Written by
Nadia Okafor Appliance Care EditorPublished October 26, 2026
VERIFIED
Error code5C, SC, 5E, SE
ApplianceDishwasher
Four spellings, one fault
Whether the display reads 5C, SC, 5E or SE, the water is not leaving the tub. The US guide from Samsung links to a separate dishwasher-not-draining guide, and Australian and UAE listings offer first checks. Samsung’s UK table describes the logic: the control expects the water level to fall and detects no change.
Checks, in the order the lists give them
Shut the water supply valve before anything else.
Inspect the drain hose for clogs, folds or kinks.
Inspect the drain hole in the pump, and clear debris from it.
Confirm that drainage outside the machine works and is unblocked.
Keep the mesh filter at the machine’s base clean.
Make sure the drain pipes have no kinks.
Samsung’s India page counts 5E as an installation code, with a bent or kinked drain hose as the cause.
Related codes
5C2: the drain pump fails to start, runs briefly or stalls.
For a Samsung dishwasher in San Francisco that will not drain even after the hose and filter checks, see Samsung dishwasher repair or call (415) 969-6153. Have the exact code, the model number and a list of what you cleared.
Model compatibility: Samsung reuses codes across series and model years, so 5C, SC, 5E, SE may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
5C, SC, 5E and SE are drain errors meaning the dishwasher cannot drain.
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your Samsung appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
The 9C1 code (UC or 9E1 on some panels) means abnormal voltage put the dishwasher into protection mode. A breaker restart and a clean circuit come first.
You submit a request with your appliance model and symptom, we confirm an appointment window, and a technician performs an on-site diagnosis. You then receive a clear estimate and decide whether to proceed before any repair begins.
Yes. We provide an upfront estimate after diagnosis. No parts are ordered or installed until you approve the work, so there are no surprise charges.
Replacement parts are selected for the exact model and confirmed with you before ordering or installation.
Service areas are listed on the Locations page. Contact us with your ZIP code to confirm current coverage for your address.
Ready to get your Samsung appliance working again?
Book a repair online or call us — clear estimates and approval before any repair work begins.
