Samsung Dishwasher 5C Error Code: What It Means & How to Fix It

Error Code Explained

What Does the Samsung 5C Error Code Mean?

Root Causes

Common Causes of the Samsung 5C Error Code

• 1
  Clogged Tub Filter

  The filter assembly at the bottom of the dishwasher tub (a cylindrical mesh filter plus a flat coarse filter) is packed with food particles, grease, or grit. This is the most common cause of 5C and is a maintenance issue, not a component failure.
• 2
  Kinked or Blocked Drain Hose

  The drain hose is kinked, crushed, or blocked. The hose must also maintain a high loop (or be connected to an air gap fitting) to prevent backflow from the household drain.
• 3
  Blocked Garbage Disposal or Sink Drain

  If the dishwasher drains into a garbage disposal, a clogged or recently installed disposal (with the drain knockout plug not removed) prevents drainage and triggers 5C.
• 4
  Failed Drain Pump

  The drain pump motor has burned out or its impeller is jammed with a foreign object (glass shard, bone fragment). The pump hums but does not move water.
• 5
  Blocked Check Valve

  The check valve (one-way valve) at the pump outlet can become blocked with grease, preventing water from passing through even with a working pump.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Troubleshoot the 5C Error Code

1. 1
   Clean the filter assembly

   Remove the lower rack. Locate the filter at the center-bottom of the tub. Twist the cylindrical filter counter-clockwise and pull it out. Remove the flat filter beneath it. Rinse both under running water, scrubbing with a soft brush to remove grease and debris. Reinstall with the cylindrical filter locked clockwise.
2. 2
   Check the drain hose

   Inspect the drain hose under the sink for kinks. Verify the garbage disposal knockout plug is removed if the dishwasher was recently connected to a new disposal. Confirm the drain hose high loop is above the disposal connection height.
3. 3
   Run a drain-only cycle

   Press Cancel/Drain on the dishwasher panel (on most Samsung models, pressing Start + Cancel together for 3 seconds initiates a drain cycle). Listen for the pump operating — a running pump confirms power to the drain circuit; silence confirms a pump failure.

Professional Service

When to Call a Samsung Technician

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Samsung 5C

• How often should I clean my Samsung dishwasher filter?
  Samsung recommends cleaning the filter monthly. For households that do not pre-rinse dishes, cleaning every 2 weeks is advisable. A clogged filter is responsible for the vast majority of 5C drain errors.
• My Samsung dishwasher shows 5C after a power outage — why?
  A power interruption during a cycle can leave the dishwasher in a mid-cycle state with water in the tub. When power is restored, the machine may trigger 5C because it detects water it did not successfully drain before the outage. Run a Cancel/Drain cycle to clear the tub.
• Can too much detergent cause Samsung dishwasher 5C?
  Excessive suds from using regular dish soap or too much dishwasher detergent can overflow into the drain path and create a foam barrier that the pump cannot push through. Always use automatic dishwasher detergent only (not hand dish soap) and measure carefully.