Amana Washer HC Error Code — What It Means
The HC error code on an Amana top-load HE washer indicates that the hot and cold inlet hoses have been installed incorrectly. The cold hose is connected to the hot inlet and the hot hose is connected to the cold inlet. Amana reports that this code typically appears at the end of the wash cycle to alert you that the incoming water lines do not match the expected hot and cold supply arrangement. This is fundamentally a hookup error rather than a component failure. The washer detects that fill temperatures do not align with the supply configuration and flags the reversed connection so you can correct it.
Common Causes
- Hoses crossed during installation The hot and cold hoses were physically swapped when the washer was first installed.
- Hoses reconnected incorrectly after moving The washer was moved or pulled out for cleaning and the hoses were reversed when reconnected.
- Hoses crossed after service work A technician or DIY repair reconnected the inlet hoses to the wrong ports after maintenance.
- One supply faucet not fully opened A household shutoff valve is partially closed and complicates proper hot and cold fill even if hoses are correct.
- Missing hot or cold water supply Only one water line is connected or active at the household supply, preventing the washer from receiving both hot and cold.
Step-by-Step Fix
- Shut off both water supply valves completely before touching any hoses to avoid flooding.
- Pull the washer away from the wall to access the rear hose connections and inspect the current configuration.
- Identify the hot inlet port on the washer (usually marked with a red or H label) and the cold inlet port (marked blue or C).
- Swap the hoses so the hot water supply line connects to the hot inlet and the cold supply line connects to the cold inlet.
- Confirm that both household shutoff faucets are fully open and supplying water to the washer.
- Run a complete wash cycle to verify that the HC code clears and does not return.
- Contact service if the code persists after correcting the hoses and confirming both supplies are present, as further diagnostics may be required.
Parts Often Needed
| Part | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hot water inlet hose | Amazon | Only if your existing hose is damaged or you need to replace it during reconnection. |
| Cold water inlet hose | Amazon | Only if the hose is cracked, kinked, or needs replacement when correcting the hookup. |
When to Call a Pro
Call a professional if the HC code continues to appear after you have swapped the hoses to the correct inlets and confirmed that both hot and cold water supplies are fully open and reaching the washer. At that point a technician will verify whether the machine is actually receiving the proper hot and cold supply at the inlet valves and will consult the service manual for your specific Amana model to diagnose any underlying valve or sensor issue.