Samsung washing machines will display an error code to let you know that there’s a problem. However, several different error codes could point to a similar problem. For instance, the UR, E4, UE, and DC codes all point to a problem with the washer’s balance.
When your Samsung washer displays the UR, E4, UE, or DC codes, that indicates the machine has a problem with an imbalanced load. That is most likely caused by oversized items inside or because you’re washing an undersized load. The same can also happen if the machine isn’t balanced due to uneven surfaces or because the adjustable legs were not set correctly.
Let’s dive deeper into what these codes mean, what triggers them, and how to fix the issue.
What The UR/E4/UE/DC Codes Mean On A Samsung Washer
Table of Contents
The UR, E4, UE, and DC error codes on your Samsung washing machine indicate that the load is imbalanced. An imbalanced load means that the weight inside is concentrated too much on one side because the fabrics have bunched up instead of spreading out evenly.
Image source: https://techisours.com/how-to-fix-samsung-washer-ue-error-code/
An imbalanced load is harmful to your washer, which is why it displays one or more of the UR, E4, UE, or DC error codes.
Why Your Laundry Load Must Always Be Balanced
There are two reasons why your laundry load must always be balanced: efficiency and safety.
When the load is distributed evenly, the drum can spin even at high speeds without any problems.
Plus, your Samsung washing machine will not have to work too hard to turn the drum. Not only does that reduce its overall energy usage, but it also reduces the wear and tear on parts like the washer motor, drive belt, or coupling parts (on Direct Drive models).
What Happens When A Washing Machine Is Off-Balance?
Suppose your Samsung washer continues to run normally despite having an imbalanced load. However, with all the weight concentrated on one side, the drum will spin unevenly and erratically. It will also cause the drum to bang against the inside of the machine, such as its side panels and other components inside.
At the same time, the washer will have to work extra hard to spin the drum. Unfortunately, that means the motor, belt, and other parts will become overworked and wear out faster than usual.
Connect with an Appliance Repair Tech
Click here to use the chatbox to speak with one of our technicians.
No in-home service calls. No appointments.
For those reasons, the laundry load must be balanced to protect your Samsung washer from avoidable damage and excessive wear.
Also see: How does Samsung steam dryer work?
Possible Causes and Solutions
There are several reasons why your laundry load is unbalanced, triggering the UR, E4, UE, or DC error codes. Here are the most likely ones and how to fix them:
Oversized Items
Large and bulky items are the most common culprits behind an unbalanced washer load. These include items like blankets, comforters, and pillows. When these items are stuffed into a washing machine, they do not spread themselves out very easily as the drum turns.
Image source: https://homebli.com/hisense-washing-machine-error-code/
Worse still, these items absorb a lot of water, making them many times heavier once the washing cycle begins.
When you combine those two factors (the inability to spread out and being highly absorbent), what you have is a large amount of weight concentrated on only one side of the washer drum.
How To Fix This
Your Samsung washer is perfectly capable of handling bulky items like the blankets, comforters, and even pillows mentioned above. However, you have to be mindful of two things:
- Spread It Out: Simply stuffing bulky items into your washer drum will not do. Instead, take a few moments to arrange and spread it out as much as possible by hand before you start the washing cycle.
- Gentle and Slow Cycle: When washing bulky items, you must select a gentle cycle with a slow spin speed. That way, the drum will not spin unevenly, and you will avoid triggering the UR, E4, UE, or DC error codes. On Samsung washers, the Bedding cycle is designed specifically for this reason, though you can reduce the spin speed setting manually as well.
Undersized Loads
Although it might be counterintuitive, the same problem can also happen when washing a load that’s too small. Typically, a load is considered undersized when it occupies less than ⅓ of your laundry’s capacity.
When too few items are inside your Samsung washer, the weight cannot be spread out evenly inside the drum.
As a result, the weight of the fabric and the water will be concentrated on only one part of the drum, causing an imbalanced load.
How To Fix This
There are two approaches you can take to avoid washing an undersized load:
- Accumulate: Your first option would be to wait and accumulate enough items to wash as a small load. As mentioned above, a small load is at least ⅓ of your Samsung washer’s capacity. Not only would this prevent the issue of an undersized and imbalanced load, but it would also avoid wasting water and energy by machine washing just a few small items.
- Add Towels: If you need to wash those small items immediately, then you can try adding more bulk to the washing load. A popular and effective trick would be to add a towel or two to the load. The towels will spread themselves out and create an even load in the drum, allowing you to wash your items without any problems.
- Use Mesh Laundry Bag: Lastly, you could also use a mesh laundry bag to wash small items. Doing so will prevent long fabrics like socks or stockings from winding around the agitator (on top-loading machines), which could cause the load to become unbalanced and stop.
Washing Machine Not Level
Another possible reason for this issue is that the machine itself is not level. Here, it’s likely that your Samsung washer is not placed on an even surface or that the legs were not adjusted correctly.
In either case, a washing machine that’s not level will also cause a load imbalance when the drum is spinning.
How To Fix This
Thankfully, the solution to this problem is pretty straightforward. Firstly, ensure that your washer is placed on an even surface. If it isn’t, you will have to relocate it to another part of the laundry room or your home where the floor is perfectly flat.
Then, work on the adjustable legs underneath the washer. These legs can be turned to raise or lower each side of the washer until it is perfectly level.
You can be sure by using a spirit level or a level app on your smartphone, so you know which side to adjust and how far to do so on each leg.
Also see: How to level the front load washing machine?
How To Clear UR/E4/UE/DC Error Code
The first step to clear the UR, E4, UE, or DC error code on a Samsung washer is to resolve the root cause following the steps described above.
Once that’s done, you will need to shut the washer off right at its power source. That means unplugging it from the wall socket or flipping the circuit breaker off.
Leave the machine alone for a few minutes, then reconnect it to its power source. That will clear the error codes.
How To Reset A Samsung Washer
To reset your Samsung washing machine, simply turn it off by disconnecting it from the power source. If it is plugged into a wall socket, remove the plug entirely. You may also turn off the dedicated circuit breaker for your washer at the main electrical box of your household.
Leave the machine alone for one to five minutes. As you do this, the machine will discharge any remaining electrical charge it is keeping.
Then, reconnect the Samsung washer to its power source and turn it on again.
How To Enter Diagnostic Mode
Diagnostic Mode allows you to display any active error codes and test the washer’s systems for problems. To enter Diagnostic Mode on your washer, follow these steps:
- Firstly, turn the washing machine on.
- Next, press and hold the Delay Start button and Soil Level codes. Again, the exact buttons might differ depending on your model, so be sure to refer to your user manual if this doesn’t work.
- Please wait until the display shows all zeroes and the machine chimes.
- When that happens, press the Soil button once until the letter D appears. That means it’s in Diagnostics Mode.
- At this point, you can turn the dial to scroll through all the error codes until you see the alphabet D again.
- If there are no codes, that means there are no problems.
How To Test A Samsung Washer After Fixing it
Once you’ve completed troubleshooting and fixing your Samsung washer, it’s time to test the machine and ensure that everything is in good working order.
To do that, simply load the washer with a medium-sized load of regular laundry. That means filling the drum up halfway with clothes and selecting the Daily Wash cycle or any cycle that you regularly use.
Let the washer complete the cycle from start to finish, and note any signs that there might be a problem. If no problems and no error codes are appearing, that means your Samsung washing machine is working normally again.
