Samsung 5E tumble dryer: 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 5E actually means

The machine has tried to pump the water out and hasn't managed it, so it has stopped with the drum still holding water.

On the WD0804W8E1 washer dryer, the control checks that the water level has dropped once the drain pump runs. If the water is still sitting there after around ten minutes of pumping, it gives up and shows this code rather than carrying on and trying to spin a drum full of water. You'll usually find the cycle frozen part-way, water visible through the glass, and the door locked because of the water level.

What 5E 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, 5E usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water

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

Blocked pump filter at the bottom front — coins, hair grips, buttons, fluff
Drain hose kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far into the standpipe
Blocked or partially blocked waste pipe or sink trap the machine drains into
Debris jammed in the drain pump itself, often with a buzzing or humming noise but no water moving
Blocked sump hose between the tub and the pump

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.

Turn the machine off at the wall and leave it a minute, then power it back on and try a drain or spin cycle — sometimes it clears if the obstruction has shifted
Open the small flap at the bottom front and clean the pump filter. Have towels and a shallow bowl ready, the water in the drum will come out through the drain tube
Pull the machine out gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall
Check the sink or standpipe it drains into isn't slow or blocked — pour water down it and see how it goes away
Make sure the hose end isn't pushed so far down the standpipe that it's sitting in standing water

Which Samsung models show 5E

5E 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 5E

What does 5E mean on a Samsung tumble dryer?

The machine has tried to pump the water out and hasn't managed it, so it has stopped with the drum still holding water. On the WD0804W8E1 washer dryer, the control checks that the water level has dropped once the drain pump runs. If the water is still sitting there after around ten minutes of pumping, it gives up and shows this code rather than carrying on and trying to spin a drum full of water. You'll usually find the cycle frozen part-way, water visible through the glass, and the door locked because of the water level.

Can I fix Samsung 5E myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall and leave it a minute, then power it back on and try a drain or spin cycle — sometimes it clears if the obstruction has shifted.
Open the small flap at the bottom front and clean the pump filter. Have towels and a shallow bowl ready, the water in the drum will come out through the drain tube.
Pull the machine out gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall.
Check the sink or standpipe it drains into isn't slow or blocked — pour water down it and see how it goes away.
Make sure the hose end isn't pushed so far down the standpipe that it's sitting in standing water.

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

How much does it cost to repair Samsung 5E?

£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 5E?

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 5E error — tumble dryer