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Are error codes flashing brighter on your Samsung dishwasher than your fairy lights did last Christmas?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. A lot of Samsung dishwashers can be fixed with a quick reset. Generally this can be done by a simple unplugging, but sometimes a larger reset is needed.
To reset a Samsung dishwasher, simply switch it off and unplug it for 5 minutes. If that doesn’t work, you may need to address a specific error code. Make sure to check the door latch, child lock settings, and your circuit breaker.
Unlike their other appliances, Samsung dishwashers tend not to have a reset button or functionally. Instead, they rely on the traditional method above.
That being said, resetting might not always fix the issue. We’ve covered other fixes in detail below, but make sure you check your manual too.
Don’t have it handy? No problem.
Here’s a link to Samsung’s “common” dishwasher manual. You can also typically find yours online by searching “Samsung Dishwasher [YOUR MODEL] Manual PDF”.
In either case, let’s go through some common Samsung dishwasher reset issues and how to solve them.
Error Code Explanations
If an error code is showing on your dishwasher, here’s what these mean (taken from the common manual above):
| Code | Action |
|---|---|
| OC | Over-level water check Functional check. Close the water supply valve and go to your house circuit breaker panel, set the dishwasher’s circuit breaker switch to off , and then contact an authorized Samsung service center. |
| LC | Leakage Check If a water supply valve connection leak occurs, close the water supply valve and go to your house circuit breaker panel, set the dishwasher’s circuit breaker switch to off , and then contact the installer to fi x. If the problem continues, contact an authorized Samsung service center |
| 4C | Water Supply Check Check if the water supply valve is closed, the water supply is suspended, or the water inlet valve or line is frozen or clogged by foreign particles. If the problem continues, close the water supply valve, and then contact an authorized Samsung service center |
| 5C | Drain Check After closing the water supply valve, check whether the drain hose is clogged or folded. Also, check whether drain hole inside sump is clogged. If the problem continues, contact an authorized Samsung service center. |
| HC | High Temperature Heating Check The product ensure that the temperature for hot water line is not too high and adjusts to appropriate temperature (120 ˚F (49 ˚C) - 149 ˚F (65 ˚C)) automatically. If the problem continues, go to your house circuit breaker panel, set the dishwasher’s circuit breaker switch to off , and then contact an authorized Samsung service center. |
| 3C | Pump Operation Check Functional check. Turn off the dishwasher and try to start it again. If the problem continues, contact an authorized Samsung service center. |
There are a few occasions where you will have to do other things to fix your dishwasher. To find out more about resetting your dishwasher and solving other issues, read on!
Simple Fixes for Samsung Dishwasher Problems
Some Samsung dishwasher problems are easy to resolve. Today we’ll focus on the following issues:
- A dishwasher that won’t start
- A dishwasher that won’t turn on
- A dishwasher that won’t drain
Coming up is a list of Samsung dishwasher problems and their fixes. They’ll help you get your dishwasher on the mend so that you can ditch those marigolds for good!
How to Fix a Samsung Dishwasher That Won’t Start
Is your Samsung dishwasher falling at the first hurdle? If it’s having problems starting up, there are a couple of things that could be wrong such as:
- A damaged door latch. If the latch has suffered damage, the door will not be able to close properly and the dishwasher will not start. Or, the door may appear to close properly but the lights still blink, which means the door switch is faulty and isn’t detecting the closed door.
- Child lock settings are on. If the child lock settings are on, most Samsung dishwashers will show a padlock image on the front panel. With this setting on, you will not be able to start up the dishwasher. It is a safety feature to prevent children from playing with the dishwasher.
- This is often a simple fix – just press and hold the button associated with child lock for 3-5 seconds until the indicator light turns off.
- Delayed start program is on. If you select this program, your dishwasher will start to wash, but at a later time.
- The control panel is displaying error codes or flashing lights. An error code or flashing lights could imply a more complex problem with your dishwasher.
You can fix the problem with your dishwasher by working through the following steps:
| Reason Why the Dishwasher Won’t Start | How to Fix It |
| A Damaged Door Latch | 1. Inspect the door hinges. If the hinges are bent or broken, replace them. 2. Inspect the door catch. If the catch is broken, replace it. If the catch is wonky, adjust it. 3. Inspect the door latch. If the latch is broken, replace it. 4. Inspect the door strike. If the door strike assembly is broken, replace it. |
| Child Lock Settings Are On | 1. Hold down the “Temp” and “Spin” buttons at the same time for 3 seconds. 2. Release the buttons. |
| Delayed Start Program Is On | 1. Press the “Start” button. 2. Then press the “Delay” button. (This button is sometimes displayed as a clock icon.) |
| The Control Panel Is Displaying Error Codes or Flashing Lights | 1. Reset the dishwasher using the steps mentioned in this article. 2. If the problem persists, consult your user’s manual. It will show you detailed instructions and fixes for error codes and flashing lights. |
How to Fix a Samsung Dishwasher That Won’t Turn On
Is your Samsung dishwasher sitting dead as a doormat? Then don’t worry! As there may be a simple explanation for this such as:
- The power button does not respond when you touch it. If this is the case, it will not turn on.
- The circuit breaker has a tripped circuit. If it has tripped, the dishwasher will not turn on.
- The switch near the dishwasher is off. If it is off, the dishwasher will not turn on.
- The dishwasher was recently installed. Has the dishwasher failed to work since its installation? Then it is likely that there was a problem with the installation.
You can fix the problem with your dishwasher by working through the following steps:
| Reason Why the Dishwasher Won’t Turn On | How to Fix It |
| The Power Button Does Not Respond When You Touch It | 1. Do you have a touch screen control panel? Then make sure you touch it with dry hands. 2. Clean around the “On” button. If you have a touch screen control panel, wipe it over with a damp cloth. |
| The Circuit Breaker Has a Tripped Circuit | 1. If the circuit breaker has tripped, flip it back up. 2. Turn the dishwasher on. |
| The Switch Near the Dishwasher Is Off | 1. If the switch is in the “Off” position, turn it on. 2. Turn the dishwasher on at the control panel. |
| The Dishwasher Was Recently Installed | 1. Contact your dishwasher installer. |
How to Fix a Samsung Dishwasher That Won’t Drain
Is your Samsung dishwasher having problems draining the water after a cycle? Then before you start manually draining it with a cup and a bucket, take a look below. Coming up, you’ll find reasons why the water in a dishwasher might stop draining. And most importantly, you’ll find instructions to fix the problem.
- Blocked drains. If you have blocked drains, it will take the water in the dishwasher a long time to drain. Or it may not drain at all.
- The drain hose is pinched shut. If the weight of the dishwasher is resting on the drain hose it will not allow water to pass through it.
- The drain hose is not connected to an air gap. If the drain hose is not connected properly dirty water may drain back into the dishwasher.
- A bent drain hose. Is your drain hose bent or damaged? Then it will be difficult for the water to drain.
- The control panel is displaying error codes or flashing lights. Some codes and lights highlight problems with the installation of your drain hose. If your dishwasher does this, you will have to fix the problem with the hose for it to work.
You can fix the issue with your dishwasher by working through the following steps:
| Reason Why the Dishwasher Won’t Drain | How to Fix It |
| Blocked Drains | 1. Clear your drains with a drain cleaning product. Or use a natural drain cleaning solution such as baking soda, cider vinegar, and hot water. 2. After running a drain cleaning product through the pipes, run the water in the sink. Does the water descend easily down the pipes? If it does, then the water in the dishwasher should begin to drain too. |
| The Drain Hose Is Pinched Shut | 1. A pinched drain hose is an installation problem. To fix this you should contact your dishwasher installer. |
| The Drain Hose Is Not Connected to an Air Gap | 1. To fix this issue, you should contact your dishwasher installer. |
| A Bent Drain Hose | 1. Locate the drain hose. 2. Use your hands to push any kinks or folds out of the hose. 3. If the hose continues to kink it may be too long. In this case, trim the hose down to size. Then reconnect the hose. |
| The Control Panel Is Displaying Error Codes or Flashing Lights | 1. Consult your user’s manual. It will show you what to do to fix different error codes and flashing light combinations. |
| New Garbage Disposal | If a new garbage disposal was installed and the dishwasher drain line was hooked up to it, but the installer didn’t knock out the plug on the new garbage disposal – so the water can’t pass into garbage disposal. You can remove the drain line with a flat head screw driver and a hammer – gently tap the screwdriver into the drain line hook up until the cap is knocked through in the disposal, hook the drain line back up, run the kitchen sink, and grind up the cap that was knocked through. Easier said than done, of course! Call a pro if you’re not confident with this. |
Conclusion
Flashing lights or error codes on your dishwasher display could make you panic. But sometimes dishwashers glitch due to a power cut or a backlog of data. This is where a simple reset helps to clear the system and gets it working properly again.
I hope the reset method in this article has helped you to get your Samsung dishwasher up and running again.
If you’re still stuck, try checking out Samsung’s troubleshooting guide starting on page 27 here.
If this article has helped you, then why not check out some of our other articles and free guides? You could even sign up to our email list!
Have a great day!
-Craig
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