Samsung dishwasher is not draining

If your dishwasher isn't draining, you will need to check the sink's drain for clogs and blockage caused by food, debris and waste, and that the drain hose connection to the sink is straight, not pinched shut, kinked, bent or damaged. Depending on your local regulation, the hose may be connected to the sink with an air gap, or have a high loop to prevent backflow and ensure proper drainage.

Samsung dishwasher is not draining

Note

What error codes are related to drain and overflow errors?

The troubleshooting here covers drain issues whether you have an error code or not, but if you've gotten a 5C, 5E, OC, or OE error, or a combination of flashing lights that mean a drain or overflow error, you're in the right place.

You can find what to do for other error codes or flashing lights in our guides, or refer to your user manual.

Inspect the sink drain and garbage disposal.

When your dishwasher isn't draining, it could actually be your sink's drain that's causing the issue.

If you're using a garbage disposal, make sure the garbage disposal is clear of food waste and not clogged.
If your dishwasher is connected directly to the drain, look down the drain and check if there is any visible blockage.
If the dishwasher or garbage disposal was recently installed, make sure the disposal cap is removed, since it can also cause a blockage.

Check the drain hose.

The most common reason for a drain issue right after installation is that the dishwasher is sitting on top of its own drain hose, pinching it shut. Check that first, if this occurs right after installation.

The next most common reason is that 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 (see image). Without either of these, water may backflow into the dishwasher and fail to drain correctly.

You'll also want to make sure the drain hose is not kinked or bent, especially if there's been any recent changes to the drain hose or its connection to the sink. If it's kinked or bent, straighten it out.

Make sure to install the drain hose according to local regulations, which may vary.

We recommend to have the dishwasher professionally installed to help prevent these issues and ensure the correct local regulations are followed. Further guidance can be found in the installation manual included with the dishwasher.

If the drain hose is damaged to the point it cannot be straightened out, visit our Support Center to request service.

Run water in the sink that the dishwasher is connected to.

Run water for about 30 seconds, and then verify if the sink drains. If it does not, the issue is with the home's plumbing and not with the dishwasher itself. Contact a plumber for assistance.

Clean the drain and filter area, and reassemble it correctly.

Some models have removable parts in the filter and drain area to help you clean more thoroughly. If your model has these removable parts, instructions will be in your user manual. Even if the parts are not removable, clearing the area of food and debris is necessary to prevent drain and odor issues.

Caution

Use caution when cleaning the drain, because there may be sharp debris.

Important

Correct reassembly is required

For dishwashers with removable parts, if they are missing or inserted incorrectly, they can cause drain issues and errors. Make sure you're following your user manual's instructions for removal, cleaning, and reassembly of these parts.

Confirm your drain line is not frozen.

If it's possible that your water or drain lines are frozen, leave the door under the sink open or let the area in question warm up somehow. If the lines continue to be frozen, contact a plumber.

Important

Since frozen water or drain lines are not covered under warranty service, we recommend to only request service if you know the lines are not frozen.

Request service.

If your dishwasher still won't drain, visit our Support Center to request service.

Contact Samsung Support

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