What to check, in order
- Get ready for water
Switch off and unplug the washer, then put a shallow tray and towels under the small flap at the bottom front.
- Empty and clean the filter
Pull out the little emergency drain hose behind the flap and let the water run out. Then unscrew the filter and clear out coins, hair clips, fluff and anything else caught in it.
- Check the drain hose
It shouldn't be kinked, frozen or blocked anywhere along its length.
- Check the hose height
If it drains into a standpipe, Samsung UK says the hose should be at least 60 cm above the floor, with no more than 15 cm of it pushed inside the pipe.
When to call an engineer
If the filter and hose are clear and you can't hear the pump running at all, the drain pump itself has probably failed.
Good to know
- Samsung UK notes that the buttons stay locked for about 3 minutes after the code appears.
- On some US Samsung models, E2 means a stuck button instead. See bE2.
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.
- Drain pumpSearch on Amazon
- Drain pump filterSearch on Amazon
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Checked against
- Samsung UK: 5E or 5C error
- Samsung UK: information codes on your washing machine
- Samsung Ireland: what the codes on your washing machine mean
Last reviewed September 2026. Manufacturers update their pages, and your manual is the final word.