What Fault 8 Means
Fault 8 means the exhaust sensor has measured an over-temperature. F&P lists three things behind that in the manual itself: fire detection, an element short circuit, and low resistance in the element circuit. This is the counterpart to the under-temperature reading that produces Fault 9.
Common Causes of Fault 8
- A heating element shorted or reading low resistance
- Restricted exhaust airflow driving exhaust temperature up
- An element that stays energised when it should switch off
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Switch the dryer off at the breaker and stop using it until it has been checked. This is the one dryer code where F&P names fire detection among the causes, and it should be treated accordingly.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Leave the dryer off at the breaker and unused until it has been inspected, because the manual names fire detection as one of the conditions this sensor is watching for.
- The element circuit is at mains voltage and can remain live at its terminals until the supply is fully isolated.
- Clearing an exhaust restriction is worthwhile but does not address an element that has shorted, and only one of the two is a safety matter.
- Restricted venting is one of the recognized causes of dryer fires generally, so treating an over-temperature reading as a nuisance code is the wrong call.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.