Samsung E03 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 E03 actually means

The machine has sensed more water — or more foam — inside the drum than it should have, so it has halted to stop it overflowing.

On this Samsung washer dryer the water level is monitored during filling and washing. If the level goes past the point it should reach, or a mass of foam pushes the reading up, the machine cuts the cycle and shows this code rather than carrying on and letting water escape. In practice it usually appears mid-wash, often with a drum full of suds, and the machine may sit there trying to drain.

What E03 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, E03 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
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle

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

Too much detergent, or a non-HE detergent, creating a mountain of foam
Detergent left over from previous washes combined with a small load
Water not draining away properly, so the level never drops back
The drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe or sitting lower than the base of the machine
A faulty water level sensor or a valve letting water in when it shouldn't

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 for a minute, then run a rinse and spin with no detergent to clear the foam
Check the detergent dose against the load size — this machine needs far less than most people use, and only low-foaming detergent
Check the drain hose is not kinked, crushed behind the machine, or pushed deep into the standpipe
Make sure the drain hose isn't hanging lower than the bottom of the machine, which can siphon water back in
Clean the pump filter at the front so any water that has collected can drain away

Which Samsung models show E03

E03 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 E03

What does E03 mean on a Samsung tumble dryer?

The machine has sensed more water — or more foam — inside the drum than it should have, so it has halted to stop it overflowing. On this Samsung washer dryer the water level is monitored during filling and washing. If the level goes past the point it should reach, or a mass of foam pushes the reading up, the machine cuts the cycle and shows this code rather than carrying on and letting water escape. In practice it usually appears mid-wash, often with a drum full of suds, and the machine may sit there trying to drain.

Can I fix Samsung E03 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then run a rinse and spin with no detergent to clear the foam.
Check the detergent dose against the load size — this machine needs far less than most people use, and only low-foaming detergent.
Check the drain hose is not kinked, crushed behind the machine, or pushed deep into the standpipe.
Make sure the drain hose isn't hanging lower than the bottom of the machine, which can siphon water back in.
Clean the pump filter at the front so any water that has collected can drain away.

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

How much does it cost to repair Samsung E03?

£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 E03?

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

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 E03 error — tumble dryer