What 5C actually means
Your Samsung washer can't get the water out of the drum, so it has stopped mid-cycle with a tub full of water.
The machine expects the water level to drop within a set time once the drain pump runs. When it doesn't, it flags 5C (the same fault older Samsung models show as 5E) and halts rather than carrying on to spin. You'll usually find the door locked and standing water in the drum.
What usually causes it
- Blocked pump filter at the bottom front of the machine
- Debris caught in the sump hose between drum and pump — coins, bra wires, hair grips
- Drain hose kinked, pushed too far into the standpipe, or the standpipe itself blocked
- Worn or seized drain pump
- Faulty pressure switch reading the water level wrongly
What you can safely check yourself
Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.
- Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then restart a rinse and spin to see if it clears.
- Open the small flap at the bottom front, put a shallow tray and towels down, and drain and clean the pump filter — check for coins and fluff in the housing.
- Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, trapped against the wall or pushed more than a few inches into the standpipe.
- Pour a jug of water down your sink standpipe to confirm it isn't slow or blocked.
When to call someone
This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.
Other Samsung washing machine codes
- Samsung 1E — The machine can't tell how much water is in the drum, so it …
- Samsung 2E — The machine hasn't managed to empty its water within the tim…
- Samsung 3E — The machine can't tell how fast the drum motor is turning, s…
- Samsung 4E — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it allo…
- Samsung 5E — The machine has tried to pump the water out and, after about…
- Samsung 8E — The machine has drawn more electrical current than it should…
- Samsung DE — The machine can't confirm the door is shut and locked, so it…
- Samsung E01 — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expe…