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, after about ten minutes, the water level hasn't dropped — so it stops and shows 5E.

Samsung's control board watches the water level through the pressure sensor. If the level hasn't fallen below the reset point within ten minutes of the drain starting, it flags a drain fault and holds the cycle, usually with a drum full of water and clothes soaked. On some displays this same code reads as 2E — it's the same fault, not a different one.

What usually causes it

Coins, hair clips or bra wires jammed in the pump filter or impeller
A failed drain pump (very common on Samsung machines)
Kinked or blocked drain hose, or a blocked sink spigot/waste pipe
Debris in the sump hose between drum and pump
Blocked pressure sensor hose, so the machine can't see the water level dropping

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 before doing anything.
Open the small flap at the front bottom, drain the water off through the emergency hose into a bowl, then unscrew and clean the pump filter — check for coins, wire and hair.
With the filter out, check the impeller behind it turns freely by hand.
Straighten the drain hose at the back and make sure it isn't crushed behind the machine.
If the hose feeds into a sink standpipe or spigot, check that outlet isn't blocked.
Press Start/Pause to clear the code and let it try draining again.

When to call someone

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

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.

Samsung 5E error — washing machine

What 5E actually means

What usually causes it

What you can safely check yourself

When to call someone

Other Samsung washing machine codes

Need it looked at properly?