Most Samsung washing machines come with a display area near the controlling panel of the machine. This display area generally shows important information such as duration left for the washing to be completed, or the water level etc. But this display is also very important when the washing machine is malfunctioning as this displays certain error codes which are indicative of the problem the machine is facing.
This display is generally there for the benefit of the professionals in order to understand what part of the washing machine is not working properly. But, if you know these codes, you might even be able to solve the issue by yourself.
In this article, we will go through all the major error codes that are displayed in a Samsung washing machine. We have divided it into two sections, one for top load and the other for front load washing machines. Stay till the end to find out some unique error codes and what they mean.
Top Load Error Codes:
5E/SE problem: The 5E/SE code generally represents drainage problems within the washing machine. If you notice that your washing machine is not draining after washing the clothes then this error code might pop up. There can be several reasons for the drainage issues, let’s look at some of the reasons below;
- There may be a blockage in the draining pipe due to lint, tissues, buttons etc. You can check and clean the pipe to see if the problem solves itself.
- You can also check other parts like the drain hose or the drainage control button that is responsible for draining the water.
- If the problem persists then get it checked by a professional
4E Problem: This is the opposite of the 5E/SE problem, here the machine has a problem with water intake. If your machine doesn’t fill up or fills up incorrectly then chances are you will see a 4E error. The reasons for this kind of error might be:
- The water pressure in your tap is too low and this prevents the water from flowing into the machine properly. The recommended water pressure for Samsung is 0.5 to 8 bar. If your water pressure is low, then you can install a water pressure booster pump which will help you increase the pressure.
- You can also check to see if there is any blockage in the inlet pipe. Sometimes, you might need to replace the inlet pipe altogether.
- Like the 5E problem, here also the sensor or controller that is responsible for the intake of water might be faulty which is causing the issue. You should get it checked and replaced.
UE error: UE error is a pretty common error with all washing machines. This generally happens when the washing machine is not loaded properly or there is an imbalanced load. The error is there for safety reasons. All you need to do is to unload the machine and reload it properly so that the clothes are spread evenly inside the machine and do not tip towards any single side. If the problem continues you can check the following:
- Check the shock absorbers and springs of the machine to see if they are malfunctioning.
- You can also check if the washing machine is installed properly so that the drum is horizontal. You can use a level gauge to check if the drum is in the correct position.
- If the problem persists then there might be other issues with the motor and you should get it checked
OE Error: OE stands for Overflow Error which indicates that there is too much water in the machine. There can be two reasons for this, either you have overfilled the machine or you have added too much detergent which is messing with the water level sensor. If there is not too much water or detergent in the machine, then your water level sensor is faulty and you might want to get it replaced.
CL error: CL stands for Child Lock error. Most Samsung washing machines come with a child lock feature to protect both the machine and the child. CL error occurs when you try to control or adjust the settings of the machine while the child lock is active. When the child lock is active, only the power button functions, no other changes can be made during this. You can easily disable the child lock and make the necessary changes. In order to disable the child lock, you can just press the TEMP and RINSE buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds.
LE error: LE represents leak or water leak error. This means there is water leaking from the machine. You can switch off the machine and inspect the entire machine to see if there is any damage or lose parts from where the water might be leaking. LE errors can be dangerous and can cause electrical accidents. Be sure to get it checked and resolved immediately.
- You can also check to ensure that the level of the drain hose is above the base of the washing machine.
Front Loader Error Codes:
Since front loaders are the newer entry in the market, they have different codes than the top load machines. The same problems will have a different error code for front load machines. Below are some of the major error code that occurs in front load washing machines:
4C ERROR: In a front load washing machine 4C error refers to water intake error, this is the same as the 4E error in a top-load machine. You need to check the water inlet pipe and the water level sensor. Low water pressure can also be the reason for water intake problems in a washing machine. Sometimes, it might just be because you have an inconsistent water supply.
5C ERROR: 5C error in a front-load is the same as the 5E error in the top load. This refers to incorrect drainage after washing. This might be because of the following reasons;
- The drainage pipe might be blocked due to lint, tissues, buttons, coins etc. You can check and clean the pipe to see if the problem gets resolved.
- You can also check other parts like the drain hose or the drainage control button that is responsible for draining the water.
- Sometimes, the water is draining properly but the water level sensor is malfunctioning and cannot detect the drainage which causes the 5C error to pop up. Get the sensor checked by a professional to see whether there is an issue.
De OR DC ERROR: This type of error is unique to the front load washing machines only. This is because the front load washing machine cannot function unless the door of the machine is closed. Hence, if there is a De or DC error pop up then the door of your washing machine is not closed properly. Check the door to see if there is some issue with the door or if something is obstructing it from closing completely.
dC1 ERROR: dC1 error is also related to the washing machine door problem, this error pops up when the door is either too tight or there is a problem with the lock of the washing machine. Here also you have to ensure that the door can close and open properly, if there is an issue with the door you might need to get it checked.
DC3 ERROR: DC3 error is also related to doors. Here the problem lies with the add door/unlock door sensor. Generally, if you turn off the machine and restart it again then it will solve the problem. In case it doesn’t you might need to call in a specialist to check the machine.
OC ERROR: OC error in the front door washing machine is the same as OE error in a top-load machine. OC error is generally displayed for an overflowing drum. If your drum is not overfilled and it is still showing OC error then it might be because of the detergent. Sometimes if the detergent is not compatible with the washing machine then an OC error pops up. Try replacing your detergent with a front-load friendly detergent to see if the problem gets resolved. Otherwise, there might be issues with the water level sensor, you need to either get it checked or replaced
LC ERROR: LC error refers to a problem with the drainage hose. You have to check to see if the drainage hose is on a level below the base of the machine. That means the hose should lie flat on the floor. You should also check for any clogging in the hose.
Ub ERROR: Ub error is generally displayed when the washer drum is not aligned properly. This means that the drum is unbalanced. You can rectify this by unloading the clothes and reloading them properly. If the problem persists then you need to check the installation and figure out if the drum is being tilted to one side due to unsteady floor. This error sometimes also pops up if you are washing too few clothes like towels, sweaters etc.
3C ERROR: Whenever there is a problem with the operation of the motor, the 3C error is displayed. You can turn off your machine and restart it after a while to see if it corrects itself but motor issues generally require professional attention.
UC ERROR: UC error is a power supply error. This could be because of faulty wiring or an improper power supply to the machine. You need to establish a stable power supply to the machine.
HC ERROR: HC error occurs when there is an overheating issue within the machine. For overheating, there is not much you can do. You need to call customer care and let them take a look at your machine.
1C ERROR: In this case, there is a problem with the sensor. The sensor that detects the water level is malfunctioning. You can check if the circuit is damaged or you can call a specialist to diagnose the reason for the issue with the sensor.
AC OR AC6 ERROR: This error occurs when there is a problem with the exchange of data between the display and control. This is the reboot prompt. All you need to do is turn off and restart the machine to reboot it.
ddC ERROR: If your machine has an additional door which is the door through which you can add extra clothes then you might see the ddC error. The error prompts when you do not press the pause button and open the add door. You just need to close the door and press the pause or start button and the error will rectify itself.
4e ERROR: This is a water supply error, you need to ensure that water is reaching your machine properly. Make sure to check that the source tap is turned on and the water pressure is suitable enough.
5e ERROR: There might be a problem with drainage. You should clean the drainage pipe and the debris filter. You can also check for any blockage in the drain hose. If all these are okay and you are still facing the 5e error then there might be some internal problem and you need to get it checked.
UE ERROR: This is the same as the top-load machine, it represents an unbalanced load. You can unload the machine and reload it properly to ensure that the clothes are not tipping to any one side. If the load is not the issue, there might be a problem with the spring or the shock absorber of the machine. You might want to get them checked.
Other error codes:
All the codes that we mentioned above are the main error codes that you might see on your Samsung washing machine. But below are some unique errors that are not very common but you might see them once in a while. Let’s see what these errors mean.
3E error: This error pops up whenever the motor is not getting a signal from the motor. There can be multiple reasons for this;
- The motor is working beyond its capacity due to overloading the machine. Try washing smaller loads.
- There is a problem with the tacho generator which needs to be replaced
- The circuit or the sensor is malfunctioning
- There may be a glitch in the motor itself
- The tachometer is not working properly
All the above reasons require professional help. You should call customer support and take their help to figure out how to proceed.
BE error: This error happens when there is a motor TRIAC short error. In this case, you can reboot the machine to see if the problem resolves itself. If it doesn’t solve the issue, then there is a defect in the PCB, get it checked. You might need to replace the PCB.
HE error: HE error generally represents some heating issue. This might be both overheating or underheating of water in the machine. Here are some of the reasons why this might be happening;
- The voltage is too low which is not allowing the water to be heated properly
- There might be a problem with the heat-detecting sensor, which might be the reason it is detecting overheating.
- There might also be some loose wiring or circuit problem that is causing the faulty detection.
TE error: This refers to the thermostat error. The thermostat is the heat sensor in the washing machine which detects the temperature of the water. When there is a glitch in the thermostat, a TE error pops up. To rectify this, you need to reset the control board. Simply turn off and unplug the machine for 10 mins then turn it back on, this will reset the control board. If this doesn’t solve the problem then you can check the thermostat wiring to see if it is loose. Make sure that they are in good condition. You can also use the diagnostic mode to check if the thermostat is working properly.
IE error: This happens when the controller is not getting a signal from the sensor that is responsible for detecting the water level. This is due to damage to the sensor or the circuit. You need to check that the sensor is properly connected to all the other parts and the circuit is not broken anywhere. You might need to talk to a specialist to check the circuits and the sensor.
CE error: This error pops up when the water going into the drum is of abnormally high temperature. In such a scenario, the water will immediately drain out of the machine. This problem might be occurring because of a wrong connection where the water intel is being done from the hot water supply instead of the normal water supply. There might also be other problems such as:
- A faulty thermostat will also cause the machine to detect abnormal temperatures
- Similarly, there might be an issue with the controller of the machine
- Finally, the heating element might malfunction causing the temperature to go very high.
All these reasons will require professional diagnosis and repair.
