- Appliances
- Washing machines
SC
Samsung washer SC or 5C code: not draining
Evidence linked to this decision
View source: Samsung USA washing machine error codesRisk level
Medium
Proceed carefully and stop if the check is unclear.
Urgency
High
Quick answer
SC or 5C means the washer is not draining at the correct speed or at all. Check the documented drain path before requesting service.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- Wait for hot wash water to cool before manual draining, and disconnect power before opening a documented front-load filter area.
Safe checks you can perform
- Let hot water cool before draining
- Inspect the accessible drain hose
- Clean the pump filter only on a matching front-load design
- Run the documented drain test
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: Diagnose the pump and internal drain path
What a technician must be able to justify
Technician visit
These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
Diagnose the pump and internal drain path
What they doA qualified appliance technician should inspect the drain pump and inaccessible hoses or wiring.
Before accepting a part or repair
Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.
Follow these steps
Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.
Let hot water cool before draining
If the washer used a hot cycle recently, wait about one hour before draining residual water or opening the pump-filter area.
Hot water can cause burns.
Evidence: Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
Inspect the accessible drain hose
Switch the washer off. Check that the visible hose is not kinked, pinched or pushed too far into the standpipe. Do not disconnect plumbing while the tub is full.
Stop if moving the washer is unsafe or water is leaking near power.
Evidence: Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
Clean the pump filter only on a matching front-load design
Unplug the washer, drain residual water using the documented service hose, then clean and reinstall the filter. Skip this step if the machine is top load or the access panel differs.
Expect residual water; never force an unfamiliar cover.
Evidence: Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
Run the documented drain test
Restore power and run the Samsung test or a cycle that includes draining. If SC or 5C returns, stop repeating resets.
Stop immediately for a leak or abnormal mechanical noise.
Evidence: Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
Still not solved
If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.
Virtual technician
Does SC still appear after these checks?
This guided flow uses the exact code and your answers to choose a test, an expected result and the next branch.
Where this code applies
A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.
Primary scope
- System
- Appliances
- Brand
- Samsung
- Product type
- Washing machines
Known code variants
- 1 5C
- 5C
- 5E
- Error 5C Samsung
- Error SC Samsung
- nd
- Samsung 5C
- Samsung SC
- SE
What it means
Samsung uses several display variants for the same no-drain condition including SC 5C 5E SE nd and 1 5C. Applicability and pump-filter access vary by model and washer type.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Highsource verified
Wait for hot wash water to cool before manual draining, and disconnect power before opening a documented front-load filter area.
Evidence: Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- Drain hose kinked or installed incorrectlyPossible
Samsung places the accessible drain-hose route among the first checks for a washer that will not drain.
Evidence: Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
- Front-load pump filter blockedPossible
A blocked pump filter is a documented cause on front-load washers. This branch does not apply universally to top-load models.
Evidence: Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
- Washer is not levelPossible
Samsung includes leveling among the checks for a no-drain condition.
Evidence: Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
- Internal drain faultPossible
A pump or internal drainage-path problem may remain when the supported external checks do not clear the code.
Evidence: Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
Sources and technical references
- 1
Samsung USA washing machine error codes
Samsung · official_doc
- 2
Samsung USA washer no-drain guide
Samsung · 2026 · official_doc
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