Samsung Washer 5C Code: Meaning & Fixes

Meaning
Drain error: the washer could not drain the water in the time allowed.
Can I fix it?
Yes, usually a DIY fix
Also shown as
5E, SE, nd
Seen on
Samsung front-load and top-load washers. Older models show 5E or SE.

With 5C you’ll usually find water left in the drum. On a front-loader, Samsung points first to the debris filter behind the small door at the bottom front. On any model, check the drain hose: kinked, frozen, or pushed too far into the standpipe. Older models show the same fault as 5E or SE.

Try this first

  1. Check the drain hose behind the washer for kinks or a squashed section.
  2. On a front-load washer, clean the debris filter behind the small door at the bottom front. Top-load washers have no debris filter.
  3. Make sure the drain hose goes 6 to 8 inches into the standpipe, is held by its clip so it can't slip deeper, and doesn't form an airtight seal.
  4. In freezing weather, check that the drain hose isn't frozen.

What causes 5C

CauseWhat you noticeWhat to check
Clogged debris filter Water left in the drum, slow drain The filter behind the bottom front panel
Kinked or blocked drain hose 5C after the washer was moved The hose from the back of the washer to the drain
Blocked house drain Water backs up out of the standpipe or sink Pour a bucket of water into the drain
Faulty drain pump Filter is clean but the pump hums or stays silent Needs the pump tested

Fix it step by step

  1. Unplug and prepare (front-load washers)

    Unplug the washer. Put towels on the floor and a shallow tray or baking dish under the bottom front corner.

    Safety: If you just ran a hot cycle such as Sanitize, wait about an hour for the water to cool before you open the filter.

  2. Drain through the emergency hose

    Open the small door at the bottom front. Pull out the short drain tube, remove its cap and let the water run into the tray. Refit the cap when it stops.

    Safety: There can be more water than the tray holds. Cap the tube, empty the tray and repeat.

  3. Clean the debris filter

    Turn the filter cap counterclockwise and pull it out. Remove lint, coins, hair ties and anything else caught in it, rinse it and screw it back in firmly.

    Safety: A loose filter will leak. Turn it until it stops.

  4. Check the drain hose

    Pull the washer out a little and straighten any kinks. The drain hose should go 6 to 8 inches into the standpipe, held by its clip so it can't slip deeper, without an airtight seal. Don't remove the screw that holds the drain hose to the back of the washer. On a top-load washer, start here.

  5. Test the drain

    Plug the washer in and run Spin Only (called Drain/Spin on some models). Water should start leaving the drum within a minute.

When to call a technician

If the filter and hose are clear and the house drain works, but 5C keeps coming back, the drain pump is the likely cause. A technician can test and replace it.

Questions people ask

What's the difference between 5C, 5E and SE?

None in meaning. They are the same drain error. Newer Samsung washers show 5C, older ones 5E or SE.

How often should I clean the Samsung debris filter?

Samsung recommends at least once a month or about every 40 washes, whichever comes first, and more often if you wash a lot of towels or pet bedding.

Can I use the washer with a 5C code?

Not until it drains. A washer that can't drain will stop with water in the drum on every cycle.

See every Samsung washer code