On the covered Amana dryer, PF means the dryer lost power while a cycle was running, and the display is telling you that the cycle was interrupted First, confirm that power was actually lost, then touch and hold Start to carry on or press Power to clear the display.
Differential
Likely causes of “Amana dryer code PF”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Power was interrupted during the cycle (PF)
What separates it PF shows after a storm, a trip or an unplug
How to confirm Press Start to carry on the cycle
- 2
A breaker that tripped on the double-pole circuit
What separates it Only half the breaker handle moved
How to confirm Switch the whole breaker off, then fully on
- 3
A loose plug or a worn outlet
What separates it PF returns with no storm
How to confirm Push the plug in and look for scorching
- 4
A power surge that reset the control
What separates it The lights flickered at the same moment
How to confirm Wait a minute and start again
- 5
A circuit that keeps dropping out
What separates it PF comes back often
How to confirm Have an electrician test the circuit
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- When PF appeared and what the weather was like
- Whether the clothes were damp or dry
- Whether the breaker handle moved
- Whether it happens again
Try in this order
0 of 10 completedWhat to do first
Reversibleconfirm that power was actually lost, then touch and hold Start to carry on or press Power to clear the display.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleReset the double breaker fully if it tripped, and have the circuit checked if PF keeps returning without any outage. Amana documents one check for this code — has the Cycle Been Interrupted by a Power Failure — so confirm that before treating anything else as the cause.
Press Start
ReversibleThe dryer usually resumes after a brief power loss.
Look at the breaker
ReversibleReset both halves of a double-pole breaker.
Check the plug
ReversibleSeat it fully and look for heat marks.
Run a short cycle
ReversibleSee whether PF returns on its own.
Note the pattern
ReversibleStorms, a second appliance starting or no pattern at all.
Call an electrician
ReversibleIf PF keeps coming back, the supply is at fault, not the dryer.
Write down when it happens
ReversibleKeep a note of the date and time each time PF appears for a few weeks. A pattern, such as every time the air conditioner starts, shows the cause quickly.
Verify once, then respect the service boundary
ReversibleAmana specifies a 5 minutes power interruption for this code, not an arbitrary one.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- PF, power failure.
- Parts involved
- The household supply, the breaker, the cord and the control.
- Tip
- Note whether the lights flickered when it happened.
- Why the dryer shows PF
- A dryer keeps its place in the cycle in memory, so after a brief outage it can resume. The PF message exists to tell you that the cycle was interrupted, because a load that stopped partway may still be damp and may need more time.
- Protecting the dryer from outages
- A dryer on a circuit shared with other large loads can drop out when they start. If PF returns often, ask an electrician whether the circuit is overloaded, and consider a whole-house surge protector if outages are common where you live.
- Why Amana's table says Start
- On an Amana dryer, PF is a notice that power was lost during a cycle, and the display holds the message until you answer it. Touching and holding Start continues the cycle from where it was, while Power clears the display and lets you begin again. Neither is a repair, and neither affects the warranty.
- A circuit that is too busy
- Amana dryers share the circuit with nothing else in a correct installation. If a washer, a space heater or an outlet in another room is on the same breaker, the combined load can trip it and cause PF. Ask an electrician to check that the dryer has its own 30-amp circuit.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If PF returns without a power cut, have the dryer circuit tested
- !Do not run a dryer on a circuit that keeps tripping
- !If the control stays dead after power is restored, book Amana service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does PF mean on a Amana dryer?+
the dryer lost power while a cycle was running, and the display is telling you that the cycle was interrupted
Is PF a fault?+
Not by itself; Start usually clears it.
Will my clothes be damp?+
Yes, the cycle was cut short, so run it again.
Why does PF keep coming back?+
A weak circuit, a loose plug or a failing breaker.
Does the dryer remember the cycle?+
In most cases yes; after a short outage it resumes when you press Start, and PF only tells you that power was lost.
Does PF mean that my clothes are ruined?+
No, they are only partly dry, and the dryer will finish them when you restart.
Should I be worried if PF appears after every storm?+
No, a storm that blinks the lights will set it. Repeated PF with no outage is the thing to investigate.