Samsung defines 5C and 5E as drainage faults, most often linked to a blocked pump filter, a kinked or obstructed drain hose, or an incorrectly installed standpipe connection. This page is only for a displayed 5C/5E code; use the separate 4C/4E guide when the washer cannot take in water. First unplug the appliance and allow hot wash water to cool. Drain through the emergency tube into shallow containers before opening the filter, because a full drum can release a large volume. Clean accessible debris, lock the filter and emergency cap securely, then verify the hose is not pinched and is installed to Samsung’s stated dimensions before one monitored test.
Safety first
- Never open the pump filter while the drum contains hot water. Unplug first, protect the floor and do not use sharp tools inside the pump or hose.
What the symptom may indicate
Checks in the right order
- Cool, isolate and drain
Switch off and unplug. Let hot water cool, place towels and shallow containers at the lower access door, then empty the drum through the emergency drain tube before touching the filter.
- Clean and reseal the filter
Unscrew the pump filter only after flow stops, remove accessible debris, rinse it with warm water, wipe the recess, then refit it clockwise and secure the emergency-tube cap to prevent leaks.
- Check the drain route
Straighten kinks and inspect the accessible hose. For a standpipe, Samsung specifies a hose height of at least 60 cm and no more than 150 mm inserted; remove a spigot blanking cap on a new installation.
- Run one observed drain test
Restore power, select a short drain or rinse-and-spin cycle and stay beside the washer. Stop immediately if water appears at the filter, hose or standpipe.
Stop and get qualified help when
- Stop and arrange Samsung service if the hose, filter housing or impeller is damaged, water leaks, the pump hums without draining, the code returns after one correct test or the washer cannot be moved safely.
Next step
Repair, replace a part, or arrange a diagnosis?
Use the checks and stop conditions above to choose the least costly safe next step. A symptom alone never proves that the appliance has failed.
Resolve it without buying anything
Complete the 4 safe checks in order. If normal operation returns and no warning sign remains, no replacement is indicated.
Replace only the confirmed part
If the checks isolate a worn or blocked component, match its complete reference to the exact appliance model before ordering.
This guide does not identify a replacement part. Do not order a generic component from the symptom alone.
Arrange a diagnosis before replacing the appliance
Stop at any warning sign listed above. A qualified diagnosis should confirm that repair is unsafe, unavailable or uneconomical before an appliance replacement is considered.
Stop and get qualified help when : 1
Compare replacement appliances on AmazonPaid Amazon search. Results are suggestions, not a diagnosis or a recommendation to discard the appliance.Sources used
- Samsung — Samsung identifies 5E/5C as a drainage issue and documents pump-filter cleaning, hose obstructions, standpipe height and 150 mm insertion limits.
- Samsung — Samsung’s emergency-drain procedure requires power isolation, cautions that retained water may be hot and warns that an incorrectly refitted filter can leak.
Last checked: 29 August 2026