F31 Serious Easy DIY

Whirlpool Dryer F31 — Low L2 Line Voltage

Whirlpool Dryer · Error code F31

What F31 Means

The control senses the L2 leg of the 240V supply is below about 30 volts. L2 feeds the heating element, so the dryer tumbles but cannot heat. This is almost always a house-wiring or breaker problem, not a dryer problem.

Symptoms

  • Dryer tumbles but produces no heat
  • F31 displayed
  • Clothes come out warm but never fully dry
  • Half the console may dim or behave oddly

Common Causes

1
Tripped half of the double-pole breaker

One side of the 30A dryer breaker has tripped while the other remains on — common after a surge.

2
Loose terminal block screw

The L2 wire at the dryer terminal block or at the breaker has loosened and lost contact.

3
Failed breaker

One pole of the dual breaker has failed internally and isn't passing voltage.

4
Damaged power cord

Burnt or broken L2 conductor in the 3- or 4-prong cord.

How to Fix It

  1. Fully flip the dryer breaker OFF, wait one minute, then back ON (both halves of the 30A pair).
  2. Run a Timed Dry on High Heat and check whether the drum heats.
  3. If still no heat, unplug the dryer and use a multimeter at the outlet — should read ~240V between hot legs and ~120V from each hot to neutral/ground.
  4. If voltage at the outlet is wrong, the issue is in the breaker or house wiring — call a licensed electrician.
  5. If voltage at the outlet is correct, unplug the dryer and check the terminal block screws and the power cord for burnt or loose lugs.

More Whirlpool Dryer Codes

AF AF — Airflow Restriction E1 E1 — Inlet thermistor open circuit E2 E2 — Inlet thermistor shorted Err Err — Door Not Fully Closed F01 F01 — Main electronic control board failure F02 F02 — User Interface / Keypad Failure

All Whirlpool codes → All dryer codes →

Verified against manufacturer documentation: atoz1.com

Always unplug an appliance before servicing it. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for a qualified technician.