Samsung LE fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
The machine has lost water it should still have. Samsung label this low water level, and checking for an actual leak is part of their own advice.
Take care
What LE means
Samsung group LE with LC, and the numbered forms LE1 and LC1, under low water level detected. The wording repays attention, because it is not quite the same as the leak code people often assume it is. What the machine has noticed is that the water level has fallen when it should have been holding steady. Two quite different things cause that. The first is a genuine leak, and Samsung include "check for a water leak" in their own remedy. The second is siphoning, which is a plumbing problem rather than an appliance one: if the end of the drain hose sits lower than the base of the machine, or is pushed too far into the standpipe, water siphons itself out under gravity as fast as the machine fills. Samsung list the drain hose height check first, which tells you how often that is the answer. It also means the fix is frequently free and involves nothing more than repositioning a hose.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Drain hose too low, so the machine siphons | Water pulls itself out under gravity while the machine is trying to fill. Samsung put the hose height check first in their own guidance for a reason. | Common |
| Drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe | Creates a seal and the same siphoning effect. About ten centimetres of insertion is enough; half a metre is not better. | Common |
| Genuine leak inside the cabinet | A perished sump hose, a leaking pump seal, or a split door boot. Look for water on the floor under the middle of the machine rather than at the back. | Occasional |
| Level sensor or its hose blocked | The sensor reads pressure through a narrow tube that can silt up, giving a falling reading on a drum that is perfectly full. | Occasional |
What to try yourself
Pull the machine out and look at where the drain hose ends. It must be higher than the base of the machine — Samsung specify at least 60cm at the outlet — and it must not be lower than the drum.
Check how far the hose goes into the standpipe. Around ten centimetres is right. Pushed in half a metre it seals against the pipe and siphons the machine dry as it fills.
Put dry kitchen paper across the floor under the machine and run a short cycle. Where the paper wets first tells you a great deal: at the back is usually a hose connection, in the middle is usually the sump or the pump, at the door is usually the seal.
If water is reaching a socket or an extension lead, switch off at the consumer unit before you mop anything up.If the hose position was wrong, correct it and run a full cycle to confirm. If the paper came up wet, you have found a leak and that needs an engineer rather than a longer look.
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What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£200
Time on site
25 minutes
Nothing if it is the drain hose position. An internal hose or a pump seal is typically £100 to £200 fitted depending on what has perished and how much has to come apart to reach it.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated August 2026. Your quote may differ.
What other owners found
Nobody has shared what worked for them on this code yet. If you have had it, you would be the first — and it genuinely helps the next person.
Related Samsung fault codes
- E23Stop — call an engineerWater has been detected in the base of the machine and the AquaStop system has cut in. Bosch say to turn the tap off immediately and stop using it until it is repaired.Related: leaks and overflow
- EF3Stop — call an engineerThe Aqua Control leak protection has triggered and put the machine into a safety mode. Turn the water off at the tap and stop using it.Related: leaks and overflow
- 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
- 4EGet it checkedThe 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.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
Common questions about Samsung LE
Is LE a leak code or not?
Samsung call it low water level detected, and then tell you to check for a leak as part of the remedy. Both readings are fair. The practical point is that a hose siphoning the machine dry produces the same code as a genuine leak, and the hose is free to fix, so check that first.
There is no water on the floor at all. Can I ignore it?
No, but it does make siphoning much the most likely explanation. Check the drain hose height before you assume the machine is leaking internally, because a machine that siphons loses its water down the drain rather than onto your floor.
Is it safe to keep using while I wait for an engineer?
Not if you have found actual water. Water and mains electricity in the same cabinet is the one hazard a washing machine genuinely has, and a slow leak onto a floor with a socket nearby is worth taking seriously. Switch it off at the wall and leave it.
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
Checked by Appliance technical reviewer (Qualifications to be displayed on appointment) on 5 August 2026.