What SE means
| Code | What it means | Common causes | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE (5E) | Drain error, the washer isn't clearing water from the tub within its expected time | Clogged drain pump filter, kinked or blocked drain hose, a small object lodged in the pump, drain hose routed above the recommended height | Drain pump filter for debris, full length of the drain hose for kinks, drain hose height against the install manual |
Samsung's own regional support pages describe SE and 5E the same way: a drainage issue, most often traced to a blocked filter or hose rather than a failed pump (Samsung 5E/5C error code guide, US washer error code support).
Work through it in order
Clean the drain pump filter
Open the access panel at the bottom front of the washer and slide a pan underneath before removing the cap. Lint, coins, and hair ties collect here more than most owners expect, and clearing it resolves SE more often than any other single step.
Check the drain hose for kinks or blockages
Follow the hose from the back of the machine to wherever it empties, a standpipe or a utility sink, and look for tight bends or visible buildup along the way.
Confirm the drain hose height
Most Samsung washers need the hose within a specific height range for the pump to push water out properly. Check the install manual for your exact model instead of guessing. A hose routed too high can trigger SE with nothing actually clogged anywhere in the system.
Rule out a failed pump
If the filter is clean and the hose checks out on both length and height, the drain pump motor itself may have failed. That's a part-level repair, not something worth retrying a fourth or fifth time.
Why SE and SC aren't really two different problems
Two Samsung washers can show entirely different letters for the same drain fault. Older and international model lines often display 5C or 5E, US models more commonly use SC, and a smaller set use SE specifically. If your machine shows SE, the repair path is identical to SC's: filter, then hose, then height. There's no separate SE-only fix hiding behind the different letters, just a different label for the same underlying problem.
If it's suds, not a drain problem
Don't confuse SE with SUD. SE means water won't leave the tub during the drain phase. If your washer instead paused mid-cycle with visible foam, that's an excess-suds code with its own dedicated page, and the fix there is cutting back on detergent rather than clearing a hose.