Samsung 4E tumble dryer: what it means & what to check

What 4E actually means

The machine has waited about ten minutes for water to arrive and hasn't detected any coming in, so it has stopped the cycle.

On this Samsung washer dryer the pressure sensor watches the water level in the drum as the inlet valve opens. If the level doesn't rise within roughly ten minutes of the fill starting, the control assumes there is no water getting in and shows 4E (some displays show it as E1) rather than run the wash dry. It nearly always halts right at the start of a cycle, or when the machine tries to refill for a rinse.

What 4E looks like on a Samsung tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Samsung tumble dryer, 4E usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle
Overfilling, or won't stop filling
Stops with water still inside
Fills and drains over and over
No function at all

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

Water tap at the back turned off or only part open
Kinked, trapped or crushed inlet hose behind the machine
Low mains water pressure — Samsung wants at least 0.5 bar
Blocked filter in the inlet where the hose screws onto the water valve
Split or cracked hose running from the drum to the pressure sensor, so the level is never detected
Faulty inlet valve coil or control board

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.

Check the tap feeding the machine is fully open, and run a nearby cold tap to confirm you have normal mains pressure.
Pull the machine out gently and look along the inlet hose for kinks or a tight bend where it has been pushed against the wall.
If you have a hot and cold fill, make sure the hose is on the cold supply — this model must not be fed from hot.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and restart the cycle to clear a one-off fill fault.

Which Samsung models show 4E

4E means the same thing on this model. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

WD0804W8E1

Common questions about Samsung 4E

What does 4E mean on a Samsung tumble dryer?

The machine has waited about ten minutes for water to arrive and hasn't detected any coming in, so it has stopped the cycle. On this Samsung washer dryer the pressure sensor watches the water level in the drum as the inlet valve opens. If the level doesn't rise within roughly ten minutes of the fill starting, the control assumes there is no water getting in and shows 4E (some displays show it as E1) rather than run the wash dry. It nearly always halts right at the start of a cycle, or when the machine tries to refill for a rinse.

Can I fix Samsung 4E myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the tap feeding the machine is fully open, and run a nearby cold tap to confirm you have normal mains pressure.
Pull the machine out gently and look along the inlet hose for kinks or a tight bend where it has been pushed against the wall.
If you have a hot and cold fill, make sure the hose is on the cold supply — this model must not be fed from hot.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and restart the cycle to clear a one-off fill fault.

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

How much does it cost to repair Samsung 4E?

£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 4E?

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 tumble dryer 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 tumble dryer codes

All Samsung fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

tumble dryer drum not turning

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 4E error — tumble dryer