Samsung 2E washing machine: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What 2E actually means

The machine hasn't managed to empty its water within the time allowed, so it has stopped with a drum full of water.

Samsung's display font means this code is often read as 2E when it is in fact the 5E drain fault \u2014 the two are the same thing. The control board watches the water level while the pump runs, and if the level hasn't dropped far enough after about ten minutes of draining it gives up and flags the error. Pressing Start/Pause clears it and the machine will have another go at pumping out.

What 2E looks like on a Samsung washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Samsung washing machine, 2E usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
Overfilling, or won't stop filling
Stops with water still inside
Fills and drains over and over
Leaking

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

Coins, hair clips or bra wires caught in the pump filter
A worn or failed drain pump \u2014 very common on Samsung machines
Drain hose kinked, or blocked where it joins the sink trap or standpipe
Pump impeller jammed with fluff and hair so it can't shift the water
Blocked pressure sensor hose or air chamber, so the machine misreads the water level

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Switch off at the wall, then open the filter flap at the bottom front, drain the water into a shallow tray and clean out the filter \u2014 check for coins and wires
Make sure the filter is screwed back in fully, or it will leak
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, squashed against the wall or pushed too far into the standpipe
If it drains into a sink trap, check the spigot isn't blocked with grease
Turn off at the wall for a minute, then restart on a rinse and spin and watch whether water leaves at a decent rate

Common questions about Samsung 2E

What does 2E mean on a Samsung washing machine?

The machine hasn't managed to empty its water within the time allowed, so it has stopped with a drum full of water. Samsung's display font means this code is often read as 2E when it is in fact the 5E drain fault \u2014 the two are the same thing. The control board watches the water level while the pump runs, and if the level hasn't dropped far enough after about ten minutes of draining it gives up and flags the error. Pressing Start/Pause clears it and the machine will have another go at pumping out.

Can I fix Samsung 2E myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Switch off at the wall, then open the filter flap at the bottom front, drain the water into a shallow tray and clean out the filter \u2014 check for coins and wires.
Make sure the filter is screwed back in fully, or it will leak.
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, squashed against the wall or pushed too far into the standpipe.
If it drains into a sink trap, check the spigot isn't blocked with grease.
Turn off at the wall for a minute, then restart on a rinse and spin and watch whether water leaves at a decent rate.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Samsung 2E?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing 2E?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most washing machine faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Samsung washing machine codes

All Samsung fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Samsung 2E error — washing machine