Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining: Causes and Fixes

A Samsung dishwasher that won't drain usually has a blockage somewhere between the tub and the sink. Samsung's own steps start outside the dishwasher: clear the sink drain and the garbage disposal, then check the drain hose for kinks, crushing and a proper air gap or high loop. After that, clean the filter. If water still sits in the tub, the drain pump may need a technician.

Samsung dishwashers show a drain error as 5C, SC, 5E or SE, depending on the model. All of them mean the same thing: the unit can't drain.

Safety first

Turn off power at the circuit breaker, or unplug the dishwasher, before you reach into the tub or work under the sink. Check for a wall switch that controls the dishwasher too. If you will handle the drain hose, the supply line or anything behind the kick panel, close the dishwasher's water supply valve. It is usually under the kitchen sink and closes clockwise. If there is no working valve for the dishwasher, shut off the main water supply to the house.

What you can check yourself

1. Clear the sink drain and disposal

Samsung says to start here. If the kitchen sink is slow or clogged, the dishwasher has nowhere to send its water. Run the garbage disposal to clear it. On a newly installed disposal, the knockout plug (sometimes called the disposal cap) at the dishwasher inlet must be removed. If it was left in place, the dishwasher won't drain at all.

2. Check the drain hose

Look at the drain hose under the sink and, if you can, behind the unit. Samsung says a dishwasher sitting on its own drain hose is the most common cause of drain trouble after installation. Look for kinks, flattened spots or a hose pinched by items stored under the sink.

3. Confirm the air gap or high loop

Samsung requires the drain hose to run through an air gap or a high loop. Either one keeps dirty sink water from flowing back into the tub. If your sink has an air gap cap on the countertop, take the cap off and clear any debris inside.

4. Clean the filter

Samsung dishwashers use one of three filter setups: a removable fine filter, a twist-lock cylindrical micro filter, or a non-removable filter. If yours comes out, remove it and rinse off food and grease, and clean the drain area underneath. Reassemble it so it locks in place. Samsung notes that a filter that isn't put back correctly can cause drain or overflow errors on its own.

5. Restart and test

Turn the power back on and run a short cycle. If the 5C or 5E code is gone and the tub empties, you're done.

Related Samsung codes

A few other codes can show up alongside drain problems:

• LC or LE is a leakage error. A moisture sensor under the dishwasher has found water, and the unit keeps the drain pump running until it dries. Shut off the water supply and look for the leak.
• OC, 0C or oE is an over-level error, meaning there is more water in the tub than expected.
• 3C is a pump operation error.

If you see one of these, or the drain code comes back after you've cleared everything above, it's time for a technician. Our guide to a leaking dishwasher covers where leak water usually comes from.

Did it start after an install or a plumbing job?

If the dishwasher drained fine until something changed, look at what changed. A new disposal with the knockout plug still in, a hose crushed when the unit was slid back into the cabinet, or a high loop taken down during other work under the sink are the usual suspects. Samsung singles out a unit sitting on its own drain hose as the most common post-install cause. These fixes cost nothing in parts. If you'd have to pull the dishwasher out to reach the hose and you aren't comfortable doing that, it's reasonable to call the installer or a repair tech.

Likely failed parts and what a technician tests

• Drain pump. The tech checks whether the pump runs, hums without moving water, or is jammed. Samsung notes that humming, buzzing or grinding usually means something is caught in the pump.
• Drain hose. A hose clogged inside, or one damaged when the unit was installed, may need replacing.
• Wiring and connectors. A loose connection at the pump can stop it from running.
• Control board. If the pump never gets a signal, the electronics may be at fault.

When to stop DIY and call a pro

• The sink, disposal, hose and filter are clear, and the tub still holds water.
• The drain code keeps coming back, or you see LC, LE or 3C.
• You hear grinding or humming from under the tub with no water moving.
• Water is on the floor or under the cabinet.
• Getting to the problem means pulling the dishwasher out or removing the kick panel.

Find local help in our Samsung dishwasher repair directory, with city pages for Austin, Seattle and Miami, or state pages such as California. This site is an independent directory and is not affiliated with Samsung.

What a drain repair costs

Fixr lists a dishwasher service call fee of about $35 to $100, often credited toward the repair. Fixr puts drain pump replacement at about $150 to $400 and a drain pump repair at about $100 to $250. If the control board is the problem, Fixr's range for replacement is about $200 to $500. HomeAdvisor says most homeowners pay about $160 to $300 for a dishwasher repair overall.

For an older unit, weigh the quote against a new dishwasher. Our dishwasher repair cost guide has the full breakdown.

Prevent the next clog

• Scrape food off dishes before loading.
• Clean the filter and drain area whenever you see debris building up.
• Run the disposal before starting the dishwasher.
• Run an empty cleaning cycle now and then with a dishwasher cleaner or white vinegar, never mixed with detergent, as Samsung suggests.

For drain problems on other brands, see our main dishwasher not draining guide. If a bad smell came with the standing water, see dishwasher smells.