A Samsung washing machine that won't drain or spin can be frustrating, but the good news is that the most common causes are simple to fix without calling a technician. In many cases, the washer is designed to halt the spin cycle if it detects that water hasn't drained properly, making drainage the primary issue to solve first .
Here is a step-by-step guide to diagnosing and solving the problem.
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### Step 1: Check for Error Codes
Before doing anything else, look at your washer’s display. Samsung uses specific codes to help you pinpoint the issue:
- **UE, Ub, Ur, or dc**: This indicates an **unbalanced load**. The machine prevents spinning to avoid damage. However, a "Ur" code often means the machine is trying to rebalance itself, so you may just need to wait .
- **5C, 5E, or ND**: This indicates a **drainage problem**. The machine cannot empty the water, so it will not spin .
### Step 2: Fix the Simple Stuff (Unbalanced Load)
If you see a `UE` code or if the washer is shaking violently before stopping, the issue is likely the laundry load itself.
1. **Redistribute the laundry:** Open the door and manually spread the clothes evenly around the drum. Heavy items (like blankets or jeans) often clump to one side.
- *Pro-tip:* Mix large and small items in the load to help balance each other during the spin cycle .
2. **Check the floor level:** Ensure the washing machine is level. If it rocks when you push it, adjust the front leveling legs (usually by twisting them) to stabilize the machine .
3. **Reduce the load size:** Overloading prevents the drum from spinning freely. Conversely, washing one heavy towel alone may be too small to balance. Add a few similar items.
### Step 3: Clean the Debris Filter (The Most Common Fix for No Drain)
If you have a **front-load washer** and it won't drain, the debris filter (or drain pump filter) is almost always the culprit. This filter catches coins, lint, and bobby pins. When it is clogged, water cannot pump out. *Note: Top-loaders also have filters, but they are usually located in the back.*
**Safety First:** Unplug the washing machine before proceeding .
**How to clean the filter:**
1. **Open the cover:** Locate the small access panel at the bottom front of the washer. Press it to open or use a coin to turn the latch .
2. **Drain the water:** You will see a small black tube (emergency drain hose). Pull it out, remove its cap, and let the water drain into a shallow pan or towel. Up to a gallon of water may come out .
3. **Remove the filter:** Twist the large knob (the filter cap) **counter-clockwise** and pull it out. On some models, you must push the knob *in* before turning it, like a child-proof medicine bottle .
4. **Clean it:** Rinse the filter under a tap. Use an old toothbrush to scrub off fabric softener residue and remove stuck objects.
5. **Check the impeller:** Look inside the hole the filter came out of. You should see the pump fan (impeller). Spin it with your finger to ensure nothing is jamming it. If it is stuck, clear the debris .
6. **Reassemble:** Push the filter back in and twist **clockwise** until the knob is vertical (locked). Replace the drain hose cap and close the panel .
### Step 4: Inspect the Drain Hose
If the filter is clean and the machine still won't drain, check the hose connected to the back of the unit.
1. **Check for kinks:** Ensure the drain hose is not bent, crushed, or pinched behind the machine. A kink acts like a crimped straw .
2. **Check the height:** The end of the drain hose must be placed at a specific height.
- For **Front loaders**, it should sit in a standpipe or laundry tub between **60cm and 100cm** (24 to 39 inches) from the floor. If it is too low, water will siphon out constantly. If it is too high, the pump can't push the water up .
- **Warning:** Do not push the drain hose too deep into the standpipe. If it touches the water at the bottom of the pipe, it can cause "siphoning" (water flowing in the wrong direction) or a drain error .
### Step 5: Reset the Washer
Sometimes, the computer simply gets confused.
1. **Power cycle the unit:** Unplug the washer from the wall outlet (or turn off the circuit breaker) for **2 minutes**.
2. **Drain the residual:** While unplugged, open the filter door again and drain any water that appears.
3. **Restart:** Plug it back in. Select just the **Spin** or **Drain & Spin** cycle (without detergent) and press Start.
### Step 6: Consider the "SUD" Issue (Soap Suds)
Modern Samsung washers have a sensor to detect excess suds. If you use too much detergent (especially non-HE detergent), the machine detects the bubbles and stops spinning to prevent overflow.
- **Solution:** Run a **Rinse and Spin** cycle to flush out the soap. Going forward, always use "HE" (High Efficiency) detergent and use about half of what the detergent bottle recommends .
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### When to Call a Technician
If you have performed the steps above—cleaning the filter, checking the drain hose, and balancing the load—and the machine still hums but doesn't drain or spin, the issue is mechanical.
- **Failed Drain Pump:** If you hear a humming sound from the bottom but no water drains, the pump motor may be burned out.
- **Broken Motor or Control Board:** If the drum turns freely but never spins up to speed, the drive motor, capacitor, or TMR (speed) sensor may be faulty. *Note: Replacing a TMR sensor often requires soldering, as Samsung generally does not sell the part separately* .
### Summary Checklist for Homeowners
1. **Look at the screen:** Is it `UE` (rearrange clothes) or `5C` (clean filter)?
2. **Clean the filter:** If you own a front-loader and have never done this, do it *now* .
3. **Check the hose:** Is it kinked, or is the end sitting in dirty water?
4. **Reboot:** Unplug for 2 minutes to reset the computer.
Performing these three checks will solve the issue in over 90% of Samsung washer drain and spin failures without the need for expensive repair costs.