Samsung Washer Not Draining: Causes and How to Fix It
Updated · from manufacturer service documentation
If a Samsung washer won't drain, start with the drain hose and pump — a kinked or too-high drain hose is the single most common cause, followed by a clogged or jammed drain pump. Front-load Samsung washers show the code nd for this fault; top-load models use 5C (see the dedicated 5C page for that code's specifics).
What Causes a Samsung Washer to Not Drain
| Cause | Likelihood | DIY difficulty | Related part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drain hose kinked or bent | Most common | Easy — straighten hose | Drain hose |
| Drain hose routed higher than 9 ft | Common | Easy — reroute hose | Drain hose |
| Terminal connection to the drain pump missing/disconnected | Less common | Moderate — check connector | Drain pump wiring |
| Foreign particles locking the drain pump | Common | Easy — remove debris | Drain pump |
| Drain pump protector tripped (overvoltage / time delay) | Less common | Moderate | Drain pump |
| Drain pump coil disconnected or shorted | Less common | Moderate — multimeter | Drain pump |
How to Fix It, Step by Step
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Check the drain hose for kinks or blockages
Pull the washer out and make sure the hose isn't bent or pinched anywhere along its run.
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Check the drain hose height
Per Samsung's service documentation, the drain hose must be routed no higher than 9 ft (about 2.7 m) — if it's routed higher than that, the pump can't push water over the top and drainage fails.
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Check the drain pump terminal connection
Confirm the wiring terminal at the drain pump isn't missing or disconnected.
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Check the drain pump itself
Remove any foreign particles if the pump is locked by debris. Check whether the pump's built-in protector has tripped (from overvoltage or a time-delay condition) and check the pump coil for a disconnection or short circuit — replace the pump if either check fails.
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Confirm with the built-in pump test (technician/advanced)
Samsung's Quick Test Mode includes a dedicated Drain Pump Test: press the Soil Level key while model information is displayed to cycle the pump through its operations independently of the door lock state, so you can visually confirm whether it's running at all.
Which Models This Applies To
Documented for the Samsung front-load WF328AAW series. On this platform, a drain failure is flagged with the diagnostic code nd (the water level fails to drop below the reset level within 15 minutes) — the front-load counterpart to the 5C code used on Samsung top-load washers, which has its own dedicated page with drain-pump resistance specs.
See also: Samsung washer 5C · Samsung washer SC. Full list: all Samsung washer error codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the "nd" code mean on a Samsung washer?
On Samsung front-load washers, nd means the water level didn't drop below the reset level within 15 minutes — the machine's way of flagging a drain failure.
Is nd the same as the 5C code?
They flag the same underlying problem (the washer can't drain) but appear on different Samsung washer platforms — nd on front-load models, 5C on top-load models.
How high can the drain hose be routed?
Per the service documentation, no higher than 9 ft. A hose routed above that height can prevent the pump from clearing water even when the pump itself is working fine.
Do I need a technician to fix a draining problem?
Not always — kinked hoses, excessive hose height, and debris in the pump are all DIY-checkable. A tripped pump protector or a shorted pump coil is best confirmed with a multimeter, and pump replacement is a moderate-difficulty repair.
Based on the Samsung service documentation for the WF328AAW washer series. Last updated: .