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Samsung Dishwasher LC or LE Code: Leak Sensor Error Fixes

Stop using itUpdated Checked against Samsung US Support

Also shown or searched as: LE

On a Samsung dishwasher, LC (or LE) means the leak sensor under the tub has found moisture, so the dishwasher turns itself on and keeps draining. Switch it off at the breaker, look for drips at the water supply line, wipe up stray detergent and let the base dry. If LC comes back, book service.

What to try first

Safety: Water and electricity meet under a dishwasher. If the floor is wet, switch off the dishwasher's circuit breaker before you reach under the sink or touch the plug, and close the water valve.

  1. 1

    Switch the dishwasher off at the breaker

    With LC active, the dishwasher keeps itself on and runs its drain pump. Unplug it if you can reach the plug, or switch off its circuit breaker. Samsung lists this as the first step and says the power can stay off while the base dries.

  2. 2

    Close the water valve if anything is dripping

    If you see water at the supply valve under the sink or along the supply line, turn that valve off. Samsung's manual says a leak at the valve connection goes back to the installer.

  3. 3

    Trace the supply line with a flashlight

    Follow the line from the valve under the sink as far as you can see. Feel each fitting for moisture and look for a swollen, cut or kinked section. Samsung says to replace a damaged line right away and recommends stainless steel over plastic.

  4. 4

    Clean up stray detergent

    Wipe out any detergent spilled in the door or the bottom of the tub. From now on, fill only the dispenser, stay below its rim, and use automatic dishwasher detergent, never hand dish soap.

  5. 5

    Check the disposal plug on a new hookup

    If the dishwasher was connected to a garbage disposal recently, ask the installer to confirm the knockout plug in the disposal's dishwasher inlet was removed.

  6. 6

    Give the base time to dry, then restore power

    Leave the power off and let the area under the tub dry; Samsung does not give a set time. Then switch the dishwasher back on. If the code clears, wipe up any water you found and run a cycle while you watch for drips. If LC returns, request service.

Most likely causes of LC

  1. 1. A drip at the water supply line or one of its fittings (most common)

    A damp fitting at the valve under the sink, or a wet trail along the line where it runs toward the dishwasher. Samsung's manual singles out a leak at the supply valve connection, and its installer steps for LC start with the fitting on the inlet valve.

  2. 2. Detergent residue or suds where they do not belong (common)

    The dispenser was filled past its rim, detergent was poured straight into the tub, or hand dish soap went in. Samsung says leftover detergent can keep the moisture sensor active, and dish soap makes suds that can escape the tub.

  3. 3. Water that splashed into the base during a move or install (common)

    LC showed up soon after the dishwasher was pulled out, reinstalled or replaced, and no drips are visible anywhere.

  4. 4. A leak inside the cabinet: door seal, tub sides, pump or sump seals (common)

    Water comes back after you wipe the area and run a cycle, or it collects at the toe kick or along the bottom of the door.

  5. 5. A garbage disposal plug left in on a new hookup (less common)

    The dishwasher or the disposal went in recently. Samsung puts the disposal cap on its LC checklist for exactly that case.

  6. 6. A failed leak sensor or sensor wiring (less common)

    The base pan is dry and nothing leaks, yet LC returns after every reset. One owner of a DW80M9550UG removed the pan, found it dry and cleaned the sensor probes, and a Samsung Care Ambassador on the community forum still pointed the case to service.

When to call a pro

  • LC comes back after the power has been off and the base has had time to dry. Samsung's next step at that point is service.
  • Water is dripping at the supply valve connection. Samsung's manual says close the valve, switch off the breaker and call the installer.
  • The tub opening measures wider than 22 inches at the mounting screws, or water gathers at the front of the door, which points to mounting or leveling problems.
  • The door seal is torn, or water shows up at the toe kick with no source you can find.
  • LC appeared on the very first run of a new dishwasher: call the installer back before booking a repair.

What a LC repair costs

$80–$400

HomeGuide's 2026 national ranges, parts and labor: a new door gasket seal $80 to $200 and a new drain pump $100 to $400. Drying the base or catching a loose supply fitting yourself costs nothing; minimum service fees run $70 to $130.

Source

What LC means on a Samsung dishwasher

Samsung's US code list pairs LC with LE and calls both the leakage error: the dishwasher's leak sensor detects moisture. That sensor sits in the base, below the tub, so it reacts to water that has escaped the tub, never to the water you see inside it.

Models without a digital display show the same fault as a blinking light. Samsung's blinking-light guide lists the Normal light blinking on its own for the leak sensor, or Heavy on models that have no Express 60 button.

Why the dishwasher runs and will not shut off

A humming pump and dead buttons make many owners think the control has locked up. Samsung explains that with LC the dishwasher turns itself on and will not turn off until the moisture is gone, because it is trying to drain the water away. That is the protection doing its job.

Samsung's installation manual gives a way to drain on purpose: press and hold Start for more than 3 seconds, and once the draining is done, unplug the dishwasher and close the water valve. An owner of a DW80K7050UG described the pump running and the display flashing until the unit was pulled out and unplugged, with no water in sight; Samsung's community moderator recommended service.

Why a dry kitchen floor does not rule out a leak

The pan under the tub catches water before it reaches the floor, so LC can stay on while the kitchen looks perfectly dry. Samsung notes that moving a dishwasher can splash water onto the sensor, and its community moderators add that high humidity, a recent power outage or extreme temperatures can also set it off.

Getting at the pan means removing the kick plate, and Samsung's installation manual has the installer lay the dishwasher down to wipe the sensor. Leave that to a technician or the installer. Samsung's safety section says the machine is heavy enough to need two or more people to move.

Checks from Samsung's leak guide that are easy to miss

Measure across the front of the tub where the mounting screws go into the cabinet. Samsung says it should be exactly 22 inches. Wider means the screws were driven in too tight and are pulling the tub sides out of shape, which can cause leaks; loosening them brings the width back.

Samsung also asks for the dishwasher to be level side to side and front to back, since a low front lets water pool at the door. On WaterWall models, make sure nothing in the lower rack is blocking the water reflector; Samsung's code list mentions it in the LC entry itself.

LC on a brand-new install

Samsung's installation manual treats LC as part of the first test run. If the code appears, the installer drains the dishwasher, unplugs it, closes the water valve, remakes the inlet fitting if it leaks, dries the sensor and runs Samsung's Smart Install Cycle, which takes about 7 minutes. Only if LC still shows after that does the manual send the owner to a service center.

What a technician will check

  • The base pan and leak sensor: the kick plate comes off, standing water is removed and the sensor is dried. Samsung's installation manual has the installer lay the dishwasher down to wipe the sensor.
  • The water inlet valve and its 90-degree fitting, which Samsung's installer steps check first when LC appears on a new install.
  • Seals inside the cabinet: the door gasket, the sump gasket, the pump seals and the hose joints under the tub.
  • The mounting screws and leveling legs, so the tub is square and the door closes tight.
  • The leak sensor and its wiring harness, when the pan is dry and LC still returns.

What fixed it for other readers

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Questions people ask about Samsung LC

Is LE the same as LC on a Samsung dishwasher?

Yes. Samsung lists LC and LE together as the leakage error. Which one you see depends on the model's display, and the checks are the same for both.

Can I keep using my Samsung dishwasher while LC is showing?

No. While the code is active the dishwasher keeps draining and will not run a cycle, and a real leak can soak the floor and the cabinet beside it without showing. Keep the power off until the base is dry and the source is known.

Should I unplug or move the leak sensor to stop LC?

No. The sensor is the only thing watching for water under the tub, where you can't see it. iFixit's guide to this code warns against moving the sensor out of the pan for that reason. If the sensor itself has failed, a technician replaces it.

How much does it cost to fix an LC error?

Often nothing, when the cause is a spill, stray detergent or a loose supply fitting. When a part is at fault, HomeGuide's national figures put a new door gasket at $80 to $200 and a new drain pump at $100 to $400, both including labor.

Sources