Drain Error

What it means

This code appears on Samsung dishwashers with a digital display when water is not drained from the bottom of the machine within the set time. Dirty water stays in the base and the cycle stops. The same code can mean something else on other brands, and the order of codes may differ between some Samsung dishwasher series.

Models covered: Samsung dishwashers with a digital display; codes and their order differ between some series.

Related codes: 4C3CLCOC

Symptoms4

• Water stays in the bottom of the dishwasher after the cycle and 5C is shown.
• Bad smell from standing water.
• Food residue on dishes because dirty water was not drained.
• In some cases the drain pump is heard running but the water does not go down.

Possible causes6

• Bottom filters clogged with food debris.
• Drain hose kinked under the sink or behind the machine.
• Blocked drain connection at the sink drain or food waste disposer, or the disposer knockout plug not removed at installation.
• Hard object such as glass or bone stuck in the drain pump.
• Failed drain pump or pump wiring.
• Main board fault (rare).

How to diagnose5

1. Unplug the dishwasher, and let the water cool first if a hot cycle was running.
2. Remove the lower rack and take out the bottom filters as the user manual shows, rinse them under running water, with a towel to catch water.
3. Check the drain hose under the sink for kinks and make sure the sink drain is not blocked.
4. If a food waste disposer was recently fitted, make sure its knockout plug was removed at installation.
5. If the code remains, a technician unplugs the machine before opening it and checks the drain pump, hoses and wiring.

How to fix6

1. Clean the bottom filters and refit them correctly.
2. Straighten the drain hose and clear the sink drain or disposer connection.
3. The technician removes any object stuck in the drain pump.
4. Replace the drain pump if confirmed faulty.
5. Repair the wiring or main board only if confirmed as the cause.
6. Run a short program and confirm the water drains fully and the code does not return.

Repair cost

In Saudi riyals; the highlighted part is the expected range for this fault.

The cost is small when cleaning the filters or hose fixes it, and reaches the high end when the drain pump is replaced with a technician visit.

Prices are rough estimates including the part and the technician’s fee, and vary with brand, model and part source.
Prices last updated: September 2026

Frequently asked questions