Why Your Samsung Dishwasher Is Not Drying

Why Your Samsung Dishwasher Is Not Drying

Dishwashers are advanced enough to also take on the job of drying the dishes for you. But if you notice your machine doesn’t dry itself after the cycle, there might be something wrong. 

So let’s talk about why your dishwasher isn’t drying properly and how to fix it.

Why is your Samsung dishwasher not drying?

Your Samsung dishwasher isn’t drying because there are too many dishes on the racks. It can also be that the dishes are incorrectly loaded.

Remove some items to avoid overcrowding your dishwasher. Place concave items such as bowls, mugs, and pots upside down so they don’t collect water during the cycle.  

If these don’t resolve the issue, try the following steps:

  • Make sure that your dishwasher is connected to a hot water line.
  • Inspect the heating element and verify that it’s functioning correctly.
  • Utilize the dry cycle option.
  • Check the control panel for error codes and fix the underlying issue.

Do you want a more detailed guide on how to perform these steps? Keep reading below!

Important Note: Before you try to tinker inside your dishwasher, make sure to unplug it first and turn off the water supply valve for your safety.

Causes and Troubleshooting

There are 5 common reasons your Samsung dishwasher won’t dry your dishes properly. They are the following:

  1. Incorrectly loaded dishes
  2. Cold water line
  3. Faulty heating element
  4. Not using dry cycle options
  5. Error code in the control panel

With that in mind, here’s a quick overview of how to fix these issues.

CauseSolution
Incorrectly Loaded DishesRemove some of the dishes to avoid overcrowding the racks. Make sure to place your bowls, glasses, and mugs upside down to keep them from collecting water during the cycle.

Once the cycle is complete, remove the bottom rack items first.
Cold Water LineVerify that your dishwasher is connected to a hot water supply. Set the temperature of your home’s water supply between 120 – 149°F.
Faulty Heating ElementCheck your heating element for discoloration, burnouts, and breaks. Test the metal rod for continuity and replace it if damaged.
Not Using Dry Cycle OptionsRead your manual and check for available drying features on your model. Add some rinse aid to help dry your dishes quicker.
Error Code in the Control PanelCheck the panel for error codes in the display. Refer to your manual to decipher what they mean and how to resolve them.

Incorrectly Loaded Dishes

One of the likely causes of your dishes not drying enough is that you have loaded them incorrectly inside your dishwasher.

Overcrowding the racks with dishes will not only affect your dishwasher’s cleaning performance but also lengthen the drying time.

Incorrectly positioning your dishes also causes longer drying times. Concave items that are placed upright will collect water during the washing cycle.

Solution: Pull out some of the dishes in the racks and leave some space in between. If you have more dishes to wash, load them in a different cycle.

Here are some suggestions on how to load your washables.

  • Plan how to load your dishes ahead of time. Consider the sizes and shapes of your dishes and decide which item to put in first.
  • Take advantage of your dishwasher’s customizable features. Some removable parts can be folded and adjusted in several ways to accommodate all your dirty dishes.
  • Remove as much leftover food from your dishes as possible before loading them.
  • Place concave and open items such as bowls, mugs, or pots upside down so the nozzles can spray water into them and they don’t collect water during the cycle.
  • Position the dirtiest part of the dishes at the center of the dishwasher.
  • Spin the spray arms and make sure that no dishes or utensils are blocking their movement. Reposition the dishes if necessary.
  • Put large items such as pots and pans on the lower rack.
  • Place saucers, cups, glasses, dishwasher-safe plastic items, and other smaller items on the top rack.
  • Use the glass support rack for stemware if your dishwasher model has one. Fold them if not in use.
  • Put your spoons and forks individually and make sure that they are not nested together. Position them with their handles down.
  • Load your knives with their handles up. Make sure that smaller items are secured so they don’t fall during the washing cycle.

Cold Water Line

Another likely cause of your dishwasher not drying properly is that it is using a cold water line.

Although most Samsung dishwasher models have their own heating elements to provide the right water temperature, some models do not.

Hot water breaks down greases and food waste better than cold water. On top of that, it also evaporates easier and hence, dries faster.

Solution: Make sure that your dishwasher is connected to a hot water line. Set the temperature between 120 – 149°F.

Faulty Heating Element

As mentioned, most Samsung dishwasher models have their own heating element to regulate the temperature inside.

However, if your dishwasher is no longer heating correctly or at all due to any damage, it will cause your dishes to dry longer.

Solution: First, unplug your dishwasher. Inspect the heating rod located at the base of the tub.

Look for breaks, severe discoloration, or signs of blistering in the component. If there are clear signs of damage, you may need to replace your heating rod completely.

You can also test the rod for continuity to make sure that it is functioning as intended. This will determine if the component has a continuous electrical path.

To perform this test, do the following:

Step 1: Unplug your dishwasher and uninstall the heating rod. Set it aside where you can test it safely.

Step 2: Rotate the range selection dial of your multitester to the lowest setting of ohms of resistance.

Step 3: Calibrate the meter by pinching the probes together. Adjust the needle to zero while you’re calibrating.

Step 4: Use the probes to touch both ends of the terminals.

Step 5: Check the reading in your tester. A working heating element should give a reading between 0 to 50 ohms of resistance. 

If the needle does not move significantly or at all, then the heating element is already damaged and needs to be replaced. 

Not Using Dry Cycle Options

If your dishes aren’t as dry as you hoped, you may not be utilizing your dishwasher’s dry cycle options. 

These cycles increase the temperature during the washing cycle or final rinse to quickly remove moisture and eliminate fuzzy films in your glasses and stemware.

Solution: Read your manual to learn what dry cycle options are available for your model. Your dishwasher can have 1 or more of the following options:

  • Dry+. This option raises the water temperature during the final rinse cycle to improve drying performance.
  • Heated Dry. When selected, the heater functions during the drying process to remove moisture quicker.
  • High-Temp Wash. This option cleans tough and dirtier dishes by raising the temperature during the wash cycle.
  • Sanitize cycle. This improves the drying performance of your dishwasher by increasing the water temperature during the final rinse cycle.

Take note that the Sanitize light will continue to light up until you open the door or turn off your dishwasher.

This is to warn you of the hot steam that will come out once you open the dishwasher door.

Error Code in the Control Panel

Error codes indicate that something is preventing your dishwasher from working correctly. 

When an error code appears in the panel, it may stop your dishwasher mid-cycle without drying your dishes.

Depending on your dishwasher model, the error codes may be shown in the digital display or through a combination of blinking lights.

The most common reason your dishwasher stops mid-cycle is that something inside is bumping the door, forcing it to open. 

However, there are more than 30 digital error codes and light combinations that could also prevent your dishwasher from finishing a cycle.

So to cover all the bases, here’s a quick overview of all the error codes as well as their meanings.

Digital DisplayBlinking LightsMeaning
1E, IE (Waterwall Models)Clogged Filter Error
3CPump Operation Error
3ENormal, Delicate, and Quick
Normal, Delicate, and Smart Auto
Normal, Quick+, and Smart Auto
High-Temperature Water Supply Error
4C, 4EAuto
Express 60
Quick
Smart Auto
Water Supply Error
5C, SC, 5E, SEDelicate
Quick+
Drain Error
7EWaterwall Reflector Error
9ENormal, Heavy, and Quick
Normal, Heavy, and Smart Auto
Low-Level Water Error
bE, 6EAuto and Express 60
Auto, Normal, and Express 60
Normal and Delicate
Normal and Quick+
Button Error
CEAll Four LightsCommunication Error
HC, 1E, IE (Rotary Models)Auto and Normal
Normal and Quick
Normal and Smart Auto
High-Temperature Heater Error
HEHeavy and Delicate
Heavy and Express 60
Heavy and Quick+
Heater Error
LC, LEHeavy (models without Express 60)
Normal
Leakage Error
OC, 0C, oEAuto and Heavy
Heavy and Quick
Heavy and Smart Auto
Heavy (models with Express 60)
Over-Level Water Error
tEHeavy, Delicate, and Quick
Heavy, Delicate, and Smart Auto
Heavy, Quick+, and Smart Auto
Temperature Sensor Error
Delicate and QuickOpen Door Detected
Normal, Heavy, and Express 60Short-Circuited Thermistor
Normal and HeavyFaulty Thermistor Error
APAccess Point Mode
PCZone Wash Error
PEHalf Load Function Error

Solution: Each error requires a different method to fix. Although some errors are minor and can often be solved by restarting your dishwasher, others require more technical skills to resolve.

Be sure to read your manual and look for the right troubleshooting methods. Also, check out some online guides if you want step-by-step instructions on how to fix each error.

Bonus Drying Tips

Open the Dishwasher Door

Opening your dishwasher’s door will help with the air circulation inside the tub and allow moisture to evaporate faster.

Open the door around 1 inch within 1 hour after the cycle has been completed. Turn on the AutoRealease function to do this automatically.

Add a Rinse Aid

A rinse aid helps minimize the surface tension of the water. This condenses the water inside your dishwasher, causing it to drip to the base and evaporate more quickly.

It is best to add a rinse aid every time you run a cycle in your dishwasher to quickly dry your dishes. 

Remember that the amount of rinse aid you use should be proportional to the number of dishes you want to wash. 

Although there are plenty of good brands of rinse aid to choose from, Samsung recommends Jet-Dry Turbo Dry for their appliances.


Drying is a natural process that is only aided by your dishwasher. So unless there’s a clear sign of damage or an error code in the panel, seeking professional service is not really necessary.

Follow every troubleshooting method and tip above and you will find your dishes squeaky clean and dry in no time!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *