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Samsung Dishwasher 5C Error: Causes & Fixes

On a Samsung dishwasher, error code 5C (also shown as SC, 5E, or SE, and as SR on some Canadian-market displays) means the dishwasher can't drain properly.

Before you work on your dishwasher

  • Power: Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker before removing panels or touching wiring.
  • Water: Turn off the water supply valve before disconnecting hoses or the inlet valve.
  • Heat: Water and the heating element can be hot right after a cycle; let the dishwasher cool first.
  • Sharp debris: Wear gloves when reaching into the filter or sump; broken glass often collects there.
  • Stop: If you smell burning, see smoke or sparks, or find water near wiring, switch off the breaker and call a technician.
  • Disconnect power before accessing internal dishwasher parts: Unplug the dishwasher or switch off the circuit breaker that powers it before removing panels, the filter, or the drain pump cover, or before reaching into the sump.
  • Heavy appliance: two-person lift: A dishwasher is heavy and can tip. Do not pull it out of the cabinet, tilt it, or lift it by yourself; get a second person to help.
  • Shut off the water supply before disconnecting hoses: Turn off the water supply before disconnecting the drain hose, siphon connection, or water inlet, or before pulling the dishwasher out for service.
  • Hot water and steam scald risk: Open the dishwasher door carefully during or right after a cycle. Hot water or steam can escape and cause burns; wait until water noises stop and steam subsides before fully opening the door.
  • Sharp debris near the filter and drain pump: Wear gloves and use caution when removing the filter, pump cover, or other parts for cleaning; broken glass or other sharp debris can collect near the drain pump impeller.

What causes Samsung 5C

  1. Garbage disposal or sink drain blocked: A clogged garbage disposal, a visibly blocked sink drain, or (on a new installation) a disposal knockout cap that was never removed can block the dishwasher's drain path and trigger 5C. Difficulty 1/5.
  2. Drain hose pinched, missing air gap/high loop, or kinked: A drain hose that the dishwasher is resting on (pinching it shut), that lacks a required air gap or high loop, or that is kinked or bent can restrict drainage and trigger 5C. Difficulty 2/5.
  3. Filter or drain area clogged or misassembled: Food, grease, or debris built up in the dishwasher's filter and drain area, or a removable filter/drain part that was cleaned but reinstalled incorrectly, can cause 5C drain errors. Difficulty 1/5.
  4. Debris or broken glass blocking the drain pump impeller: Broken plate fragments or other debris caught in the drain pump impeller can block drainage and trigger 5C/5E. Difficulty 3/5.
  5. Household sink plumbing blocked (not a dishwasher fault): If the connected sink still doesn't drain after running water, the drainage problem is in the home's plumbing rather than the dishwasher itself. Difficulty 1/5.
  6. Drain line frozen: A frozen drain line can prevent the dishwasher from draining and trigger 5C; Samsung notes this situation is not covered under warranty service. Difficulty 1/5.
  7. Control board failure: Samsung lists control board failure as a possible cause of the 5C/5E drain error. Difficulty 1/5.
  8. Water-level pressure switch malfunction: Samsung lists a malfunctioning water-level pressure switch as a possible cause of the 5C/5E drain error. Difficulty 1/5.

Find the cause of 5C on your dishwasher

Step-by-step checks for Samsung 5C

Check the garbage disposal and sink drain

About 10 minutes

  1. If a garbage disposal is used, run it, then check whether the sink drains freely.
  2. If the dishwasher drains directly into a sink drain, look down the drain for visible blockage.

Check the drain hose installation

About 10 minutes

  1. Switch off the dishwasher's circuit breaker.
  2. Confirm the dishwasher is not sitting on top of its own drain hose.
  3. Confirm the drain hose connects through an air gap or has a high loop above the sink connection.
  4. Check the accessible run of the hose for kinks or bends.

Check whether the drain line is frozen

About 15 minutes

  1. Consider whether ambient temperatures could have frozen the water or drain lines.
  2. Leave the cabinet door under the sink open or otherwise let the area warm up, then recheck drainage.

Inspect and clean the filter and drain area

About 10 minutes

  1. Switch off the dishwasher's circuit breaker.
  2. After a cycle, wait 20 minutes for the heating element to cool before reaching into the tub.
  3. Remove any owner-removable filter or drain parts per the user manual.
  4. Check for and clear away food, grease, or debris.
  5. Reinstall the parts fully and correctly.

Test the connected sink's plumbing

About 5 minutes

  1. Run the kitchen faucet for about 30 seconds.
  2. Confirm the sink drains normally.

How to fix Samsung 5C

Clean the filter and drain area and reassemble it correctly

About 15 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Switch off the dishwasher's circuit breaker.
  2. After a cycle, wait 20 minutes for the heating element to cool before reaching into the tub.
  3. Following the user manual, remove owner-removable filter and drain-area parts.
  4. Clear out food and debris.
  5. Reinstall the parts correctly and fully seated.

Clear the garbage disposal and sink drain blockage

About 10 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Run the garbage disposal to clear food waste.
  2. Remove any visible blockage from a direct sink-drain connection.

Thaw a frozen drain line

About 30 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Leave the cabinet door under the sink open, or otherwise let the area warm up, to thaw the water or drain lines.
  2. If the lines are still frozen afterward, contact a plumber.

Fix the drain hose installation

About 20 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Switch off the dishwasher's circuit breaker.
  2. Reposition the dishwasher so it is not resting on its own drain hose.
  3. Straighten any kinks or bends.
  4. If the hose is damaged beyond straightening, request service.
  5. If the hose has no air gap and no high loop above the sink connection, have a plumber or installer correct it (see the professional fix).

When to call a technician about Samsung 5C

  • Contact a plumber for a blocked household drain
  • Have a technician service the control board
  • Have a technician remove the disposal's knockout cap (new installations)
  • Have the drain hose connected through an air gap or high loop

Sources

  1. Dishwasher SP.. Instruction Manual, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  2. Dishwasher SHSM63****, SHS863****, SHS843****, SHVM63****, SHV863**** Operating Instructions, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  3. Dishwasher SMS6HAI01A User Manual, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  4. Common Samsung dishwasher error codes and their meaning, Samsung Canada Support (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  5. Samsung DW6000J series dishwasher user manual, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  6. Samsung dishwasher is not draining, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  7. 3C, 3C1~3C6 Error Code : Main Motor Error, Samsung Electronics Canada (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  8. What do 5C, 5E, 4C, 4E, LC, and LE mean on a dishwasher?, Samsung Gulf Electronics (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  9. Samsung dishwasher is displaying an error code, Samsung US Support (retrieved 2026-09-18)

Last updated September 29, 2026 · facts last verified September 20, 2026 · How we source and verify

Guidance only; follow your appliance manual and local codes. If anything looks unsafe, stop and call a qualified technician. Safety disclaimer