Samsung Washing Machine Error Code HE
Water heater error — water not heating to target temperature
The washer is not able to heat the wash water to the programmed temperature within the expected time. This affects wash quality for hot water cycles and can indicate a failing heater element or thermistor.
What Does Error Code HE Mean on a Samsung Washing Machine?
Water heater error — water not heating to target temperature.
The washer is not able to heat the wash water to the programmed temperature within the expected time. This affects wash quality for hot water cycles and can indicate a failing heater element or thermistor.
What Causes Error Code HE?
Here are the most common causes in order of frequency. Start with the most likely cause before moving to the next:
- 1 Faulty NTC temperature sensor (thermistor) 40% of cases
- 2 Burned out heating element 35% of cases
- 3 Heater relay failure on control board 15% of cases
- 4 Wiring fault between heater and control board 10% of cases
How to Fix Samsung Washing Machine Error Code HE
- 1
Check water supply temperature
Make sure the hot water supply to the washer is actually hot. Run the hot water tap at the sink — if it's cold, the issue is your water heater.
- 2
Test the thermistor (NTC sensor)
The thermistor monitors water temperature. Test resistance at room temperature — should be approximately 10k ohms. If significantly out of spec, replace it.
🔩 Samsung NTC thermistor ($15–$40) - 3
Test the heating element
Disconnect and test the heating element with a multimeter for continuity. No continuity means the element has burned out.
🔩 Samsung washer heating element ($40–$100)⚠️ The element is inside the drum tub — requires significant disassembly. - 4
Inspect the control board heater relay
If element and thermistor both test good, the heater relay on the control board may have failed.
How to Reset Error Code HE
Unplug the washer for 5 minutes and restart. If the error is intermittent and clears on restart, the thermistor is failing. If it returns consistently, the heater element likely needs replacement.
Note: If the error returns after resetting, the underlying issue has not been resolved. Work through the fix steps above.
When to Call a Professional
Heating element replacement requires disassembling significant parts of the washer. If you're not comfortable with appliance repair, call a technician.
Related Error Codes
Same Code on Other Brands
Error code HE appears on these other brands too. Click to compare:
Find Replacement Parts
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