A constantly draining dishwasher isn’t only inconvenient, it’s also a waste of water. So let’s talk about why your Samsung dishwasher won’t stop draining and how you can fix it.
Why won’t your Samsung dishwasher stop draining?
Your dishwasher won’t stop draining because there’s a leak, the drain hose is low, the case sensor is faulty, or the control is malfunctioning.
Fix this by unplugging your dishwasher and checking for leaks and water trails. Dry any wet areas inside or near the appliance and reboot your dishwasher.
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you can also try performing these steps:
- Make sure that the end of the drain hose is above the water level inside the tub.
- Inspect the case sensor and replace it if it’s damaged.
- Check the control board for loose or burnt wires.
If you need a little more guidance, keep reading our detailed instructions below.
Important Note: Before you continue to do a DIY repair, make sure to unplug your dishwasher first and turn off the water valve for your safety.
Before everything else, how do you know that your dishwasher is experiencing this problem? Here are the signs to look out for.
Signs That Your Dishwasher Is Draining Too Much
Your dishwasher keeps draining for more than a minute.
It is normal for your dishwasher drain to turn on for a few seconds after you have selected a cycle. This is to remove any leftover water from the previous washing cycle.
However, this process should not take more than one minute. If the drain keeps running for more than that, then it’s a telltale sign of a draining issue.
The drain runs before a cycle is selected.
One clear indication that your dishwasher is overly draining is if the drain activates just after you close the door to start a cycle.
Normally, the drain is triggered after the washing cycle. But if it runs before you press any button, there is definitely something wrong with the draining system.
There is an error code or warning lights in the panel.
A constantly draining dishwasher lowers the water level inside the tub. If this happens, your dishwasher may show an error code indicating that there’s not enough water to do the cycle.
There are a few error codes or light combinations that indicate a low-level water supply.
For models with digital displays, this could be the following codes:
- 4C
- 4E
- 9E
For models that use blinking lights, here are the combinations that indicate a low-level water error.
- Normal, Heavy, and Quick
- Normal, Heavy, and Smart Auto
Now, let’s dive deeper into each cause and the basic troubleshooting steps you can perform.
Causes and Solutions
There are 4 common reasons your dishwasher keeps on draining your water away.
- Your dishwasher has detected a leak.
- The drain hose’s level is too low.
- The case sensor is clogged or broken.
- The control board is malfunctioning.
Here’s a quick overview of how to troubleshoot each problem.
| Cause | Solution |
| Leakage Issues | Look for water trails around your dishwasher and dry them out. Make sure that your hoses have no bents or kinks and are connected properly. Verify that there are no clogs in the inlet valve, supply hose, drain hose, and water nozzles. Take out the filter assembly and clean it thoroughly. |
| Low-Level Drain Hose | Make sure that your drain hose is installed with an air gap or a high enough loop. You can also use a crook to raise the drain hose level above the door seal. |
| Defective Case Sensor | Remove the sensor and make sure it is clear of clogs. Replace it if it is damaged. |
| Malfunctioning Control Board | Restart the control board by unplugging it for about 5 – 10 minutes. Plug it back in and press the power button. You can also open your control panel and check for loose connections or burnt wirings. Ask your local appliance repair expert for help if the control board is damaged. |
Let’s take a closer look at each cause and discuss their troubleshooting methods in more detail.
Leakage Issues
One of the likeliest reasons your dishwasher won’t stop draining is its leak sensor has detected moisture.
This may be caused by an outside water source, an installation error, usage mistakes, or clogged and damaged components.
For your convenience, here’s a list of the likely causes of moisture or leaks in your dishwasher.
| Category | Cause |
| External Source | • Spilled drink near the machine • Residue from past flooding experience • Leaking pipes |
| Installation Issues | • Damaged or loose water supply hose • Loose drain hose connection • Unleveled dishwasher • Bowed or stretched tub • Unremoved garbage disposal cap |
| Usage Errors | • Excessive detergent • Use of dish soaps • Pushed out rubber seal • Unclean drain filter • Clogged water nozzles |
| Damaged Components | • Cracked dispenser • Torn filter • Dysfunctional water pump • Worn out gaskets |
Your dishwasher will attempt to correct these issues by draining the water away. However, it will not stop draining nor turn itself off until the leak sensor no longer detects any moisture.
You will also be seeing an error code or blinking lights in your dishwasher panel when this happens.
This can be the LC or LE error code for models with digital display or a blinking Normal or Heavy light for older models.
Solution: Find the cause of the leak to apply the proper troubleshooting method. Make sure that the dishwasher is unplugged before doing any of the steps below.
- External Source: Look for water trails or marks near your dishwasher and dry them off. Also, make sure that there are no holes or leaks in your water pipes.
Wait for 10 minutes before plugging in and rebooting your dishwasher.
- Installation Issues. Check the water supply and drain hoses and make sure that the connections are tight. Straighten them if there are any kinks or irregular bents.
Loosen the screws on your dishwasher and make sure that the tub’s opening is at the correct measurement. Verify that the leveling legs aren’t damaged or tilted.
- Usage Errors. Clean the dispenser and the tub from all residual detergent suds. Pull out the filter assembly and gently clean it in running water.
Also, check the water nozzles for any signs of clogging. Clean the door rubber seals and push them in alignment when necessary.
- Damaged Components. Inspect the detergent dispenser for cracks and replace them when necessary. Pull out the filter assembly and make sure that there are no large holes or any deformities on the screens.
Also, verify that the drain pump is working properly. Clear it from any debris or replace it if it’s beyond repair.
Check the rubber gaskets for any signs of wear and tear. Buy new rubber gaskets if needed and make sure that there are no gaps after installation.
Low-Level Drain Hose
Most dishwashers are connected to a sink drain or garbage disposal. However, some households would simply let wastewater out into a floor drain.
If the end of the drain hose is lower than the water level inside your dishwasher, it will create a siphon effect.
This means that your dishwasher will start draining immediately just as the water comes in.
It is also possible that the drain hose connection in your dishwasher is loose. Any gap in between the hose and the pump will let the water out of your tub before the washing cycle.
This can also happen if there’s a hole in the drain hose near the pump connection.
Solution: Inspect your drain hose and verify if the end is positioned lower than the door seal. This will tell you if your dishwasher is experiencing the siphoning effect.
Use a crook attachment if your drain hose goes out into an open drain pipe or a floor drain.
In case you’re unfamiliar, a crook attachment is a U-shaped tool that helps elevate your drain hose to the right height and avoid the siphoning effect. This crook usually comes with your new dishwasher or if you buy a new drain hose set.
Feed your drain hose to the crook and test its level by pouring water inside the tub. If the water still drains, raise the crook higher until the siphoning effect is gone.
Inspect your drain hose’s connection to the pump and make sure that it’s secure. Replace the hose if you see any holes or damage.
Defective Case Sensor
If your water drains before the start of the washing cycle, your dishwasher case sensor may be damaged or defective.
The case sensor rises up and down to detect the water level inside your dishwasher.
If the sensor is gunked or clogged by any debris that is causing it to stay up, the control will read it as an over-level water issue and will start draining right away.
You might also be seeing an over-level water error code such as the OC or OE for models with digital displays. Some models will show a combination of blinking lights in the panel.
Solution: Access the case sensor to clean or replace it. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Unplug your dishwasher and turn off the water supply tap.
- Step 2: Uninstall your dishwasher from the cabinetry. Unthread the screws on the cabinet and feed the hose through the cabinet hole.
- Step 3: Gently pull out your dishwasher until you have enough room to access the side panels.
- Step 4: Unscrew the metal panel on the right side of your dishwasher and set it aside.
- Step 5: Go inside your dishwasher tub to access the lock of the flowmeter assembly. Pull out all the racks and set them aside.
- Step 6: Remove the locking cover by twisting it counterclockwise using a pair of pliers. Make sure that the gasket inside doesn’t fall off.
- Step 7: Pull out the entire plastic case. Disconnect the electrical connector and loosen the clamps to remove the hoses from the case.
- Step 8: Separate the flow meter assembly from the case break assembly.
- Step 9: Inspect the case break sensor and see if it can move up and down freely.
- Step 10: Open the case break assembly and clean it, removing mold and other filth that may be restricting the sensor from moving.
- Step 11: Replace the case sensor if it’s damaged or have it repaired by your local appliance repair service.
Malfunctioning Control Board
The dishwasher control board is responsible for reading signals from the sensors.
However, the control board is also vulnerable to wear and tear or damage from a power surge after a blackout.
When this happens, the control board may misread the signals sent by the sensor and give instructions based on these false errors.
Your dishwasher draining inaccurately can be one of the effects of a faulty control board.
Solution: Reset your control board to flush out any lagging commands or misread signals. Unplug your dishwasher and wait for 10-15 minutes before rebooting.
You can also inspect your control board to see if there are any burnt wirings inside.
By performing the steps above, you’ll be able to resolve your constantly draining dishwasher in no time. But if the problem persists, it’s best to ask your local appliance expert for help.
