5E / 5C / SE
Samsung Washing Machine
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
Samsung 5E (also 5C or SE) means the washing machine cannot drain water within the expected time. Cleaning the drain pump filter — behind the small panel at the bottom-front of the machine — resolves this error in most cases.
Affected Models
- Samsung AddWash series
- Samsung EcoBubble series
- Samsung QuickDrive series
- Samsung WW series
- Samsung WF series
Common Causes
- Drain pump filter clogged with lint, coins, or small garments
- Drain hose kinked or inserted too deep into the standpipe
- Household drain pipe blocked
- Drain pump impeller jammed by a foreign object
- Drain pump motor failed
How to Fix It
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Clean the drain pump filter.
The filter is behind a rectangular cover at the very bottom-front of the machine. Prepare a shallow tray and several towels — water will pour out. Unscrew the cap slowly (anti-clockwise). Remove all debris: lint, coins, hair, small clothing items. Rinse the filter under the tap. Screw the cap back on firmly and run a Spin cycle to test.
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Check the drain hose.
Inspect the grey corrugated hose at the back of the machine. Straighten any kinks. Ensure the hose is not inserted more than 15 cm (6 inches) into the standpipe — inserting it too deep creates a siphon effect. The hose must also loop up to at least 60 cm (24 inches) above floor level before going down.
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Run a Drain & Spin programme.
After cleaning the filter and checking the hose, select the Spin or Rinse+Spin programme. If the machine drains and completes the cycle without displaying 5E, the issue is resolved. Run a full wash programme next to confirm the fix has held.
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Check the household drain.
If the filter is clean and the hose is clear, the problem may be in the household standpipe or under-sink drain. Pour a bucket of water into the standpipe — if it drains slowly, the household pipe is blocked. Use a plumber's snake or chemical drain cleaner to clear it.
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Test the drain pump.
With filter clean and hoses clear, if 5E persists: start a Spin cycle and listen carefully. A humming sound without water movement suggests the impeller is jammed by a small item inside the pump body. Complete silence suggests pump motor failure — requires replacement by a service engineer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 5E mean on a Samsung washing machine?
5E is Samsung's drainage fault code — the machine tried to drain but water was still present after the maximum allowed time. On older Samsung models the same error shows as SE or E2. Clean the pump filter first (the small cap at the front-bottom of the machine) — this takes 5 minutes and fixes 5E in the majority of cases.