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Samsung Washer Won't Drain: Causes & Fixes

Samsung does not have one drain code, it has six spellings of the same one. Its US error-code table puts nd, 5E, SE, 5C, SC and 1 5C in a single row called No drain error, so the letters on your display depend on the model and the font, not on a different fault.

About a Samsung washer won't drain

The other code that belongs on this page is the overflow one. Samsung's US table lists OE, 0E, OC, 0C, 1 OC and 1 0C as an Overflow error meaning too much water is in the washer, and it sends both the overflow codes and the no-drain codes to the same drain troubleshooting guide, because a washer that cannot empty reads as one that is too full.

Before you work on your washer

  • Power: Unplug the washer 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 washer 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.
  • Mains wiring, the power cord, or the outlet is involved: Work on the washer's mains wiring, power cord, outlet, or house circuit is not a do-it-yourself repair. Do not open the cabinet to test or replace wiring, the drain pump's electrical connections, or the lid switch circuit.
  • Disconnect power before opening the washer: Unplug the washer or switch off its circuit breaker before removing the pump filter or access panel, before pulling the machine out, and before touching any wiring.
  • The tub or drum can still be spinning: A washer tub spins at very high speed and coasts after the cycle stops. Wait until the tub has completely stopped and the lid or door lock has released before reaching inside; never force a locked lid or door open.
  • Heavy appliance: get a second person: A washer is heavy and awkward, and it can tip when it is pulled out or tilted. Do not move, tilt, or lift it by yourself; have a second person help you.
  • Water left in the tub can be scalding hot: A tub left full after a hot or sanitize cycle holds very hot water. Let it cool for about an hour, then drain the water out through the emergency drain hose into a flat container before you open the pump filter.
  • Hard and sharp objects collect in the pump filter: The drain pump filter and coin trap collect loose change, buttons, pins, and other hard items from pockets. Pull debris out carefully and wear gloves; anything broken or pointed in there can cut you.

Why your Samsung washer won't drain

  1. Drain hose kinked, bent, damaged or blocked inside: Samsung names the two prime suspects behind 5E and 5C before any part is tested, and neither is the pump: a blocked filter or a kinked drain hose. Its US drain guide puts the drain hose check first for the same reason, calling it the most common reason for drain issues. Difficulty 2/5.
  2. Debris (pump) filter clogged - front load models only: This is the single most useful thing to know about a Samsung washer that will not drain: only the front loaders have a pump filter to clean. Samsung says every other step of its drain guide applies to both shapes of machine, but that a top load Samsung has no removable pump filter at all, so hunting for a filter door on one is wasted time. Difficulty 2/5.
  3. Drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe, slipped down, or sealed airtight: Samsung gives a window, not a maximum, for how far its drain hose may go into the standpipe: at least 6 inches and no more than 8 inches. Both its US drain guide and its US installation guide print the same pair of numbers, so a hose shoved in as far as it will reach is out of spec even though nothing is blocked. Difficulty 2/5.
  4. Standpipe or wash basin height outside Samsung's drain spec (siphoning): Samsung's own US documents disagree about how high the standpipe has to be, and it is worth knowing before you start moving plumbing. The drain troubleshooting guide asks for at least 18 inches (24 inches for wash basins) and no more than 96 inches (35 inches for wash basins); the installation guide says the standpipe must be no shorter than 39 inches. Difficulty 3/5.
  5. Drain pump impeller blocked, or the pump itself has failed: With the filter out, the pump itself is already in reach and Samsung tells you to look at it: inspect the drain pump impeller inside the filter housing and make sure it is clean. iFixit turns that look into a feel - spin the impeller by hand, because a healthy Samsung pump resists and snaps between magnet positions rather than spinning loosely. Difficulty 2/5.
  6. Overflow error: the washer senses too much water because it is not draining: The other code that belongs on this page is the overflow one. Samsung's US table lists OE, 0E, OC, 0C, 1 OC and 1 0C as an Overflow error meaning too much water is in the washer, and it sends both the overflow codes and the no-drain codes to the same drain troubleshooting guide, because a washer that cannot empty reads as one that is too full. Difficulty 1/5.
  7. Washer not level (Samsung's own first drain check): Samsung's drain guide does not open with the pump or the filter - step one is to switch the washer off and check that it is level. Its levelling method is a hands-on-the-sides rock test, with the feet turned clockwise to lower or counter-clockwise to raise and the locking nut tightened afterwards. Difficulty 2/5.
  8. A drain hose extension kit is in use: One item on Samsung's drain checklist is a product rather than a fault: the washer must not be using a drain hose extension kit. If someone lengthened the run to reach a distant standpipe, that alone puts the installation outside what Samsung's drain guide accepts. Difficulty 2/5.

Find the cause for your washer

Step-by-step checks for a Samsung washer won't drain

Read the display against Samsung's no-drain and overflow code groups

About 5 minutes

  1. Look at the display and match what you see to Samsung's no-drain row: nd, 5E, SE, 5C, SC or 1 5C all mean the same fault.
  2. If instead you see OE, 0E, OC, 0C, 1 OC or 1 0C, that is Samsung's overflow error - too much water in the washer - and Samsung sends it to the same drain checks.
  3. If your model flashes lights rather than showing characters, power the washer off for 2-3 minutes, power it back on and restart the cycle.
  4. Check your own model's manual, because Samsung warns that some codes mean different things on different models.

Switch the washer off and check that it is level (Samsung's step 1)

About 15 minutes

  1. Turn the washer off before anything else, as Samsung's drain guide instructs.
  2. Put your hands on opposite sides of the cabinet and try to rock it gently.
  3. If it wobbles, turn the levelling feet clockwise to lower that corner or counter-clockwise to raise it, then tighten the locking nut on each leg.

Inspect and turn the drain pump impeller through the filter housing

About 15 minutes

  1. With the washer still unplugged and the debris filter out, look into the filter housing at the drain pump impeller, as Samsung instructs.
  2. Clear anything wrapped around or lodged against it, wearing gloves.
  3. Turn the impeller by hand: iFixit's benchmark for a healthy Samsung pump is firm resistance with distinct magnetic snap points, not loose free spinning.

Empty the tub through the emergency drain tube, then check the debris filter (front load only)

About 40 minutes

  1. If a hot cycle such as Self Clean, Pure Cycle or Sanitize ran recently, wait about an hour for the water to cool first.
  2. Power off and unplug the washer, and wait until the drum has completely stopped and the door has unlocked.
  3. Open the filter cover by pressing the top or centre of the panel, or by pushing down the cover latch on models built that way.
  4. Stand a large, spacious container under the cover, hold the tube cap, stretch the emergency drain tube into the container and open the cap; expect a lot of water and have a second container ready.
  5. Twist the debris filter counter-clockwise to remove it, clear the lint and debris out of it, then look at the drain pump impeller inside the housing to check it is clean.
  6. Refit the filter clockwise until it locks vertical, replace the tube cap, clip the tube back and close the cover.
  7. On a top load Samsung there is no removable pump filter, so skip this step entirely.

Inspect the drain hose end to end, inside as well as out

About 25 minutes

  1. Unplug the washer and ease it away from the wall with a second person before following the hose.
  2. Check the whole run for the three faults Samsung lists together: kinked, bent or damaged.
  3. Detach the hose at the standpipe and check for a blockage inside it; Samsung's UK page names a clothes hanger as the tool for reaching one.
  4. Leave the screw on the back of the washer that clamps the drain hose to the cabinet alone - Samsung says not to remove it.

Measure the hose depth and standpipe height against Samsung's figures

About 15 minutes

  1. Measure how far the hose sits inside the standpipe or sink: Samsung's window is at least 6 inches and no more than 8 inches.
  2. Confirm the hose is secured so it cannot slide deeper, and that the joint is not airtight.
  3. Measure the standpipe from the floor: Samsung's drain guide asks for at least 18 inches (24 inches for a wash basin) and no more than 96 inches (35 inches for a wash basin), while its installation guide sets the minimum at 39 inches - use the stricter figure.
  4. Check whether a drain hose extension kit was used, which Samsung's drain checklist rules out.

How to fix a Samsung washer won't drain

Treat an OE / OC overflow code as a drain problem, then request service

About 15 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Take the overflow codes - OE, 0E, OC, 0C, 1 OC, 1 0C - through the same drain checks, because Samsung routes them to the same guide as the no-drain codes.
  2. On a model that flashes lights instead of showing a code, power the washer off for 2-3 minutes, power it back on and restart the cycle.
  3. Check the manual for your own model, since Samsung notes some codes differ between models.
  4. If the washer still reads overflow with the hose, standpipe and filter all clear, request service through Samsung's Support Center.

Drain through the emergency tube and clean the debris filter (front load)

About 40 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Wait about an hour if a Self Clean, Pure Cycle or Sanitize cycle ran recently - Samsung warns the water will be very hot.
  2. Power off and unplug the washer, and wait for the drum to stop and the door to unlock.
  3. Open the filter cover, stand a spacious container underneath, hold the tube cap and stretch the emergency drain tube into it, then open the cap and let the water out; keep a second container ready.
  4. Twist the debris filter counter-clockwise out of its housing, wash the lint and debris off it in warm water with a soft brush, and check the drain pump impeller behind it is clear.
  5. Refit the filter clockwise until it locks in the vertical position, replace the tube cap, clip the tube back in and close the cover.
  6. Keep to Samsung's interval from now on: at least monthly, or every 40 washes, whichever comes first.

Clear whatever is jamming the drain pump impeller

About 20 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. With the washer unplugged and the debris filter already out, reach into the filter housing and free anything wound around the impeller, wearing gloves.
  2. Turn the impeller by hand afterwards; it should resist and snap between magnet positions rather than spin loosely.
  3. Refit the filter and the drain tube cap, close the cover, and run a cycle to confirm the washer empties.

Level the washer, which is Samsung's own first drain step

About 20 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Turn the washer off, then rock it gently with a hand on each side to find which way it moves.
  2. Turn the levelling feet clockwise to lower a corner or counter-clockwise to raise it until the cabinet sits solid.
  3. Tighten the locking nut on each leg so the setting holds, then run a small load to check.

Take the drain hose extension out of the run

About 20 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Remove the extension kit so the washer drains through its own hose only, which is what Samsung's drain checklist requires.
  2. If the standpipe is now out of reach, move the washer closer rather than lengthening the hose again.
  3. Re-measure the insertion depth and standpipe height afterwards, then run a cycle.

Reset the hose to Samsung's 6-to-8-inch window and stop it sealing or slipping

About 15 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Pull the hose back out until between 6 and 8 inches of it sits inside the standpipe or sink.
  2. Zip-tie the hose to the standpipe or tub so it cannot slide deeper, without kinking it.
  3. Leave an air gap at the joint: Samsung states the connection must not be airtight, so do not tape or seal around the hose.
  4. Run a cycle and check the tub empties.

Straighten the drain hose and clear the blockage inside it

About 30 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Unplug the washer and pull it out far enough to reach the whole hose, with a second person taking the weight.
  2. Take out every kink and free the hose from anything crushing it between the cabinet and the wall.
  3. Pull the hose off the standpipe and work the blockage out of the inside; Samsung's UK page uses a clothes hanger for this.
  4. Refit the hose, keeping the screw that clamps it to the back of the washer in place, then run a cycle to confirm it empties.

Bring the standpipe height inside Samsung's range to stop the siphon

About 45 minutes · Difficulty 3/5

  1. Measure the top of the standpipe from the floor and compare it with Samsung's figures: the drain guide's 18-inch minimum (24 inches for a wash basin) and 96-inch maximum (35 inches for a wash basin), against the 39-inch minimum in the installation guide.
  2. Because Samsung's own documents differ, raise a low standpipe to at least the installation guide's 39 inches - Samsung ties anything below that to water siphoning out during the cycle.
  3. If the drain is too high or cannot be moved, this becomes plumbing work rather than an appliance repair.
  4. Run a cycle and confirm the washer both holds and releases its water at the right times.

Samsung washer models with this problem

  • WF210ANS/XAC
  • WF210ANW
  • WF220ANW
  • WF221ANG/XAA
  • WF501ANW

Parts involved in a Samsung washer won't drain

  • Samsung washer drain pump (DC96-01585D)
  • Samsung washing machine drain pump assembly (DC97-15696G)

When to call a technician about a Samsung washer won't drain

  • Have a technician test and replace the Samsung drain pump

Sources

  1. GE Appliance - Circuit Breaker Trips, GE Appliances (retrieved 2026-09-21)
  2. How to Troubleshoot a Samsung Washing Machine Not Draining, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-26)
  3. How to Troubleshoot Drain Errors in a Samsung Washing Machine, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-26)
  4. DC97-15696G - Samsung Washing Machine Drain Pump Assembly, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-26)
  5. Samsung Washer Drain Pump - DC96-01585D, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-26)
  6. Washing Machine Not Draining - iFixit Troubleshooting, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  7. LG Washer - How to Clean the Drain Pump Filter, LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  8. How to resolve a 5E or 5C error code on a washing machine, Samsung Electronics (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  9. Install a Samsung washing machine in your home, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-26)
  10. How to clean your Samsung washer, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-26)
  11. Samsung washing machine information and error codes, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-22)
  12. Samsung washing machine will not drain, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  13. Emergency Drain a Samsung Front-Load Washer, Samsung Electronics Australia (retrieved 2026-09-26)
  14. GE Recalls Front-Load Washers Due to Fire and Shock Hazards, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  15. Cleaning the Pump Filter - Front Load Washer, Whirlpool Corporation (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  16. Moving a Front Load Washer, Whirlpool Corporation (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  17. Lid Locking on a Top Load High Efficiency Washer, Whirlpool Corporation (retrieved 2026-09-20)

Last updated September 29, 2026 · facts last verified September 26, 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