Pause for 5 seconds while the unit is unpowered, then restore power and run a cycle. The endpoint is the honest one: if the PF code persists after the reset, the unit may require a repair service — a power code with no outage behind it is a supply or control problem, not a message to clear.
Safety first
- If PF appears with no outage and no tripped breaker, treat the supply as suspect: a dryer that keeps losing power has an electrical problem, and repeated resets are not a fix. That case goes to an electrician or LG service, not another reset.
- Stop condition: stop using the machine and unplug it — and do not run it again until it has been checked — if you smell burning, see smoke, find damaged electrics (a scorched plug, a melted or cut cable), or water is leaking in quantity.
Common causes
A power outage or interruption
LG's named cause: the code often follows a power outage. Storms, breaker trips and a plug knocked loose all read the same way to the dryer — power was there, then it was not.
An unstable supply
A PF with no outage behind it points at the supply itself — the same territory as the nP and PS codes. LG's endpoint for a persistent PF is service; supply questions beyond the outlet belong to a licensed electrician.
Step-by-step checks
- Unplug the dryer, or trip the breakerPower fully off — the reset only counts while the unit is unpowered. (LG US step 1.)
- Press and hold Start/Pause for 5 secondsWith the unit still unpowered, hold the Start/Pause button for 5 seconds. This discharges the control — the step that makes it a factory reset rather than a restart.
- Restore power and run a cyclePlug the dryer back in (or breaker ON), select a cycle and press Start. (LG US steps 3–4.)
- PF persists? Book serviceLG's endpoint: if the PF code persists after the reset, the unit may require a repair service.
When to call a technician
Service is LG's stated endpoint for a persistent PF. Quote the code and the context — outage or no outage — because the two cases split: after an outage, PF is a message; without one, it is evidence about the supply or the control.
Model differences
| What you have | What changes |
|---|---|
| PF right after a known outage | The expected case (LG US). Do the reset, run a cycle, done — no service unless it persists. |
| PF with flickering lights or a warm plug | Skip the reset loop: that is supply-side evidence. The standard stop condition applies — unplug, and the circuit belongs to an electrician. |
One-page checklist — PF
- Cause context noted (outage / none)
- Factory reset done in order: power off → Start/Pause held 5s → power on → cycle started
- PF cleared and stayed cleared → done
- PF persists → service booked, context quoted
Official LG references
Frequently asked questions
Why hold Start/Pause while it is unplugged?
Because that is what makes it a factory reset rather than a power cycle: LG's procedure presses and holds Start/Pause for 5 seconds while the unit is unpowered, draining the control's stored charge so it restarts clean. The same procedure is the one LG prescribes for tE1/tE3.
PF showed up with no outage. What does that mean?
LG documents PF as the power-failure code that often follows an outage — with no outage, the interruption came from somewhere: the breaker, the outlet, the cord, or the control. Do the reset once; LG's line for a PF that persists is repair service, and supply faults beyond the outlet are an electrician's work.