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Samsung Washing Machine Error Code tE1

Reviewed by the ApplianceErrors Editorial Team · Verified against manufacturer service documentation · Last verified: June 11, 2026
⚠ Medium Severity 🔧🔧 Moderate DIY

Water temperature sensor (thermistor) error — heater thermistor out of range

The most common cause of the tE1 error on a Samsung washing machine is thermistor failed open or shorted (~50% of cases); start with: power cycle the washer.

💰 DIY cost: $15–$90 👨‍🔧 Pro cost: $160–$300 Save $145+ by doing it yourself
Samsung Washing Machine error code tE1 on the display panel
How the tE1 code appears on a Samsung washing machine display

What Does Error Code tE1 Mean on a Samsung Washing Machine?

Water temperature sensor (thermistor) error — heater thermistor out of range.

tE1 fires when the control board reads the heater-circuit thermistor as open, shorted, or outside its expected range (roughly 10k–40k ohms varying with water temperature). Because the board can no longer confirm water temperature, it aborts heated cycles as a safety measure. This differs from tE2 and tE3, which point to other temperature sensors, and from HE, which flags a heater or heating-performance fault rather than a sensor-reading failure.

Models affected: Samsung washers with a heating circuit and integrated thermistor — primarily front-load models such as the WF45T6000AW, WF45R6100AP, WF42H5000AW, and WF50BG8300AV, though heated top-loaders can also report it
What owners report: Owners commonly report tE1 appearing only on warm or hot cycles while cold washes run fine. A brief power cycle sometimes clears a transient glitch, but a corroded or loose harness plug at the heater is a frequent culprit worth reseating before replacing parts.

What Causes Error Code tE1?

Here are the most common causes in order of frequency. Start with the most likely cause before moving to the next:

  1. 1
    Thermistor failed open or shorted 50% of cases
  2. 2
    Corroded or loose harness connector 25% of cases
  3. 3
    Heating element assembly fault (integrated sensor) 15% of cases
  4. 4
    Main board input circuit fault 10% of cases

How to Fix Samsung Washing Machine Error Code tE1

🔧🔧 Moderate DIY Est. time: 30–60 min
⚡ Safety first: Unplug the appliance before opening any panels or touching internal components.
  1. 1

    Power cycle the washer

    Unplug for 5 minutes to clear a transient sensor glitch, then retry a warm cycle.

  2. 2

    Test the thermistor

    Disconnect power, access the heater at the rear lower tub, and measure thermistor resistance — an open or near-zero reading confirms failure.

    ⚠️ Unplug the washer before probing the heater circuit.
  3. 3

    Replace the thermistor/heater assembly

    On many Samsung models the thermistor is part of the heating element assembly; replace as a unit if integrated.

    🔩 Samsung washer thermistor ($15–$35) 🔩 Samsung heating element with sensor ($40–$90)
    ⚠️ Mains-voltage heater circuit — confirm power is disconnected before touching terminals.

How to Reset Error Code tE1

Unplug for 5 minutes and restart. If tE1 returns on heated cycles, the sensor needs replacement.

Note: If the error returns after resetting, the underlying issue has not been resolved. Work through the fix steps above.

Full Samsung washer reset guide → Enter diagnostic mode →

Did this guide fix your appliance?

When to Call a Professional

Call a pro if you're not comfortable testing resistance on the mains-powered heater circuit.

Average professional repair cost for this issue: $160–$300

Related Error Codes

tE2
Duct/outlet temperature sensor error (washer-dryer combo models)
⚠ Medium Severity
tE3
Condenser/steam temperature sensor error
⚠ Medium Severity
HE
Water heater error — water not heating to target temperature
⚠ High Severity

Same Code on Other Brands

Error code tE1 appears on these other brands too. See every brand that shows tE1 →

LG logo
LG Dryer tE1
Thermistor error — air temperature sensor out of range

Find Replacement Parts

Use these links to find the exact replacement parts for your Samsung Washing Machine:

🔩
Search PartSelect
Samsung Washing Machine repair parts
🔧
Search RepairClinic
Step-by-step video guides

External links — ApplianceErrors.com is not affiliated with these retailers.

More Samsung Washing Machine Error Codes

4C Water supply not detected UE Unbalanced load detected OE Drain failure — water not draining LE Motor locked — drum cannot rotate DE Door not properly closed or door lock failure SUD Excessive suds detected

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep using my Samsung Washing Machine when error tE1 appears? +
You often can for a cycle or two, but the temperature issue behind tE1 will keep interrupting normal operation until it is fixed. Plan the repair rather than ignoring the code.
What most commonly causes tE1 on a Samsung Washing Machine? +
Across reported Samsung washing machine repairs, the most frequent is thermistor failed open or shorted (50% of cases), corroded or loose harness connector (25%), then heating element assembly fault (integrated sensor) (15%). Check them in that order before replacing any parts.
tE1 keeps coming back after a reset — what should I check next? +
A reset only clears the stored tE1 fault; if it returns, the temperature problem is still present. Move on to the physical checks — power cycle the washer, then test the thermistor — since the code will reappear until the root cause is resolved. This is a moderate job — a multimeter and some disassembly are usually involved.
How much does it cost to fix Samsung Washing Machine error tE1? +
A DIY repair typically runs $15–$90 in parts, versus $160–$300 for a professional service call, so handling it yourself saves around $145. Expect the work to take roughly 30–60 minutes.
Which Samsung Washing Machine models show error tE1? +
tE1 is documented on Samsung washers with a heating circuit and integrated thermistor — primarily front-load models such as the WF45T6000AW, WF45R6100AP, WF42H5000AW, and WF50BG8300AV, though heated top-loaders can also report it. Other units sharing the same control platform can display it too, so the fixes here generally transfer across the series.

Sources & References

Content verified against manufacturer service documentation. Last verified: June 11, 2026.

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