Samsung Hr Error Code — What It Means
The Hr error code on Samsung front-load washers indicates a fault in the water-heating or temperature-control system. The washer’s control board has detected that the heating element is not raising water temperature as expected, or that the temperature sensor is sending incorrect readings. This code points technicians toward the heater circuit, thermistor, wiring, or control logic rather than issues like drain blockages, door locks, or load imbalance. Because Samsung’s publicly indexed U.S. error-code documentation does not list Hr specifically, the exact behavior can vary by model and region, but the underlying cause is almost always related to the heating or temperature-sensing circuit.
Common Causes
- Failed heating element The washer’s immersion heater is open, shorted, or not drawing current properly, preventing the water from reaching the target temperature.
- Defective thermistor or temperature sensor The sensor is sending out-of-range or implausible readings to the control board, causing the board to flag a heating fault.
- Loose, corroded, or damaged wiring Connectors or harness pins in the heater or sensor circuit are loose, corroded, or heat-damaged, interrupting the signal or power.
- Incorrect hot and cold water supply hookup Hot and cold inlet hoses are reversed or the home hot-water heater is not delivering hot water, confusing the washer’s temperature logic on heated cycles.
- Control board fault The main PCB is not driving the heater circuit correctly or is misinterpreting valid sensor input, generating a false error.
Step-by-Step Fix
- Power-cycle the washer by turning it off at the breaker or unplugging for 30 seconds to 5 minutes, then restart to confirm the code reappears and is not a transient glitch.
- Check the hot and cold water supply hoses at the back of the machine to make sure they are connected to the correct inlets, not kinked, and that both supply valves are fully open.
- Unplug the washer and remove the rear or top access panel to expose the heater assembly, thermistor, and wiring harness connections.
- Inspect all wiring and connectors in the heater circuit for looseness, corrosion, melted plastic, or burn marks, and reseat or clean any suspect terminals.
- Test the heating element with a multimeter set to ohms by disconnecting its wiring and measuring across the element terminals, then compare the reading against your model’s service manual specification.
- Test the thermistor by disconnecting it and measuring its resistance at room temperature, consulting the service data for your exact model to determine if the reading is within tolerance.
- Replace the failed component (heater, thermistor, or control board) based on your test results, reassemble the machine, and run a heated wash cycle to verify the error clears.
Parts Often Needed
| Part | Notes |
|---|---|
| Heating element / heater assembly | Amazon | Match by model number. Most common Hr repair part. |
| Thermistor / temperature sensor | Amazon | Small two-wire sensor near the heater. Verify part number for your washer. |
| Main control board / PCB | Amazon | Required only if heater and sensor test good but board output is incorrect. |
When to Call a Pro
Call a professional if you are uncomfortable working with electrical components while the washer is unplugged, if you do not have a multimeter or service manual with the correct resistance specifications for your model, or if you have replaced both the heater and thermistor and the Hr code still appears. A trained technician has model-specific diagnostic charts, the tools to measure control-board output voltage safely, and access to OEM wiring diagrams that are not publicly indexed. Because the exact meaning of Hr can vary by region and model, a pro can also confirm whether your washer variant uses a different fault-code definition.