Samsung 5E / SE: Drain Error
Medium severity
A Samsung display cycling through 5E or SE partway through a wash is telling you the tub isn't emptying on schedule, almost always because something downstream is blocking the water.
Applies to: Most Samsung DW-series dishwashers with digital displays (5E, SE, 5C, SC, and SR all reference the same drain fault family)
What it means
5E, SE, 5C, SC, and SR are the same underlying fault shown with different characters depending on the model's display — Samsung groups them together as its drain-error family. The dishwasher is having trouble draining water out of the tub within the expected time.
Common causes
- Clogged fine filter or coarse filter at the bottom of the tub
- Kinked, crushed, or improperly installed drain hose
- Clogged air gap or garbage disposal knockout plug never removed
- Debris jammed in the sump or drain pump
What you can check yourself
- Remove and thoroughly clean the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub
- Check the drain hose behind/under the unit for kinks and confirm it isn't crushed against the cabinet
- If connected to a garbage disposal, confirm the knockout plug was removed and run the disposal to clear it
- Check any air gap fitting on the sink or counter for clogs
- Run a drain-only or rinse cycle to see if the code clears once debris is removed
Call a professional when
If the filter, hose, and disposal are all clear but the error keeps recurring, the drain pump itself is likely failing and needs a technician to replace it.
Related
- Samsung dishwasher codes — full list of Samsung fault codes
- Samsung OE — over-level water, often the downstream result of a drain fault
- Samsung LE — leak error, sometimes caused by the same blocked drain path
- Dishwasher Not Draining — symptom guide across brands