The **SC** display on a Samsung dishwasher points to **drain error**. Treat it as a diagnostic direction rather than a parts order: operating conditions, wiring, sensors, actuators, and control electronics can overlap. The exact stage when the code appears can be as important as the characters themselves. Note whether it happens at startup, during fill, heating, cooling, draining, spinning, drying, or after a power event. The recorded display form is **SC**. Search normalization stores it as **SC** while preserving the characters a homeowner actually sees.
Reviewed by Ethan Mercer · Last reviewed August 17, 2026
Written by
Ethan Mercer Appliance Repair Content SpecialistPublished August 17, 2026Updated August 22, 2026Technically reviewed August 17, 2026
Content status:
Verified
Error codeSC
ApplianceDishwasher
Quick answer
Drain error.
Model compatibility: Samsung can reuse or reformat codes across series and model years, so SC may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
The **SC** display on a Samsung dishwasher points to **drain error**. Treat it as a diagnostic direction rather than a parts order: operating conditions, wiring, sensors, actuators, and control electronics can overlap. The exact stage when the code appears can be as important as the characters themselves. Note whether it happens at startup, during fill, heating, cooling, draining, spinning, drying, or after a power event. The recorded display form is **SC**. Search normalization stores it as **SC** while preserving the characters a homeowner actually sees.
Signs
Symptoms you may notice
On affected Samsung dishwasher models, water or condensate may remain where the appliance expects it to be removed.
A symptom that fits SC is that a cycle can pause, extend, or stop during the drain stage.
One clue that supports the SC diagnosis is that a pump may run longer than normal or sound different while the code is active.
The SC display becomes more meaningful if sC appears during the dishwasher function associated with drain error.
One clue that supports the SC diagnosis is that the cycle can stop, drain, fail to fill/heat, or repeat a stage.
Why it happens
Possible causes
varies by model — official regional/current support — Drain error
Before you call
Safe checks you can make
These are simple, non-hazardous checks only. If anything is unclear, stop and contact a technician.
With SC recorded, inspect and clean only the user-accessible filter or drain area described in the model manual.
Before requesting service for SC, verify the external drain hose for kinks, freezing, crushing, or an incorrect installation height.
To rule out an accessible cause, verify the household standpipe, sink, disposal connection, or condensate path is not restricted.
The next non-invasive check is to record whether the pump runs and whether fluid actually leaves the appliance.
To rule out an accessible cause, record the code before resetting.
For SC, start by doing this: verify water supply, drain path/filter, door, detergent/suds, and visible leaks only when relevant.
Important safety warning. Stop use for active leakage near electrical parts, burning smell, or repeated breaker trips. Do not defeat leak or door-safety switches. For SC, stop troubleshooting immediately if the symptom crosses into a safety hazard rather than a normal diagnostic condition.
Get help
When to request repair service
If the accessible drain path is clear but the code returns, the pump, internal hose, water-level sensing, wiring, or control may need model-specific testing. If SC keeps returning, record the stage at which it reappears so the technician can test the drain error path instead of replacing parts by guesswork.
Book your repair
Seeing this code on your Samsung appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
Resetting can clear a temporary state, not a persistent issue. If **SC** comes back, preserve the code and move to the safe checks or model-specific service path.
Short owner-accessible checks may be reasonable when the appliance is safe. Persistent **SC**, worsening performance, or any electrical/water/heat hazard is a reason to stop use.
Not automatically. Samsung error codes are diagnostic indicators, not part numbers. Confirm the circuit around **SC** before replacing anything.
The same-looking code can be reused on another Samsung appliance family or reformatted by region/model year. Match the appliance type and exact model before applying a meaning. This page therefore keeps **Dishwasher SC** separate from same-looking codes used by other Samsung appliance families.