SC fires when standing water remains in the tub after the drain phase. On Samsung machines, there are two distinct places water gets blocked: the coarse filter (user-accessible, pull-and-twist) and the drain pump mesh cover beneath it.
If you ignore the SC code and keep running the machine anyway, you're forcing the pump motor to work against a blocked head and that kills it fast. I've watched people run cycle after cycle for two weeks and turn a free 10-minute filter cleaning into a $120 pump replacement. The standing water also breeds bacteria, so your dishes are basically getting rinsed in a swamp. Fix this one today.
Phillips #2 screwdriver, Old toothbrush or soft-bristle brush
What Does the SC Code Mean?
Samsung's SC code is one of those errors that's almost always a free DIY fix, which is genuinely good news. Nine times out of ten I show up and it's debris on that secondary mesh screen underneath the main filter. Whole job takes 15 minutes and costs nothing. But if the pump motor itself is dead, you're looking at $50-100 in parts, which is still worth fixing on most of these units rather than replacing the machine.
Most Likely Causes
Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:
Drain pump mesh cover clogged with plastic film, labels, or debris40%
Coarse filter basket blocked with food debris24%
Drain hose kinked or pinched behind the machine14%
Drain hose too high or improperly looped, causing siphon issue12%
Drain pump motor failed or jammed by foreign object10%
Symptoms You May Notice
SC or 5C flashes on the display right when the cycle should be wrapping up, machine just stops and sits there.
You open the door and there's a solid inch or two of grimy, warm water sitting in the bottom of the tub.
Machine pauses partway through a cycle, you can hear it trying to drain, that low steady hum, but the water level doesn't budge.
Grinding or rattling noise during the drain phase like something loose is bouncing around in the pump housing, followed by the code.
Dishes smell funky even after a full cycle because they've been sitting in standing dirty water the whole time.
Can you reset a Samsung dishwasher to clear the SC code?
Press and hold the Start/Cancel button for a full 3 seconds until you hear a beep and the display clears. Before you run another cycle, bail out any standing water with a cup or use a wet vac, because diagnosing with a tub full of water is a mess and you can't see the mesh screen clearly. After the reset, run a short Quick Wash and stay near the machine to listen during the drain phase.
Tools Required for Diagnosis
Phillips #2 screwdriverOld toothbrush or soft-bristle brushFlashlight or headlampWhite vinegarCup or small bowl for bailing standing waterRubber glovesTowels or old ragsWet vac or shop vac (helpful but optional)Zip ties (for re-securing drain hose if needed)
Diagnostic Checklist
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
Replacement Parts
If your diagnostic testing proves the component has failed, you will need a replacement. We recommend OEM parts over aftermarket for water-handling components.
Part Name
OEM Number
Estimated Price
Drain PumpDD31-00005A · $30–$52
DD31-00005A
$30 – $52
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SC and 5C on a Samsung dishwasher?
They're exactly the same code. Samsung just changed how the display renders it on newer models. Older units with a seven-segment display show 5C because the letter S looks like a 5 on that style of screen. Newer units with a clearer display show SC. Both codes mean the exact same thing, a drain timeout, and the troubleshooting steps are identical. Don't let that trip you up.
How do I clean the Samsung dishwasher drain pump mesh?
After you pull the main filter out, look down into the sump cavity with a flashlight. That flat screen at the bottom is the pump intake mesh. Don't try to pry it out, it's built into the assembly. Grab an old toothbrush or soft brush, dip it in white vinegar, and scrub the screen in small circles. The vinegar breaks up the hard water scale and grease that builds up there. Rinse with a cup of hot water after. Takes maybe two minutes once you know where to look. A lot of DIYers skip this because they assume the main cylindrical filter is the only one. It's not.
Why does the Samsung dishwasher pump mesh clog more than other brands?
Samsung uses an unusually fine mesh to protect their high-efficiency pump motor, which is actually a good design choice because the motor itself is pretty robust when it's protected. But that fine mesh is way more sensitive to things like jar labels, plastic film, and grease. If you're not scraping plates before loading or you're washing containers with stickers still on them, that stuff coats the mesh fast. Honestly, plan on checking that sump area once a month if you run the dishwasher daily. It's a two-minute job once you know the drill.
Is the SC code covered under Samsung warranty?
Standard Samsung dishwashers come with a 1-year parts and labor warranty. If the pump motor failed on its own within that window, they should cover it. But here's the catch: if the pump died because of a foreign object like glass or a bone fragment, that's typically classified as user damage and they won't touch it. Clogs from food debris are usually excluded too. Call Samsung at 1-800-726-7864 with your model number ready. If you bought an extended warranty through your retailer, check that too because some of them cover pump motor failures specifically.
Can I just run another cycle to try to clear the SC code?
No, don't do that. Seriously. If the mesh is blocked, you're making the pump motor work against a dead head every time you run a cycle, and that burns up the motor windings. I've seen people turn a free cleaning job into a $100 pump replacement by just running cycle after cycle hoping it clears. And if there's already standing water in the tub from the previous failed cycle, running another cycle on top of it means you're washing your dishes in dirty water, which is pretty gross. Bail the water out manually, clean the filters, then run a fresh cycle.