Error Code Library
Updated
A washer drain code means the machine could not pump water out in the time it expected. A clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose causes most of them, and both can be checked before you call.
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A washer drain error code means water did not leave the drum within the time the washer allows, and a clogged pump filter or kinked drain hose is the cause in most cases.
Every brand times the drain step. When the water level does not drop fast enough, the control stops the cycle and shows a drain code such as LG OE, Samsung 5E or 5C, or Whirlpool F9 E1. The code reports a slow drain, not a broken part.
The usual causes, in order, are a pump filter packed with lint and small items, a drain hose that is kinked or pushed deep into the standpipe, a clogged house drain, and only then a failed drain pump.
When the code keeps coming back, the next step is washer drain pump repair in NC. A washer that also refuses to unlock its door after the stall belongs with LG dE and Whirlpool F5 door lock codes.
The most searched washer drain codes are LG OE, Samsung 5C and Whirlpool F9 E1, and all three report the same fault: a slow drain, not a confirmed broken pump.
| Brand | Code | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG | OE | Water did not drain in time | Check it yourself first |
| Samsung | 5E / 5C / nd | Water still in the drum after the drain step | Check it yourself first |
| Whirlpool / Maytag | F9 E1 | Long drain time | Check it yourself first |
| Whirlpool / Maytag | LD | Long drain on some top-load displays | Check it yourself first |
| Frigidaire / Electrolux | E21 / E22 | Drain took too long or did not finish | Check it yourself first |
| Bosch | E18 / F18 | Drain pump could not empty the drum in time | Check it yourself first |
Codes are listed for identification. Meanings vary by model, so confirm the code in your owner’s manual.
The same drain fault shows up differently on each brand, and the filter you can reach depends on the washer design. Front-loaders almost always have a pump filter behind a small door at the bottom; many top-loaders do not.
LG OE means the water level did not drop within the drain time. On LG front-loaders, the drain pump filter sits behind a small square door at the bottom front, with a short drain tube beside it for emptying water first.
LG top-loaders usually have no filter you can reach, so check the drain hose for kinks and confirm the standpipe is not clogged. If the pump hums but water stays, the pump inlet is often blocked by a sock or small item.
Samsung changed the display from 5E to 5C on newer washers, but both mean a drain fault. Front-load models have a debris filter behind a small panel at the bottom front; open it slowly over a shallow pan.
Samsung shows nd on some older models for the same problem. If the filter is clear and the code returns, the drain hose or the pump is the next suspect.
F9 E1 means a long drain on Whirlpool, Maytag and other Whirlpool-built washers. Many top-load models in this family have no user filter, so the drain hose, the standpipe height and the house drain come first.
Front-load Whirlpool and Maytag washers often have a coin trap behind a lower access panel. Some top-load displays show LD for a long drain instead of F9 E1.
Frigidaire and Electrolux front-loaders show E21 or E22 when the drain step runs too long, and their pump filter sits behind a lower front door. Bosch washers show E18, also written F18, for the same fault, and the filter is behind the bottom front cover.
Most washer drain codes clear after two checks: emptying the pump filter and straightening the drain hose.
Call for service when the code returns after the filter and hose are clear, or when you notice any of these:
Error Code FAQs
Washer drain codes are among the most searched appliance codes, and most questions come down to where the filter is and whether the washer is safe to use.
OE means the washer could not drain in time. Clean the drain pump filter at the bottom front, check the drain hose for kinks, then run a drain and spin cycle.
5C, shown as 5E on older models, is a drain error. Clear the debris filter behind the small front panel and straighten the drain hose before calling for service.
Yes, once the water drains normally and the code clears. If water stays in the drum, stop using it so the pump does not keep straining.
F9 E1 means the washer took too long to drain. Check the drain hose for kinks, make sure it is not pushed too far into the standpipe, and clean the coin trap if your model has one.
On most front-loaders it sits behind a small door at the bottom front, usually on the left or right corner. Drain the leftover water through the small hose beside it before you unscrew the filter.
Call with the brand, the model number and the code on the display.
Not affiliated with any brand
Brand names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify appliances. Appliance Repair North Carolina is not affiliated with, endorsed by or authorized by any appliance manufacturer. Error code meanings can change between models and production years, and not every code here has been checked against the manufacturer’s manual yet, so confirm a code in your owner’s manual before acting on it.
