Samsung washer code 5C: not draining

What it means

The washer tried to pump water out and it drained too slowly, or not at all.

On models without a display, Samsung signals this with: Small or Low light blinking.

What to try

Unplug the washer before any step beyond a quick look, and turn the water off before touching hoses.

1. Turn the washer off. If you just ran a hot cycle such as Sanitize, wait about an hour so the water can cool.
2. Check the drain hose isn’t kinked, crushed or damaged, and that it isn’t sealed airtight into the drain pipe.
3. Check the hose height: Samsung specifies at least 18 inches and no more than 96 inches above the floor for a standpipe.
4. Don’t use a drain hose extension kit, and don’t remove the screw that holds the hose holder on the back.
5. Front-load washers: clean the pump filter behind the small door at the bottom front. Put towels and a shallow tray down first, because the water left inside will come out.
6. Restart a cycle. The washer should start by draining.

Call a technician if

Resetting a Samsung washer

Samsung’s basic reset for most faults: turn the washer off for 2 to 3 minutes, turn it back on and restart the cycle. If the same code comes back, request service.

Still stuck?

Washer won’t drain: full Fix Finder5 checks for any brand, quickest first.

Sources