Whirlpool · Dryer
Whirlpool Dryer F25 Error Code
Inlet thermistor shorted at heater inlet
What this error means
F25 reports a shorted inlet thermistor at the high-limit thermostat. The dryer interprets incoming air temperature as impossibly high or low and shuts down the heating circuit.
How F25 is detected
When F25 appears on a Whirlpool dryer, the control board has confirmed that water did not leave the machine within the programmed drain window. On Whirlpool WED6600MW, Whirlpool WED5620HW, and similar variants, the drain pump runs for a fixed interval—often three to seven minutes on washers and dishwashers—while a pressure switch or turbidity sensor verifies the tub or sump is empty. If water remains, the cycle stops to prevent spin with a full tub or overflow on the next fill.
Most F25 calls are resolved without parts: disconnect power and remove the back panel to reach the heater inlet housing. Restricted drain paths mimic pump failure because the impeller spins against a blocked hose or filter. Document whether the pump hums audibly during the drain step; a humming pump with no water movement points to a clogged filter or kinked hose, while silence may indicate a failed pump motor or loose wiring at the harness.
After clearing blockages, run a short cycle and listen at the drain hose for steady water flow. If F25 returns on the next load with a clean filter and straight hose, measure resistance at the pump motor connector per the service manual for your model before ordering a replacement pump assembly.
Common causes
- Inlet thermistor shorted from years of heat cycling
- Harness wire rubbing the heater shield causing a short to ground
- Failed high-limit thermostat with internal short
- Control board inlet sensor input damaged
Step-by-step fixes
- 1Disconnect power and remove the back panel to reach the heater inlet housing
- 2Inspect the thermistor harness for bare wire touching the metal shield
- 3Measure inlet thermistor resistance—readings well below 40,000 ohms at room temp suggest a short
- 4Replace the high-limit thermostat and thermistor assembly as one unit
When to call a technician
If F25 returns with a new thermostat, the main control board sensor circuit needs professional testing.
Affected models
- Whirlpool WED6600MW
- Whirlpool WED5620HW
- Whirlpool WGD5620HW
Prevention & maintenance
- Clean drain filters and hose terminations monthly on high-use dryers to prevent F25 from lint and food debris buildup.
- Record when F25 appears in the cycle and whether it clears after a 60-second power reset on your Whirlpool dryer—that detail speeds diagnosis if you call service.
- Keep the model and serial number from the rating plate when ordering parts for F25; Whirlpool uses multiple revisions with different harness lengths and board firmware.
- Photograph wiring connector orientation before disconnecting any component while troubleshooting F25; reversed plugs on pumps and valves cause immediate repeat faults.