What the 5C / 5E code means
On Samsung washers, 5C (sometimes displayed as 5E or SC) is a drainage error. The machine runs the drain pump but doesn't sense the water level dropping in time, so it halts to protect itself. The standing water you're left with is the symptom — the cause is somewhere in the drain path.
The most common causes
In order of how often we find them: a clogged debris filter (coins, lint, socks), a blocked or kinked drain hose, a failed drain pump, or a clogged house standpipe. A Murray customer's review describes exactly this: "Called about my Samsung not draining with a 5C code — it was the drain pump."
What you can safely check first
Unplug the washer, and if it stopped during a hot wash, give the water time to cool. Lay towels down, open the small access panel at the bottom front and set a shallow pan underneath. If there's a short drain tube beside the filter, drain through it a pan at a time; if not, loosen the filter a little at a time to let water out, and tighten it again each time the pan fills so you can empty it. Once the water is out, remove the filter and clear it. Check that the drain hose isn't kinked behind the machine. If it still won't drain after that, the pump or control board is likely the issue — that's where a pro saves you time.
When to call PowerClean
If clearing the filter doesn't fix it, or you hear the pump humming without draining, call us. We carry common Samsung drain pumps, so most 5C repairs are completed in a single same-day visit across the Wasatch Front.
Samsung dryer, refrigerator or range acting up too? See our Samsung appliance repair page.
Still dealing with this? We can usually fix it the same day.