Drain pump
Common dishwasher and washer water-removal part.
The LC error on a Samsung dishwasher means the anti-flood sensor in the base of the machine detected water where it shouldn’t be. The dishwasher has locked itself out to prevent your cabinet floor from flooding. Don’t just restart it — find the leak and dry the base first.
What This Error Means
Underneath the Samsung dishwasher tub there’s a shallow drip pan with a float switch. If any water collects there — from a leak in the door gasket, a hose connection, or the pump seal — the float rises, the sensor trips, and LC appears.
The machine will not start again until the base pan is completely dry and the float drops back down. There’s no way to reset or bypass this.
Common Causes
- Door gasket failure — The rubber seal around the door opening hardens and cracks over time. Water dribbles down through the gap at the bottom of the door and collects in the base pan. Check the bottom corners of the gasket first — that’s where cracks most commonly form.
- Drain hose connection — The drain hose connections at the pump or the sink drain can loosen over time, especially if the dishwasher was recently installed or moved.
- Inlet hose connection — The water supply connection at the inlet valve can drip if the fitting wasn’t fully tightened.
- Pump seal wear — The pump housing has seals that can fail, allowing water to leak from the bottom of the unit.
- Detergent overuse or wrong detergent — Too much detergent or a non-dishwasher detergent creates excess foam that finds its way to the base.
Step-by-Step Fix
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Don’t restart the dishwasher until you’ve dried the base. Running it with water in the base will just trigger LC immediately again.
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Cut power at the breaker or unplug the machine.
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Pull the dishwasher out from under the counter. You’ll need to remove the two mounting screws at the top of the door frame that hold it to the underside of the counter, and disconnect the power and supply line first.
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Tilt the machine backward about 30–45 degrees. Water in the base pan will drain back through the pump. Keep it tilted for 30–60 seconds while the water flows out, then gently set it back on the floor. Have old towels ready.
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Find the leak source. Inspect the door gasket thoroughly — run your finger along the entire perimeter, paying attention to the bottom corners. Look for cracks, tears, or sections that have separated from the door frame. Also look at the drain hose connection at the bottom of the machine and the inlet hose where it connects to the valve.
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Dry the base completely. Use paper towels to absorb any remaining water. A small fan aimed into the base for 12–24 hours will fully dry it.
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Fix the leak before reinstalling. If the gasket is cracked, replace it before putting the machine back. If a hose is loose, tighten or replace it.
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Reinstall and test. Run a short cycle and watch for LC. If it doesn’t appear, the fix worked.
Parts You May Need
- Samsung dishwasher door gasket/seal
- Dishwasher drain hose
- Dishwasher sump seal kit
- Cascade Platinum dishwasher pods
When to Call a Technician
If you’ve dried the base and can’t identify where the water came from, an appliance technician can run a water supply cycle while the machine is pulled out and visually locate the drip. Pump seal replacement is a more involved repair that often warrants a technician visit.