Samsung is a leading name in the home appliance market, and for a good reason. Their products are durable, reliable, and fitted with the latest technology. Your Samsung washing machine is no exception to this!
However, even the best appliances sometimes require troubleshooting since things can always go wrong. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve made a bad purchase, and it’s normal for errors to come up on home devices like washing machines and dishwashers.
One of the errors you might notice on your Samsung washing machine is the LE code, sometimes recognized as 1E or even LC. The LE code represents a leak or a similar moisture-related issue in your washing machine. If this is something you’re experiencing, here’s what you need to know about it.
What Causes the Samsung washer LE Code?
The LE code indicates water or moisture in an unwanted location in your appliance. This might be a noticeable leak, or you might just be seeing the code on your display and not know where the moisture problem is.
A few things might be causing a leak or liquid build-up in your Samsung washing machine. Here’s what could be causing the problem.
A Leak in the Water Supply Hose
If you notice a visible leak, it might be coming from the supply hose. There are a few different places here where water might be leaking from, namely: where the hose connects to the machine, where the hose connects to your plumbing, or anywhere along the hose itself.
A few issues could be the cause of the leak, such as a faulty connection, a hole in the hose, a damaged or misaligned rubber seal or even a clogged or blocked nozzle.
Your Washing Machine is Not Level
If your front loader washer is not leveled from left to right, the door might be bumping against the wall on either side, preventing it from closing completely.
However, if it’s not level from the front to the back side, especially if the front is lower than the back of the appliance, this can cause water to pool up and potentially leak out.
The Sides of the Tub Are Stretched
If screws in the appliance have been over-tightened, this can cause the sides of the machine to stretch out, causing gaps that might lead to leakage.
This might be difficult to identify in your machine – you will need to check where the screws are and try to determine whether the panels of your washing machine are pulling. However, if you suspect this might be a problem, calling for repair services to get professional help would be best.
Your Pressure Switch is Faulty
Another potential cause of the LE code is a faulty pressure switch on your appliance. In this case, your washing machine might not start due to the error.
If you’ve seen an LE error code but can’t identify a visible leak, it might be a fault in your pressure switch, which regulates how much water flows in and out of the drum during a cycle.
If there is a fault with this pressure switch, it won’t be able to effectively communicate with the control board about the water streaming in and out of the washing drum – this implies that an LE code could be caused by a misreading by the pressure switch.
This might be related to a blockage in the hose or chamber, where the air might be prevented from activating the switch, or it could also have an electronic fault.
You Have Used Excessive Detergent
One final issue that could be causing an LE code on your Samsung washing machine is that you have either used the wrong type of detergent or too much detergent.
It’s best to always use a high-efficiency detergent in high-efficiency washing machines like a Samsung. If you’ve used a non-HE detergent, it can create a build-up of suds that won’t drain, and this can set off the error code since your appliance is detecting undrained liquids or moisture.
Excessive use of any detergent, however, can also cause the LE error code since the appliance will detect an overfilled detergent chamber.
How to Fix the Samsung washer LE Code
Now that you understand the different problems that might be causing a leak or an LE code on your washer, you’ll want to start taking steps to fix the issue.
Here are 6 ways to get rid of the LE washer error and return to your laundry.
Reset the Washing Machine
Sometimes technology fails us. Your washing machine might have had a simple electronic control board malfunction which caused an error code to be displayed for no reason.
In case this might be the issue, it’s a good idea to start your troubleshooting with a simple reset of your machine.
Ensure the washing machine is turned off, and then unplug it from the wall outlet. Let the machine rest unplugged for a few minutes to allow all the power to drain from the appliance before plugging it back in and attempting to run a new load.
If the LE error code remains present once you’ve plugged the washer back in, you’ll need to investigate other routes.
Check for Leaks
Next, try looking around your washing machine to check for any leaks. You should check out the water supply and drain hoses.
Feel around the area for any moisture to help you identify where there might be a leak. You can also check underneath your machine to see if the leak might be coming from somewhere else; however, the drain hoses are the most likely source of a leak.
If you notice some water coming from the water supply, ensure that everything is tightly secured, check that the rubber seals are still working, and determine any holes in the water hoses.
If you’ve identified a leak, you can try to amend the issue yourself or call for professional help.
Check the Pressure Switch
If you can’t find any noticeable leak in your washing machine, you might want to look at the pressure switch, which controls the water pressure and the water flowing in and out of the drum.
A faulty pressure switch can cause the washer tub to overflow, triggering the code. Check the pressure switch, which is located at the back of the washing machine behind the rear access panel.
You might need to enlist the help of an appliance specialist or a repair technician to help you access and investigate the pressure switch.
Try a Smaller Load
A heavy wash load can put your washer off balance, create leaks, and prevent the machine from operating properly.
You might want to try putting in a smaller load of laundry than usual and attempting to run a cycle. If you don’t notice any leaks or error codes, then that means you have been overloading your machine and will need to be more sparing with your laundry in the future.
Change Your Detergent
As mentioned, certain types of washing machines require a specific type of detergent known as high-efficiency (HE) detergent. Non-HE detergent can cause an overproduction of soap suds, which in turn can cause your appliance to struggle to drain, triggering the LE error code.
If you have been using any non-HE detergent, consider switching to an HE detergent instead and assess whether this alleviates the problem.
Clean the Dispenser
Finally, as a last resort, you can try cleaning out the detergent chamber and dispenser on your washing machine. These cleaning agent chambers can sometimes become clogged or blocked, not allowing detergent to pass through or be distributed properly, and this can create a build-up.
When there’s a build-up, your washing machine may detect that it has been overfilled with detergent, triggering the LE error code and interfering with your washing.
This is why keeping your washing machine clean is essential for routine maintenance.
How to Prevent the Samsung washer LE Error Code
If you want to prevent the LE code from coming up again, you must ensure your washing machine is well-maintained. Make sure not to overload it and ensure that you’re always using the right type of detergent.
You’ll also want to regularly check for leakage and ensure that your supply hoses are not at risk of being damaged at any point.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
