Written by
Nadia Okafor Appliance Care EditorPublished October 26, 2026
VERIFIED
Error code5C, 5E
ApplianceDryer
Heat-pump (condenser) dryers from Samsung show 5C or 5E when water fails to drain properly. The wording on screen may be “Check drainage” or “Empty the tank”. The possible culprits Samsung lists are the pump that drains, a hose that has frozen or kinked, and a tank that has filled up.
Checks from Samsung
Inspect the drain hose for kinks or damage.
If the hose is frozen, lay a towel soaked in warm water around it for about ten minutes.
Empty the water tank, switch the dryer on and begin the cycle again.
How the cause depends on the setup
Without a hose, the dryer is telling you its condensate (water) tank has filled.
With a hose, suspect the drainage route: the pump, a blocked drain at the far end of the hose, or a hose that is bent or blocked.
When the code persists, Samsung advises contacting a service centre.
If the tank is empty and the hose is clear but 5C returns, Samsung dryer repair handles heat-pump dryers across San Francisco and the Bay Area. Call (415) 969-6153 with the code, the model number and whether a drain hose is fitted.
Model compatibility: Samsung reuses codes across series and model years, so 5C, 5E 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
Draining malfunction: drain pump, frozen or kinked drain hose, or a full water tank.
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.
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