Samsung 4E fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
The machine asked for water and did not get enough in the time allowed. Nine times out of ten the answer is at the tap rather than inside the machine.
Take care
What 4E means
Samsung define 4E, and its newer form 4C, as a water supply issue. The machine opens its inlet valve, watches the level sensor, and expects the water to reach a set point within a fixed period. When it does not, it stops rather than running a cycle dry. Samsung publish the numbers this check is made against, which is more helpful than most manufacturers manage: they want mains pressure between 0.5 and 8 bar, and a flow of at least four litres a minute from the tap. That gives you something concrete to test rather than guessing.
The reason this code is worth checking yourself first is that almost everything on the list is outside the machine. A tap that was turned off for a plumbing job and never turned back on, a kinked fill hose behind the machine, or a mesh filter in the hose connector clogged with grit from the mains will each produce it, and all three are free to fix.
Two more things Samsung publish are worth knowing. Their dedicated 4C page adds a fourth cause the summary table leaves out: a blockage in the detergent dispenser drawer. And their owner manuals record that when 4C appears the machine drains for three minutes and the power button is disabled while it does so, which looks like a dead machine and is not.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Tap turned off or only part open | Embarrassingly common, and worth checking before anything else. Behind-the-machine taps get knocked when things are stored under the counter. | Common |
| Inlet mesh filter clogged | A small gauze screen sits where the hose meets the machine, catching grit from the mains. In hard water areas it silts up over a few years and strangles the flow. Samsung say to clean it at least twice a year. | Common |
| Fill hose kinked behind the machine | Usually created by pushing the machine back too far after cleaning behind it. The hose gets crushed against the wall or the waste pipe. | Common |
| Detergent dispenser drawer blocked | Samsung’s own 4C page lists this: a drawer clogged with caked powder or softener can raise the code even though the supply itself is fine. Pull the drawer out, clear it and refit it. | Occasional |
| Inlet valve failed | The solenoid that lets water in has stopped opening. This is the one on the list that is a real repair, and it is diagnosed only once the supply is proven. | Occasional |
What to try yourself
Check the tap behind the machine is fully open. Turn it all the way off and all the way on again rather than trusting how it looks, because a valve can feel open and be half shut.
Test the flow. Samsung want at least four litres a minute, which is easy to check: turn the tap off, unscrew the hose into a bucket, and time how long a two-litre jug takes to fill. Under thirty seconds is fine. A trickle is your fault found.
Turn the tap off before you unscrew anything, and have a towel ready. There is always more water in the hose than you expect.With the hose off, look into the connector at the machine end for a small gauze filter. Pick it out if you can, or brush it, and rinse it under a running tap until you can see light through it.
Pull the machine out and follow the fill hose along its whole length, straightening any kink and making sure it is not trapped behind a foot or crushed against the wall.
Reconnect finger tight plus a quarter turn — these fittings seal on a rubber washer and do not need to be forced — then run a short cycle and watch for leaks at both ends.
Get a qualified appliance engineer to look at your Samsung 4E
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. When you book a qualified appliance engineer, tell them the make, the model and the exact code or message on the display, and ask whether they carry parts for this make — that is what turns one visit into a repair rather than a quote.
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£140
Time on site
25 minutes
Free if it is the tap, the hose or the mesh filter. A new inlet valve is typically £80 to £140 fitted. A replacement fill hose is a few pounds and worth doing while you are there if the old one looks tired.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 2026. Your quote may differ.
Own this appliance and had this code? . Nothing is published until a person has read it.
Related Samsung fault codes
- 1EGet it checkedThe machine cannot trust its water level reading. Expect it to drain for three minutes with the power button dead while it makes itself safe.Related: water fill and supply
- 5EGet it checkedThe machine could not empty within the time it allows. On a Samsung this is the single most common code, and the filter behind the front flap is the usual answer.Related: same brand
- UEUsually simple to fixThe load is on one side of the drum and the machine has refused to spin. Samsung are explicit that this is not a fault — it is the machine protecting itself.Related: same brand
- dEGet it checkedThe machine cannot confirm the door is locked, so it will not start. On an AddWash there is a second hatch with its own interlock to check.Related: same brand
- SudUsually simple to fixThe machine has detected far more foam than it can spin safely. It is usually too much detergent, and it usually clears itself if you let it.Related: same brand
- 3EGet it checkedThe motor is not turning as commanded. Samsung ask you to power off and retry once, and if it returns it is a repair rather than a glitch.Related: same brand
Own a Samsung washing machine? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Common questions about Samsung 4E
It says 4C. Is that the same code?
Yes. 4C is the newer suffix for the same fault. Samsung renamed the codes rather than changing what they mean.
What about 4E1 or 4C2?
Those are different and much more specific: they mean the machine has detected that it is being fed hot water. Almost always it is a plumbing error, with the fill hose on the hot tap instead of the cold. Look for the blue indicator on the tap.
The tap is on and the flow is good. Now what?
Check the detergent drawer before you book anyone — Samsung list a blocked drawer as a cause of 4C on their own support page. If that is clear too, you have eliminated the free causes and it points at the inlet valve or the level sensor. That is an engineer visit, but you have saved them twenty minutes and yourself the risk of paying for a diagnosis of "the tap was off".
The power button has stopped responding. Has it died?
No. Samsung’s owner manuals state that when 4C appears the machine drains for three minutes and the power button is disabled during that time. Let it finish; it will respond again.
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer support portal
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.