Dishwasher · samsung
Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining: Causes and Fixes
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- Does the kitchen sink drain slowly or back up?
- Yes: The sink or household drain is blocked: The sink also drains slowly or water backs up when the dishwasher tries to drain. (possible)
- No: Was a garbage disposal recently installed or replaced?
- Yes: The disposal inlet cap is still in place: The dishwasher hose connects to a new or recently replaced garbage disposal. (possible)
- No: Can you see a kink or crushing in the exposed hose?
- Yes: The drain hose is kinked or trapped under the appliance: A visible hose is bent or crushed, or the dishwasher may be sitting on its own drain hose. (likely)
- No: Does the installation lack its model-required air gap or high loop?
- Yes or I am not sure: The installation lacks backflow protection: The installation has no air gap and the drain hose does not rise into a high loop as the model instructions require. (possible)
- No: Are filter parts missing or out of place compared with the manual? Turn the dishwasher off first; sharp objects may be present.
- Yes: Filter parts are missing or misassembled: A filter component is absent or does not sit in the position shown in the model manual. (possible)
- No: Is the line exposed to freezing conditions?
- Yes: The drain line may be frozen: The line is exposed to freezing conditions and remains blocked after the other external checks. (possible)
- No: Does Samsung Canada's 3C code return, or does water remain after the checks?
- Yes: The pump code returns and needs service: Samsung Canada code 3C returns after a reset or water remains after the external hose and filter checks. (possible)
- No: The pump code returns and needs service: Samsung Canada code 3C returns after a reset or water remains after the external hose and filter checks. (possible)
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For a Samsung dishwasher not draining, check the sink, hose and filter assembly before assuming the pump failed. Samsung’s US and Canada pages overlap, but they do not list identical codes. This guide labels the region so you can match the display to the support page that applies.
Start with the drain path
First see whether the kitchen sink drains normally. Samsung US says a slow sink or disposal can point to a plumbing issue rather than a dishwasher part. If a disposal was just installed, check with the installer whether its dishwasher inlet cap was removed. Do not reach into the disposal or touch its wiring.
Look at the exposed dishwasher hose. Samsung says it should not be kinked, pinched or trapped beneath the appliance. It also lists missing backflow protection as a possible installation issue: depending on the setup, the hose may need an air gap or high loop. Use the installation manual for your model’s route; do not apply another manufacturer’s hose-height measurement.
If the sink and hose look clear, inspect the filter area and confirm that its parts are present and assembled as the manual shows. Samsung says the filter parts must be installed correctly. Canada warns that sharp objects can be present in the area. Do not reach blindly into the sump.
Read the US and Canada code groups separately
Samsung US lists 5C, 5E, OC and OE among codes for a dishwasher that is not draining. Its troubleshooting sequence checks the sink or disposal, hose routing, air gap or high loop, filter parts, a frozen line and service. Use the model’s installation guide for hose height.
Samsung Canada’s code page lists 5C, SC, 5E, SE and SR for difficulty draining. It separately lists OC, 0C and oE for overfilling, often connected with a drain problem. Its instructions include checking the connections, hose, filter and sump. The Canada page also lists 3C as a pump failure: reset the dishwasher, and if the code returns, arrange professional service. LC or LE indicates moisture detection; its page points to leaks, detergent amount and the disposal plug.
Only the Canada page labels 3C as a pump failure. The shared drain codes describe a drain problem, not a confirmed pump diagnosis.
Do not combine those sets into a single Samsung code table. A code’s capitalization and exact characters matter, and regional support pages may differ. If the message does not match the code group for your region, use the model-specific manual or contact Samsung support.
Samsung US gives an order for the external checks. Start at the sink and disposal; if the disposal is new, confirm its cap was removed. Then look at the hose route and check whether the dishwasher is sitting on the hose. Confirm that the installation has an air gap or high loop where the model setup calls for one. Use the model installation guide for hose height; do not borrow a measurement from another manufacturer.
Next, Samsung US says to check the drain area and filter parts, then reinstall the filter parts according to the manual. If the line may be frozen, the page says to check it; Samsung Canada warns that frozen-line work is not covered by warranty service. If the sink does not drain after running water for about 30 seconds, Samsung says the plumbing needs attention from a plumber. That observation is more useful than repeatedly resetting the dishwasher.
Samsung Canada’s regional code page lists SR in the drain group, 0C and lowercase oE in the overfill group, 3C for pump failure, and LC or LE for detected moisture. Keep each instruction attached to the regional guidance for your model.
If a code clears and returns, note when it appears in the cycle and whether water is standing in the tub. A persistent drain code after the external path is clear is a service question. The support pages do not give a homeowner pump-removal procedure, so this guide stops before the sealed or electrical parts.
Causes, from visible checks to service
1. The disposal inlet cap is still in place
The disposal inlet cap is still in place
The dishwasher hose connects to a new or recently replaced garbage disposal.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
If a disposal was recently installed or changed, its dishwasher inlet may still have the cap in place. Samsung US lists this as a possible drain obstruction. Ask the installer to confirm that the connection was opened.
Do not reach into the disposal or disconnect its wiring. If the dishwasher was not recently connected to a disposal, move to the sink and hose checks instead.
2. The sink or household drain is blocked
The sink or household drain is blocked
The sink also drains slowly or water backs up when the dishwasher tries to drain.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
Run the kitchen faucet briefly and watch whether the sink drains. Samsung US says that if the sink does not drain properly, the problem is plumbing. A dishwasher cannot clear a household drain restriction.
Call a plumber if the sink is slow or backs up. Do not run repeated dishwasher cycles while the sink is blocked, because water can return through the shared drain route.
3. The drain hose is kinked or trapped
The drain hose is kinked or trapped under the appliance
A visible hose is bent or crushed, or the dishwasher may be sitting on its own drain hose.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
- Part cost
- $50–$100Source: Dishwasher Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026
Inspect only the exposed hose. Samsung US specifically warns that the dishwasher should not be sitting on top of its own drain hose. A crushed hose can stop drainage even if the filter is clear.
Do not pull a connected dishwasher out to reach a hidden hose. The $50–$100Source: Dishwasher Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026 is a Fixr planning range, not a Samsung quote. Ask an installer to check the full route and use the model’s installation instructions.
4. The installation lacks backflow protection
The installation lacks backflow protection
The installation has no air gap and the drain hose does not rise into a high loop as the model instructions require.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
Samsung US lists a missing air gap or high loop as a possible reason for backflow. Which arrangement applies depends on the installation and local requirements; follow the model’s installation guide.
Check the model’s installation manual rather than copying another brand’s height. An air gap and a high loop are different backflow-protection arrangements; the model instructions determine which applies.
5. Filter parts are missing or misassembled
Filter parts are missing or misassembled
A filter component is absent or does not sit in the position shown in the model manual.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Tools
- soft brush
Samsung US says missing or incorrectly installed filter parts can affect draining. With the dishwasher off, compare the filter assembly with the model manual. Confirm each piece is present and seated; do not run the machine with a filter removed.
Samsung Canada’s instructions warn that sharp objects may be in the filter and sump area. If a piece is broken or a component is stuck, stop and contact support. Use the dishwasher filter guide for general filter handling and keep the model instructions in control.
6. The drain line may be frozen
The drain line may be frozen
The line is exposed to freezing conditions and remains blocked after the other external checks.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
Samsung’s regional pages include a frozen line among possible drain problems. This is relevant only when the installation is exposed to freezing conditions and the other external checks are clear.
Samsung Canada says warranty service does not cover frozen lines. Do not apply heat or dismantle the line. Contact Samsung or a qualified technician for model-specific guidance.
7. The pump code returns or water remains
The pump code returns and needs service
Samsung Canada code 3C returns after a reset or water remains after the external hose and filter checks.
- Difficulty
- Pro
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
- Part cost
- $100–$400Source: Dishwasher Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026
Samsung Canada identifies 3C as a pump failure. Its guidance is to reset the dishwasher; if the code returns, contact professional service. A continuing drain problem after the sink, hose and filter checks also needs inspection.
The $100–$400Source: Dishwasher Repair Cost (Fixr) · Checked October 12, 2026 is a secondary Fixr estimate. It is not proof that the pump failed. Ask the technician to explain the test and the written repair estimate before approving a replacement.
The path from the tub to the drain
Samsung’s US drain page does not specify a numerical hose height. Use the installation instructions for the exact model; Whirlpool’s 20-inch loop and Frigidaire’s 32-inch figure belong to those manufacturers and should not be transferred to a Samsung dishwasher.
Water passes through the filter and sump, then the drain pump pushes it into the hose. The hose connects to the disposal or sink drain, with an air gap or high loop used in some installations to reduce backflow. A clog in the sink, a kink under the machine or missing filter pieces can look like a pump failure.
- Detergent dispenser
- Lower spray arm
- Middle spray arm
- Filter
- Sump
- Drain pump
- Drain hose
- High loop
- Air gap (if installed)
- Disposal inlet or drain connection
The diagrams are generic reference drawings. Use the model manual to identify the exact filter assembly and hose route. For the shared symptom checklist, go to the dishwasher not-draining hub. For repair decisions, see the dishwasher pump cost guide.
What to report to Samsung
Write down the full code, country-specific support page, model number, whether the sink drains and whether the hose is visibly kinked. Also note whether the disposal was recently replaced. This gives support a specific starting point and avoids applying US instructions to a Canada code or the reverse.
Call a qualified technician for 3C that returns, water that remains after the external checks, a frozen line or any step requiring internal access. Keep the dishwasher off if there is a leak or repeated electrical issue.
Frequently asked questions
What does 5C mean on a Samsung dishwasher?
Samsung US and Canada both list 5C as a drain-related code. Check the specific region's page for its code group and follow the model manual.
Are Samsung dishwasher error codes the same in the US and Canada?
The cited pages list overlapping but different code groups. This guide labels each group by region instead of treating them as one universal table.
Can a frozen Samsung dishwasher line be repaired under warranty?
Samsung Canada's page says warranty service does not cover frozen lines. Contact the regional support channel for the terms that apply to your model.
Sources
- Samsung dishwasher is not drainingSamsung US Support
- Steps to take if your Samsung dishwasher is not drainingSamsung Canada Support
- Common Samsung dishwasher error codesSamsung Canada Support