Maytag Dryer Error F29 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error F29 means your Maytag dryer's moisture sensor circuit is shorted — the sensor is reading maximum conductivity (as if everything is soaking wet) even when the drum is empty. This is the opposite of F28 (open circuit) — here the circuit is always closed. A short is usually caused by a wire touching metal inside the dryer or a failed sensor assembly.

Affected Models

MEDB835DW
MEDC465HW
MED5430MW
MEDB765FW
MED6630HC

Common Causes

Moisture sensor wiring harness has a bare wire touching the dryer chassis (creating a short to ground)
Moisture sensor assembly has failed internally with an internal short
Lint or moisture has bridged the two sensor bars, creating a constant conductive path
A small metal object (coin, zipper pull) is lying across both sensor bars inside the drum
Wiring harness connector has corroded pins that are bridging the two sensor circuits

How to Fix It

Unplug the dryer immediately. A persistent short circuit fault should not be run until the cause is found.

Running a dryer with a wiring short is a potential fire hazard.
Open the dryer door and visually inspect the two moisture sensor bars on the inside front of the drum. Look for any metal object (coin, paper clip, zipper) lying across both bars.

A metal object bridging both bars creates a constant short. Remove it and test the dryer — this is the quickest possible fix.
Look for lint buildup between or around the sensor bars. Damp, compressed lint can bridge the bars and mimic a wet load signal.

Vacuum the sensor area with a narrow nozzle attachment and wipe the bars clean with rubbing alcohol.
With the dryer unplugged, disconnect the moisture sensor wiring harness connector (located behind the front panel). Set a multimeter to resistance (ohms) and test across the two sensor bar terminals.

With the harness disconnected, the sensor itself should read very high resistance (many thousands of ohms) when the bars are clean and dry. A near-zero reading means the sensor assembly has an internal short.
If the sensor assembly tests good, reconnect the harness and trace it from the sensor bars toward the control board, looking for any spot where the insulation has worn through and a bare wire is contacting the metal dryer frame.

Common wear spots are where the harness passes through sheet metal openings — check those edges carefully.
Repair any bare wiring with electrical tape rated for appliance use, or replace the harness section. Then replace the sensor assembly if it was internally shorted.

Moisture sensor assemblies cost $15–$30. After repair, run an empty cycle to confirm F29 does not return.

When to Call a Professional

F29 shorts are usually straightforward to diagnose — check the sensor bars and harness first. If the harness has a bare wire touching the dryer frame, it must be properly insulated or replaced before using the dryer, as exposed wiring is a potential fire hazard. Call a technician if you find damaged wiring you are not comfortable repairing, or if the short cannot be located after inspecting the sensor bars and full harness run.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Maytag dryer errors F28 and F29?

F28 is an open circuit — the sensor is not making any connection at all, as if the wires are cut. F29 is a short circuit — the sensor is always fully connected, as if the wires are permanently touching each other. Both prevent the moisture sensor from working correctly.

Can I temporarily use my Maytag dryer while F29 is showing?

The dryer may run in timed mode rather than sensor mode, but you should not ignore F29 because a wiring short is a potential fire hazard. Inspect the sensor and wiring before continuing to use the dryer.

How much does it cost to fix Maytag dryer error F29?

If a foreign object on the sensor bars is the cause, the fix costs nothing. A replacement moisture sensor assembly costs $15–$30, or $100–$160 with a technician.