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Samsung Washer Error Code 5C (No Drain)

5C means the washer isn’t draining. Samsung’s own fix is almost always the drain hose installation, rarely the pump.

Risk: Low

Meaning

5C (also shown as 5E, SE, SC, or nd) means the washer isn’t draining at the speed it should, or at all. Samsung’s troubleshooting for this code is nearly identical to its overflow guide (OE): check the washer’s level and the drain hose before assuming a pump problem.

Front-load and top-load Samsung washers share this code but not the same checklist: only front-loaders have a pump filter behind the bottom access panel, so top-load owners can skip that step and focus on the drain hose and leveling instead. Samsung explicitly frames a failed pump as rare for this code, which matches how often the actual fix turns out to be nothing more than a re-seated hose or a re-leveled machine.

The information provided here is a diagnostic aid and does not replace the intervention of a qualified professional.

Possible causes

No cause is certain until it has been checked on the appliance.

Very likely Drain hose installed incorrectly (depth, height, or an airtight seal in the standpipe)
Likely Washer not level
Possible Clogged pump filter (front-load models only, top-load washers don't have one)

Tools needed

Tape measure
Shallow tray
Towels
Flat screwdriver

First checks

Check the drain hose: inserted 6 to 8 inches into the standpipe, secured so it can't slip deeper, not kinked, and between 18 and 96 inches high (24 to 35 inches for a wash basin).
Confirm the washer is level on the floor.
On front-load models, clean the pump filter behind the bottom-front access panel. Top-load washers don't have a removable filter, skip this step.
Restart a cycle and confirm the washer drains at the start.

Step-by-step diagnosis

Start with the drain hose, since Samsung names its installation as the most common cause of this code by some margin.
Measure the insertion depth into the standpipe: 6 to 8 inches. Any deeper and the hose seals the pipe.
Secure the hose so it cannot creep further down as the machine vibrates. That slow slide is why a working installation fails months later.
Check the height: 18 to 96 inches to a standpipe, or 24 to 35 inches into a wash basin.
Run the hose through your hand looking for kinks behind the machine.
Level the washer. A tilt affects both draining and the sensor reading.
On a front loader, open the bottom-front access panel, drain the residual water through the small tube first, then unscrew and clean the pump filter. Top loaders have no removable filter, so skip this.
Restart a cycle and confirm the machine drains at the start.

What not to do

Removing the screw holding the drain hose to the back of the washer. Samsung specifically warns against this, replace it with any screw that fits if it's already gone.
Assuming the drain pump has failed. Samsung's own wording is that service is rarely required for this code, the hose installation is the usual fix.

When to stop

Hose position, height, level, and filter are all correct and 5C persists. Samsung notes service is rarely needed for this code, so a code that survives all of the above is unusual and worth a diagnosis.
The pump makes no sound at all when the drain should start.

An error code varies by brand

The same code can have a different meaning depending on the brand and model. Always check your appliance's manual before acting.

Related guides

When to call a professional

If the simple checks turned up nothing, if the repair involves electricity, gas, or the sealed refrigerant system, or if you have any doubt at all: stop there and hand the appliance over to a qualified technician.