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Samsung dishwasher SC code: what it means and what to check

Your Samsung dishwasher may finish washing, then beep with SC on the display and leave water in the bottom. This page explains what that code means, what you can safely check first, and what a technician tests if the code comes back.

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Straight answer

A Samsung dishwasher SC code means the dishwasher can't drain the water out at the end of the cycle. The most common cause is debris blocking the filter area, drain pump inlet, drain hose, or the sink drain connection.

Check these first

Safe to do yourself. Unplug the appliance before you start.

  1. Clean the filter and sump cup

    Turn the dishwasher off, then remove the lower rack and lift out the filter parts from the floor of the tub. Rinse the screen, remove any food scraps, and look down into the sump for glass, labels, bones, or hair wrapped near the small drain opening.

  2. Check for standing water

    If the tub is full, bail out water with a cup before you keep checking. A shallow puddle near the filter is different from a tub that never pumped out.

  3. Check the sink drain connection

    Look under the sink where the dishwasher drain hose ties into the disposal or drain fitting. If the sink is slow, or that small hose port is packed with food, the dishwasher can wash normally and fail only when it tries to dump water.

  4. Look for a kinked or pinched drain hose

    Follow the visible part of the drain hose under the sink. A crushed hose, a sharp bend, or a hose shoved tight behind storage items can stop the drain flow.

  5. Run a short rinse or drain cycle

    After cleaning the filter and sink connection, run a rinse cycle and listen for the drain pump near the end. A normal drain has a steady pump sound and water moving into the sink drain.

When it's a repair

If the SC code returns after the filter, hose, and sink connection are clear, a technician usually starts by clearing the drain pump chamber, then replacing the drain pump if it hums, stalls, leaks, or won't run when powered by the control. Less often, the repair is a restricted drain hose, a bad check valve area, damaged wiring at the pump connector, or a control board that never sends power to the pump. If the dishwasher is older, has a leaking tub, or needs both a pump and control repair, many homeowners put that money toward replacement instead.

Models where this shows up most

Samsung lists SC with 5C, 5E, and SE as the same drain error on dishwashers with a digital display. Models without a display may show this fault with blinking lights instead.

Worth knowing

Conditions that make this more likely

The house drain can be the real problem

Older homes often have narrow or partly blocked standpipes and drain lines. If the machine's own filter and hose are clear, the house drain is the next suspect, and that's a plumbing call rather than an appliance call.

Boards fail earlier in hot rooms

Electronics are rated for room temperature. In a garage or an unconditioned laundry room in summer, a control board can sit well above that for hours a day. Before replacing a board, a good technician confirms the parts it controls test good, since a shorted pump or valve can take out a new board too.

What a technician tests

Most likely part first. These are for a technician with a meter and the tech sheet, not a weekend project.

PartHow it's tested
Drain pump chamber and impellerRemove the drain pump from the sump and inspect the inlet pocket. A small glass chip, strip of label, or hair wrapped around the impeller can block the small drain path even when the main filter looks clean.
Drain hose and sink drain portDisconnect the hose at the sink side and check for flow through the hose into a pan. A blocked disposal port, packed drain tailpiece, kinked hose, or water trapped in a sagging hose points to a plumbing or hose restriction instead of a bad pump.
Drain pump motorStart a drain command and check for power at the pump connector. If power is present but the pump doesn't run, only hums, or runs with weak flow after the chamber is clean, the pump is the likely failed part.
Pump wiring and connectorInspect the pump plug, terminals, and wire run near the base for loose pins, corrosion, or damage from water. A pump with no power during drain demand needs wiring checked before the control is blamed.
Main control boardIf the drain path is clear and the pump tests good, check whether the control sends power during the drain part of the cycle. No pump output from the board with intact wiring points back to the control.

Don't see your symptom?

Describe it on the phone. The company on the other end works on these every day and will know what to ask.

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Common questions about appliance repair

Is SC the same as 5C on a Samsung dishwasher?

Yes. Samsung groups SC, 5C, 5E, and SE as drain errors. The display can make a 5 look like an S.

Can I reset a Samsung dishwasher SC code?

You can switch power off at the breaker briefly after you check the drain path. If the clog or pump fault is still there, the code will come back.

Why does the SC code show after the cycle ends?

The dishwasher may fill and wash normally, then fail when it has to pump the dirty water out. That's why the code often appears near the end with water still in the tub.

Is this usually a drain pump replacement?

Often it's a blockage first, especially in the sump or sink drain connection. If the path is clear and the pump won't move water during a drain command, a technician will usually replace the drain pump.

Will warranty cover an SC code?

It depends on the model age and the warranty terms. Blocked filters or clogged plumbing are often treated differently from a failed drain pump, so have the proof of purchase ready before you call for service.

Still showing the problem after the checks?

Call and describe what you tried. You'll be connected with an independent repair company near you.

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