Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining? How To Fix

Last Updated on May 15, 2022 by

Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining? Clean water must flow in, and unclean water must drain out without stress for a Samsung dishwasher to function properly. However, the device may sometimes fail to drain the water within.

Food particles obstructing the filter, drain hose, or pump assembly are the most common causes of this problem. Follow these steps to determine and resolve the issue with your Samsung dishwasher. Before doing most of these fixes, remember to unplug the dishwasher and cut off the water supply.

Precaution Before DIY Checking Your Samsung Dishwasher

Always turn off the electricity to your Samsung dishwasher before undertaking any repairs. This will remove the possibility of electrocution and lessen the chance of harm. Working with dishwashers necessitates the use of water. So, turn off the appliance’s water supply and have some towels ready to clean up any spillage.

Finally, keep your user manual and any accessible technical sheets close to hand. These materials are useful resources for discovering and identifying critical components.

Error Codes for Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining

When your Samsung dishwasher doesn’t drain, an error code may appear. To correlate to a specific situation, these codes employ a mix of certain letters and numbers. Here are some of the most frequent Samsung dishwasher trouble codes and what they mean:

5C or 5E: The dishwasher will not drain. Check for obstructions in the drain hose and its sink connector. Check for obstructions in the dishwasher’s filter and drain.

OC or OE: A water level error has occurred, suggesting too much water in the dishwasher. Check the dishwasher filter and drain and the drain hose and its sink connection. To clear any obstructions, run water through the sink.

Why Your Samsung Dishwasher Is Not Draining

Drain Filter Blocked

A blocked filter in the Samsung dishwasher prevents it from draining. A Samsung dishwasher may collect a lot of food particles and oil, which can ultimately build up in the strainer beneath your sink that serves as the water supply for your Samsung dishwasher.

Don’t worry if this occurs to you; there is a simple solution. Detach the old one (some may be fastened with plumbers tape), remove any dirt from within by hand or with a long-handled scrubbing brush, and thoroughly clean before reassembling. In no time, you’ll have a free-flowing Samsung dishwashing machine.

Dishwasher Drain Connection

When your dishwasher doesn’t drain, the problem may be with your sink’s drain. If you’re utilizing trash disposal, ensure it’s not blocked and free of food waste. Look down the drain to see any obvious obstruction if your dishwasher is connected directly to the drain. If the dishwasher or trash disposal was just installed, check sure the disposal cap is removed.

Garbage Disposal Blocked

If you’re wondering why your dishwasher won’t drain, the disposal is another thing to look at. A hose will go from your appliance to the garbage disposal through the drain pipe.

It’s a means to get rid of any water that didn’t make it through. The blocked disposal may slow the water flow out of the dishwasher, resulting in a large amount of standing water.

Ensure the disposal is empty of food particles and running on low for a few seconds to prevent a blocked drain. You should clear your drains if this doesn’t work.

Drain Pump 

A defective pump in a Samsung dishwasher is uncommon, but it does happen. Remove pumps and use an impeller to drain the water from your dishwasher, and check if it may be damaged. A damaged pump can be caused by various items such as shattered glass or foreign particles clogging the system.

When you start this unit, you should hear a humming noise from the motor, which indicates that something is wrong with the pump – frequently, broken glass is to blame for these issues.

Check to see whether any foreign items have obstructed the impeller. Scrape off the debris to clean it up quickly. Rotate it with your finger to check whether the impeller is working correctly. Check to see whether the motor is spinning in the wrong direction. The engine in Samsung dishwashers is meant to only operate in one manner, and if it is going backward, you will need to replace it.

Drain Hose

A blocked drain pipe is one of the most frequent Samsung dishwasher not draining issues. This may be caused by various factors, including food particles, plant matter, and even tree roots that have grown into your line over time.

Turning off the water supply valve at your wall is one technique to see whether it’s merely debris. If you don’t see any leaks after doing this, it’s probably simply a buildup in your Samsung dishwasher drainage system.

To remove these clogs, pour hot water down the length of the pipe with a strong stream, which will help break up residue and allow it to flow through more readily, or spray them with CLR cleaner before giving it another go. The kinked drain line is why the Samsung dishwasher won’t drain. This might be caused by things being forced down into it, normal wear and tear over time, or improper installation.

Remove the top rack from your Samsung dishwasher (it should simply come right out), then remove the screws that keep the front panel in place to access your plumbing connections. Then, at several spots along the line, gently push up until you feel resistance; after you’ve found where there are no more bends, tighten that area with plumbers tape to prevent it from happening again.

Solenoid Valve

Depending on the model, the dishwasher may feature a drain solenoid valve that opens to enable the water to drain. Temperatures that are excessively high or low might cause the solenoid to fail. The valve will not open if the solenoid fails, and the dishwasher will not empty.

Like the pump motor, the drain solenoid may be examined with a multimeter to see whether it has continuity. The solenoid should be changed if it is faulty. Typically, the solenoid is found near the motor or on the drain pump. Remove the bottom front kick plate or bottom access panel to get access.

Jammed Check Valve (Flapper)

A check valve prevents pumped-out wastewater from returning to the dishwasher. The water will not drain properly if the check valve becomes stuck in the closed position. Cleaning the check valve may resolve the problem, but if it does not, it should be replaced.

The check valve is situated on the drain pump or pump’s output port. You’ll need to remove the bottom access panel or kick plate to check it. Examine the flapper for free movement and evidence of wear or damage.

Check the Air Gap

Make that the air gap cylinder is not blocked with debris. This component adjusts water flow, eliminating backup during washing cycles and ensuring that your dishwasher runs smoothly.

It is usually found under your sink, near the washer output hose; if you see any accumulation from food or strange items, clear it out right away so that effective drainage may continue uninterrupted.

Using The Wrong Detergent

If you’ve been using a liquid detergent, it’s conceivable that the Samsung dishwasher won’t empty. Powder detergents are used in many machines instead of liquid detergents. If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably used liquid soap in a pinch. While it cleans your dishes well, the suds it produces might prevent the dishwasher from draining correctly when the cycle is over.

The solution is straightforward: just refill the detergent compartment with the kind of soap recommended in your dishwasher instructions. If you choose a liquid, be cautious not to overfill it.

Samsung Dishwasher Leaking When Draining

When your Samsung dishwasher starts its draining cycle, the operation should be something you can hear but not see. Suppose you find that draining starts and water leaks from the appliance, then you need to fix this immediately.

Check whether the water is leaking from the drain pump if your Samsung dishwasher is leaking during draining. If this is the case, the leakage is caused by the impeller and seal kit, and both of these components must be changed to halt the leak.

This method may be done without the drain pump, but it will require disassembling the pump and locating an impeller and seal kit. If you want to prevent this, you may replace the pump and motor assembly, which may be advantageous since you’ll know the hose, impeller, and seal kit are all in good shape.

Conclusion on Samsung Dishwasher Not Draining?

If your Samsung dishwasher is not draining, it might be due to several factors. Improper installation might create clogging in the drainage pipes or drain pump, preventing water from flowing correctly. The most typical cause of this error number is an obstacle of some type, such as dirt on the filter screen within the dishwasher or anything obstructing one of the holes in the strainer basket in the sink.

To reduce these concerns, we suggest that you clean your filters regularly to keep them clear of grease accumulation and use a hose to flush out any blockages inhibiting water flow whenever feasible.