Seeing a Kenmore dryer PF code on the display is one of the least alarming codes you can get, because it simply means the dryer lost power partway through a cycle and is letting you know the cycle was interrupted. This code shows up on Whirlpool-built Kenmore dryers, which carry the 110 model prefix (documented examples include model numbers such as 110C64852301, 110C61182011, 110C71492310, and 110C60222511), since Whirlpool is the OEM behind these particular control boards.
What PF Actually Means
PF stands for “power failure,” and it appears any time the dryer’s control board loses and then regains power mid-cycle — most commonly from a household power blip, a tripped breaker that was reset, or the dryer being unplugged and plugged back in while a load was running. The control board is simply reporting that it does not know exactly where the cycle left off, not that anything is broken.
How to Clear It
In most cases, clearing a PF code is as simple as pressing and holding the Start button to resume the interrupted cycle, or pressing Start again to restart it from the beginning if you would rather not guess how much drying time is left. If the display still shows PF after that, unplugging the dryer for about five minutes and plugging it back in resets the control board fully.
When PF Keeps Coming Back
An occasional PF code after a storm or a breaker trip is completely normal and not a sign of a failing dryer. If the code appears repeatedly without any obvious power event in the house, it is worth having the outlet, cord, and breaker checked, since a loose plug connection or a breaker that is marginally undersized for the circuit can cause intermittent power drops that look identical to a storm-related outage from the control board’s point of view.
PF vs. Other Kenmore Dryer Codes
PF is easy to confuse with a genuine control-board error code such as F1 or F01, which indicates an internal short in the main control relay rather than a simple power interruption. If your dryer is showing F1 or F01 instead of PF, or if PF recurs alongside other symptoms like the dryer not starting reliably, that points toward the control board itself rather than the household power supply — see our guide on Kenmore dryer not heating for a broader rundown of Whirlpool-built control board codes.
A Note on Reading the Display Correctly
PF is sometimes mistaken for other similar-looking letter combinations on the same display, so it helps to confirm exactly what is showing before assuming it is a power-failure code rather than something else. If the display cycles through multiple different codes rather than showing PF consistently, that is a stronger sign of an underlying electrical issue rather than a single interrupted cycle, and it is worth writing down every code you see before calling for service.
Getting It Checked
If you are not confident telling a benign power blip from a recurring electrical problem, our experienced independent technicians can check the outlet, cord, and control board and confirm which one it is. We use genuine OEM Whirlpool parts on 110-prefix Kenmore dryers when a part actually needs replacing, and every repair is backed by our 30-day labor warranty. You can check the full code list for your dryer type on our dryer error codes page, and confirm your exact model and OEM builder with our model number decoder guide.
Schedule a visit if the PF code keeps recurring or you suspect a wiring issue, and our team will diagnose it correctly the first time, backed by a 30-day labor warranty. For manufacturer support resources, visit kenmore.com. See our full dryer repair service or find a location near you.
