Introduction
Routine maintenance on an LG heat pump dryer helps keep airflow high, prevents odors, and supports a long service life. This guide shows how to clean the main and secondary lint filters (including deep-cleaning with hot water), vacuum the lint housing, inspect the coils, and enable and run the hidden Condenser Care cycle to flush the condenser system. Model DLHC5502 is featured in the video.
What you need
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Step 1 Clean the main lint filter after every load
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Remove the clothes, and pull the main lint filter out of the dryer.
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Press the middle of the filter to separate it into sections.
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Remove the strip in the middle of the filter, and clean the lint underneath it.
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Use your hands to wipe lint out of every filter section.
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Reassemble the filter, and slide it back into the dryer.
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Step 2 Clean the secondary filter every 10 to 15 loads
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Remove the main lint filter.
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Pull the tab on the secondary (outer) filter housing to remove it.
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Press the tabs on both sides of the housing to split the filter in half.
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Wipe the trapped lint from the middle of the filter with your hands.
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Use a vacuum cleaner to remove lint if you prefer.
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Step 3 Reassemble and reinstall the secondary filter without forcing it
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Snap the secondary filter housing back together until it locks on the tabs.
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Slide the secondary filter housing back into place without using hard force.
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Align the housing and insert it the way it naturally fits, since it only goes in one way.
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Step 4 Deep-clean both filters with hot water every 20 to 30 loads
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Remove both the main and secondary filters.
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Run both filters under hot water to remove unseen buildup from dryer sheets, fabric softeners, detergents, and more.
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Clean both filters in the same session to help keep airflow high so the dryer runs faster and better.
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Let both filters dry fully before reinstalling them.
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Step 5 Vacuum the lint housing every one to three months
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Remove both filters so you can access the lint housing.
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Use a vacuum cleaner to clean lint buildup out of the lint housing.
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Vacuum the top area after every few loads if you only want to clean the surface without removing the filters.
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Step 6 Inspect and clean the coils as needed
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Check the coils every two to three months, and clean them only if you see lint or debris.
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Press on the top of the coil housing to open it.
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Pivot the blue tabs toward the middle, and pull the middle piece to open the housing.
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Use a coil brush or a vacuum cleaner to remove lint from the coils.
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Clean the coils only as needed, since the amount of buildup depends on your circumstances.
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Step 7 Reinstall the coil cover correctly to prevent leaks
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Angle the condenser coil cover into place, since it only snaps in one way.
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Position the cover so the caution symbol faces up and is legible.
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Pivot the blue tabs back to lock the cover in place.
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Make sure the cover is flush with no gaps.
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Press the outer housing until it snaps into place.
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Step 8 Run the drum care cycle to reduce moisture and odors
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Remove any clothes from the dryer.
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Turn the dryer on, rotate the dial to Drum Care, and press Start.
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Let the cycle run for nearly three hours.
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Use this cycle to heat the inside of the dryer and remove moisture that can cause bad odors.
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Step 9 Add the hidden condenser care cycle to the dryer menu
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Press the Option button on the right side of the control panel.
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Rotate the dial to Cycle Edit, and press the check mark button to enter edit mode.
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Scroll down to Condenser Care, highlight it, and press the check mark button to activate it.
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Press the back arrow to save the change, and confirm Condenser Care appears near the end of the main cycle list.
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Step 10 Prepare the dryer to run condenser care
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Open the dryer door, and remove both filters.
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Slowly pour 1 liter of water into the filter housing.
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Step 11 Run condenser care and ensure the water can drain
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Start the Condenser Care cycle from the cycle list.
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Let the cycle run for about one hour while it uses the added water to wash the coils and flush the system.
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Make sure the drain pump is installed somewhere that can vent the water.
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Step 12 Plan for long-term internal cleaning
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Consider a full internal cleaning over the long term to remove buildup from inside the dryer and coils.
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Clean behind the plastic bulkhead to keep the roller wheels clean, and remove the condenser cover to clean the coils manually.
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Check the blower housing system and other areas for blockages, and vacuum the coils behind the blue coil area.
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Keep up with filter cleaning intervals (main filter every load, secondary filter every 10 to 15 loads, and hot-water rinsing every 20 to 30 loads), and always let rinsed filters dry fully before reinstalling. Don’t force the secondary filter housing into place due to the magnets, and confirm the coil cover is flush to prevent leaks. Enable Condenser Care in Cycle Edit, add only 1 liter of water (never more than 1.5 liters), and ensure the drain pump has a proper place to discharge water before running the cycle.