What 5C / 5E / nd Means
nd, 5E, SE, 5C, SC and 1 5C are Samsung’s no-drain group: water is not leaving the drum at the expected speed, or not at all. Samsung’s drain guide names four checks, in order: leveling, the drain hose, the pump filter on front-load models, and a test cycle. 5C on a Samsung dishwasher is also a drain code, but for a different pump on a different machine.
Common Causes of 5C / 5E / nd
- Pump filter blocked with lint, coins or hair (front-load)
- Drain hose kinked, too high, too low or pushed too far into the standpipe
- Drain pump failed or an object jammed in the impeller
- House drain or standpipe backing up
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Samsung’s guide warns that water from a hot cycle needs about an hour to cool before any of this, so the order matters. With the washer switched off at the wall and the water cooled, check that the machine stands level; then follow the drain hose and confirm it is not kinked, is inserted six to eight inches into the standpipe, sits between eighteen and ninety-six inches high, and is not sealed airtight into the drain. On a front-load model, with the washer unplugged and towels and a shallow tray under the small door at the bottom front, pull the emergency drain tube first and let the water out before unscrewing the pump filter and clearing it of coins, hair and lint. Refit, restore power and run a rinse and spin; a drum that still holds water points at the pump or its wiring.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Top-load Samsung washers have no owner-accessible pump filter; a blockage there is reached from underneath the machine, which is technician work.
- A pump that hums but does not move water has a jammed or broken impeller behind the filter housing, and pulling it means disconnecting hoses that still hold water.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.