What to check, in order
- Open the tap fully
The tap behind the machine is often left half closed after a move or plumbing work. Samsung asks for at least 4 litres a minute from it.
- Check the fill hose
It shouldn't be kinked, squashed behind the machine, damaged or frozen.
- Clean the inlet filter
Turn the tap off, unscrew the hose from the back of the washer and clean the small mesh filter inside the inlet. Samsung suggests doing this at least twice a year.
- Check the water pressure
Samsung specifies 0.5 to 8 bar. Very low mains pressure, or another appliance drawing water at the same time, can set off 4E.
- Hot and cold the right way round
On machines with two inlets, the hot hose goes to the hot inlet and the cold to the cold.
- Restart
Switch the washer off and on again, then start a new cycle.
When to call an engineer
If water still won't go in with the tap open and the filter clean, the water inlet valve has probably failed. It's a common, inexpensive part, and Samsung recommends booking a repair if the code stays.
Parts people end up buying
Only if the checks above point to a part. Match it to your model number first: it's on a label inside the door, around the door frame or on the back.
- Inlet hose with filterSearch on Amazon
- Water inlet valveSearch on Amazon
Affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. It never changes a verdict.
Quick answers
What does the Samsung 4E error code mean?
The washer couldn't take in enough water in the time it allows. Newer Samsung machines show 4C and older ones E1: it's the same fault.
Can I fix Samsung 4E myself?
Very easy (about 15 minutes). Start with: open the tap fully; check the fill hose; clean the inlet filter. If water still won't go in with the tap open and the filter clean, the water inlet valve has probably failed. It's a common, inexpensive part, and Samsung recommends booking a repair if the code stays.
Is Samsung 4E worth repairing?
Worth fixing. The checks cost nothing, and even a new inlet valve is a small part of the price of a new washer.
Checked against
- Samsung UK: the 4E error
- Samsung Ireland: what the codes on your washing machine mean
- Samsung US: washer error codes
Last reviewed October 2026. Manufacturers update their pages, and your manual is the final word. Spotted a mistake? Email contact@appliance-error-codes.com.