Error Code 5E

Your Samsung washer displays 5E when it cannot pump out the water within the allotted drain time. The control board monitors the water level sensor during the drain phase. If the water level does not drop within about 15 minutes, the cycle stops and the 5E code locks onto the display. Water remains in the tub until the drainage problem is fixed.

1. Prepare for water spillage: Place towels and a shallow baking pan or container under the debris filter access panel on the front bottom of the washer. The tub is full of water and it will flow out when you open the filter. On front-loaders, this panel is on the lower right or left corner. 2. Drain through the emergency hose: Open the access panel cover. You will see a small rubber emergency drain hose next to the filter cap. Pull the hose out, remove its plug, and let the water drain into a shallow pan. Empty the pan as needed. This slowly drains the tub without flooding the floor. 3. Clean the debris filter: Once the tub is empty, twist the debris filter cap counterclockwise and pull it out. Remove any coins, hair, lint, buttons, or fabric caught in the filter housing. Rinse the filter cap under running water. Scrub the mesh with a toothbrush. Inspect the pump impeller inside the housing and spin it by hand to confirm it rotates freely. 4. Check the drain hose: Pull the washer forward and inspect the drain hose from the back of the machine to the standpipe. Straighten any kinks. Disconnect the hose from the standpipe and blow through it or run water through it in a sink to check for clogs. Remove any blockages with a long flexible brush or a straightened wire hanger. 5. Test the drain pump: Plug in the washer and run a Spin Only cycle. Listen at the bottom front of the machine. You should hear the pump motor humming. If you hear nothing, the pump motor is dead. If you hear a loud buzzing or grinding, the impeller is jammed or the motor bearings are worn. Either condition requires pump replacement. 6. Verify the standpipe is clear: Pour a gallon of water directly into the standpipe (the wall drain pipe). If it backs up or drains very slowly, the clog is in your household plumbing. You will need a drain snake or a plumber to clear the line. This is not a washer malfunction.

Typical repair costs: DIY: $0 - $45 | Pro: $175 - $375. Free diagnostic with approved repair.