An LG dryer showing nP is telling you something specific: the control board is not detecting current at the heater. The drum usually still turns and the timer counts down, but the air stays cold and the clothes come out as wet as they went in. It is one of the more common no-heat calls we get from LG owners in Calgary, and the good news is that the cause is often in the house wiring rather than inside the dryer.
This guide explains what the code means, why the double breaker is the first thing to check, how nP relates to the PS and tE codes, and which checks are safe for a homeowner to do before booking a repair.
What the LG nP code means
LG lists nP as no current detected at the heater. When a heated cycle starts, the control switches power to the heating element and expects to see current flowing through it. If it sees nothing, it shows nP and carries on tumbling without heat. The code appears on electric LG models, which run on a 240-volt supply. You can look up the other LG codes on our LG dryer repair page or in the full dryer error code lookup.
The usual causes LG points to are:
- A tripped breaker leg. One half of the dryer's double breaker has tripped, so only part of the supply reaches the dryer.
- Home wiring or outlet problems. A loose or burnt connection at the 240-volt receptacle can drop one side of the supply.
If the supply checks out, a technician then tests the heater circuit inside the dryer itself.
Why the double breaker matters
How a 240-volt dryer is powered
An electric dryer runs on a double breaker: two switches tied together with a handle bar. Each side carries 120 volts. The motor, lights and controls only need one side, but the heating element needs both. So if one half of the breaker trips, or one leg of the supply is lost, the dryer looks perfectly normal except that it never warms up. That is exactly the situation nP is designed to catch.
The half-tripped breaker
A breaker can trip partway, so it looks on at a glance. The handle may sit slightly out of line with its neighbours, or feel loose when you touch it. Flipping it firmly to off and then back to on is a normal homeowner reset. If it trips again, stop and do not keep resetting it. That points to a fault that needs an electrician or a technician. Never tape a breaker on or swap in a larger one.
Outlets and cords
Dryer receptacles carry a lot of current, and a loose terminal heats up over time. You may see browning on the plug, a cracked outlet face or a plug that wobbles in the socket. Any of those can drop a leg of the supply and trigger nP. They are also a fire risk, so stop using the dryer if you see them.
The PS code: a miswired power cord
The PS code is a close cousin. LG lists it as improper voltage in the power cord, and the usual cause is the white and red wires reversed at the terminal block where the cord connects to the back of the dryer. It most often shows up right after a new install or a cord swap, for example when moving from a three-prong to a four-prong outlet in an older home. Because it involves live power connections, PS is not a DIY fix. Unplug the dryer and have the cord connection corrected by a technician or electrician.
Related LG codes at a glance
If your LG shows a temperature code instead, you are dealing with a different problem that has the same cold-clothes symptom. Gas LG models have their own no-heat codes too.
| Code | What LG says it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| nP | No current detected at the heater | Reset the double breaker, check the outlet |
| PS | Improper voltage in the power cord | Unplug; have the cord wiring corrected |
| tE1 / tE3 | Thermistor problem | Book a technician |
| tE2 | Thermistor error, usually in cold conditions | Clear the vent hood, then retry |
| tE4 | Thermistor fault, temperature out of range | Book a technician |
| gAS | Gas dryer is not receiving gas | Confirm the gas valve is open |
The tE codes are about sensing heat; nP is about getting power to the heater. Telling them apart helps avoid chasing the wrong part. In winter, tE2 often follows a cold or iced exhaust duct, which we cover in our post on winter dryer vents. On gas models, LG's d80 airflow code can also mean the dryer is getting no gas.
Safe checks before you call
Always unplug the dryer before you touch anything behind or inside it. Then:
- Find the dryer's double breaker in your electrical panel. It is usually labelled and twice as wide as a regular breaker. If either side looks out of line with the others, switch it fully off, then back on.
- Plug the dryer back in and run a short heated cycle. If nP is gone and heat returns, keep an eye on it over the next few loads.
- Make sure the dryer is not on an extension cord or adapter. Electric dryers should plug straight into their own receptacle.
- Look at the plug and outlet for scorch marks or a loose fit. If you see any, stop using the dryer and leave the outlet to a professional.
- Clean the lint screen. It will not clear nP, but it removes one variable before a technician arrives.
- Write down when the code appears: at the start of the cycle, partway through, or only on certain settings.
Do not open the terminal block cover, test live wiring, or bypass any fuse or switch. If the breaker trips again or nP comes back, the next step is proper testing with a meter.
What a technician tests next
Supply voltage at the dryer
With the right meter and precautions, we confirm that both legs of the supply reach the terminal block. If one leg is missing at the dryer but present at the panel, the problem is in the house wiring or receptacle, and we will tell you plainly that it needs an electrician.
The heater circuit
If the supply is good, we test the heating element and the safety devices wired in series with it, such as the high-limit thermostat and thermal fuse, along with the heater relay on the control board. Any open part in that chain stops current from flowing and produces the same nP code. Our guide to electric dryer heating element signs explains how a failed element behaves, and our no-heat checklist covers the order we test parts in.
Why the part failed
Elements and limits rarely fail without a reason. Poor airflow makes them run hot, so we check the vent and the lint path inside the cabinet before we close the dryer up. Fixing the cause means the new part lasts.
When to call a technician
If nP keeps returning after a breaker reset, PS appears after an install, or a tE code will not clear, it is time for a proper diagnosis. Our dryer not heating service covers LG and every other brand, with same-day appointments in Airdrie, Okotoks, Cochrane and the rest of the area. Call Fast Appliance Repair at (587) 779-6919. Our licensed and insured technicians charge a flat diagnostic fee, give you a full quote before any work starts, and back every repair with a 90-day parts and labour warranty.