Samsung Washer 5C or SC Error Code: Won't Drain? How to Fix It

What to try first

Safety: Water left in the washer after a hot cycle can scald: Samsung says to let it cool for about an hour before draining. Expect several gallons; use a towel and a wide, shallow pan.

1. 1

   Let hot water cool for about an hour

   If a hot cycle such as Sanitize or Pure Cycle ran recently, Samsung says to wait roughly an hour before draining the washer by hand, so the water cannot scald you.

2. 2

   Check the drain hose against Samsung's measurements

   The hose should go 6 to 8 inches into the standpipe or sink, held with a zip tie so it cannot slide deeper. Deeper than 8 inches, or sealed airtight, it creates a siphon; shallower than 6, it can fall out and flood the floor. It should sit at least 18 inches high (24 for a sink) and no higher than 96 inches (35 for a sink), with no kinks.

3. 3

   Clean the pump filter on a front loader

   Press the cover at the front of the washer to open the filter panel. Put a towel and a wide, shallow pan under the small rubber drain hose, twist off its cap and let the water out. Then twist the filter counterclockwise to remove it, brush it clean, check that the impeller behind it is free of debris, and screw it back in clockwise until it sits upright. Cap the small hose and clip it back before closing the panel.

4. 4

   Make sure the washer is level

   Rock the washer by its opposite corners. If it moves, turn the adjustable feet until all four rest firmly on the floor, then tighten their lock nuts if your model has them.

5. 5

   Run a test cycle

   Turn the washer back on and start a cycle. Samsung says it should drain at the beginning of the test cycle; if it does not, the next step is service.

Most likely causes of 5C

1. 1. A drain hose installed too deep, too tight, kinked or at the wrong height (most common)

   Samsung calls incorrect drain hose installation the most common reason for drain problems. Look for a bend behind the washer or a hose pushed far down the standpipe.

2. 2. A clogged pump filter (front loaders) (most common)

   Coins, hair ties, lint or a small sock collect in the filter. Only front loaders have one; top loaders have no removable pump filter.

3. 3. The washer is not level (common)

   Samsung notes that a washer that is not level may not drain correctly. Look for a washer that rocks or sits at a visible tilt.

4. 4. A slow or blocked house drain (less common)

   Water backs up out of the standpipe, or a nearby sink or floor drain is also slow. That is a plumbing problem rather than a washer fault.

5. 5. A failed drain pump (less common)

   The hose and filter are fine, but the washer still does not drain at the start of a test cycle. You may hear the pump hum with no water moving, or hear nothing at all.

When to call a pro

• The washer still does not drain at the start of a test cycle after the hose and pump filter check out.
• The drain hose is cracked or damaged. Samsung says to request service.
• The holder that clamps the drain hose to the back of the washer is missing. Samsung says service is required.
• Water backs up out of the standpipe or other drains in the house are slow: call a plumber for the house drain.

What a 5C repair costs