How To Fix Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining

Samsung dishwasher has provided convenience to every household with its complete coverage for superior cleaning. Aside from the cleaning performance, it also features drying and quiet performance, multiple drain cycles and options, energy efficiency, along with efficient interior design and reliability. 

You also don’t need to manually drain the Samsung dishwasher once it’s done performing the cycle as all of the water is drained at the  end of the main wash. Depending on the cycle you have chosen, the main wash can take anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes, and may repeat multiple times throughout the cycle duration. 

However, there are instances where the Samsung dishwasher is reported not draining. There are several reasons why you might experience a Samsung dishwasher not draining at the end of the main wash. Let us talk about some useful tips so that the water can flow freely on your Samsung dishwasher drainage system. 

Error Codes That Indicate “No Drain”

When the Samsung dishwasher is not draining the water inside, it will display different error codes to indicate that there is a drain or overflow error. Error codes such as 5C, 5E, OC, or OE are the most common indicators of the Samsung dishwasher not draining problem. 

For those Samsung dishwasher models that do not display codes,  a drain or overflow error can be indicated by  certain combinations of blinking or flashing lights (such as Heavy and Auto). The user manual will indicate the proper meaning of these indicators. 

Though some of these codes or indicators might show up on your Samsung dishwasher, that doesn’t mean that it is experiencing a drain or overflow error. There are cases wherein the dishwasher is working fine and draining properly but still displays these codes and indicators. You might notice the dishwasher may stop during a mid cycle for no apparent reason after 9 minutes due to this issue. 

If the Samsung dishwasher is properly draining the water and you see some indicators, there could be a problem with the Samsung Dishwasher ECS Sensor or the Drain Sensor instead of the drain. This is due to a wear and tear as the sensors will eventually deteriorate over time and may become dirty or fail. 

Why Do You Experience Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining

The error codes are your basis on what kind of issues you are experiencing on your Samsung dishwasher. And there are different reasons why your dishwasher isn’t draining anymore. It could be that the drain hose is clogged and prevents the water from flowing freely.

A faulty check valve may also cause this drainage issue on the dishwasher. Usually, a dishwasher drain hose contains a check valve somewhere along its length. If this becomes faulty, it may get stuck in the closed position and the dishwasher won’t be able to drain water into household plumbing. 

The drain filter inside your Samsung dishwasher might also get clogged over time as it is intended to  catch solid food particles once they have been removed from your dishes. Faulty drain pumps can also cause draining problems. The drain pump should be cleaned on a regular basis by removing any foreign objects or food buildups. You will need to open the drain pump cover to clean it. 

For older models, they use drain solenoid to control the flow of water out of the appliance by opening and closing an electrical component. If the drain solenoid becomes faulty, it can get stuck in a closed position, just like the check valve on the Samsung dishwasher drain hose.

Also, the water inlet assembly might also be one of the reasons why you’ll have a Samsung dishwasher not draining. A water inlet sits between the water inlet assembly and the drain hose as water travels through it, and if food bits or other particles accumulate, then a blockage will occur. 

To remove the blockages on your dishwasher’s water inlet assembly,  remove the panel covering the water inlet assembly on the left. You’ll be able to find several gray hoses attached that you can also remove. You may use your fingers or a small brush to remove any blockages once the hoses are removed.

Ways To Fix A Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining

If the Samsung dishwasher stops draining and shows the error codes or indicators, follow these recommendations to fix the draining problems or draining issues. 

Check The Dishwasher’s Drain Connection At The Sink

If the dishwasher isn’t draining, the problem could be due to your sink’s drain. dirty and used dishwasher water would flow into the plumbing system through the drain hose. Most drain hoses are usually connected to sink drains or garbage disposal drains. 

For that reason, it could easily get clogged and would block the water flow. If you have a garbage disposal on your sink and use it, make sure that  it is clear of food waste and not clogged from any foreign objects or other debris. 

The best way to verify that there is nothing that may block the water flow, check the  dishwasher’s drain hose from top to bottom and look for food particles or any visible debris. The garbage disposal hose should be free from anything, such as stubborn particles, that could block the flow. 

If the garbage disposal has just been installed, check if the knockout plug has been removed. The knockout plug will prevent the dishwasher from draining down the same drain as the sink.

Check The Drain Hose

After installing the dishwasher, one of the most common issues found is the inability to drain properly due to a tightly squeezed Samsung dishwasher drain hose. This could happen if the dishwasher is sitting on top of its own drain hose.

Also, if the drain hose is either not connected to an air gap, or does not have a “high loop” where part of the drain hose is above where it is connected to the sink, it could also lead to a drainage problem. Without these things, water may backflow into the dishwasher and fail to drain correctly, so to avoid this problem, make sure to install the drain hose according to local regulations. 

For additional note, also ensure that the drain hose is not not kinked or bent, especially if there’s been any recent changes to the dishwasher drain hose or its sink connection. If you notice that it is kinked or bent, straighten it out. For the worst scenario wherein it cannot be straightened out anymore as the drain hose is damaged, you might need to request for a service through Samsung’s support center to fix the damaged hose. 

Check The Water Flow On The Sink Where The Dishwasher Is Connected To

To verify if the sink drains properly, run water for about 30 seconds and see if the sink drain the water.  If it does not, the issue is with the home’s plumbing and not with the dishwasher itself. For this matter, you will need to contact a plumber for assistance to fix the Samsung dishwasher not draining issue. 

Clean The Drain, Filter, And Sump In The Tub

If you have a Samsung dishwasher model where you can remove parts in the filter and drain area to help you clean more thoroughly, check its manual on how to properly remove them. Once done, the drain, dishwasher filter, and sump in the tub will need some thorough cleaning. 

Just be very careful when cleaning the drain as there might be sharp debris. For those unremovable parts of the dishwasher, make sure they are not clogged with any food or debris to avoid drain and odor issues.

Check If the Drain Valve Is Frozen

If you live in an area with extreme cold weather, the drain line could easily get frozen. Make sure to confirm that your water or drain lines are not frozen. If they are frozen,  leave the door under the sink open or let the area in question warm up somehow. Should the water lines still freeze, contact your plumber and request for a service. 

Contact Samsung Support

If you are still getting the Samsung dishwasher not draining problem, it is time to contact Samsung support for additional assistance. There might be some serious issues on the drain pump or drain solenoid for older Samsung dishwashers. 

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