Samsung Washing Machine LC Error
Also shown as: LC1 · LE · LE1 · 1E
Samsung groups LC with LC1, LE, LE1 and 1E as the water level or leakage error: moisture is detected somewhere it does not belong — or the sensor that watches the water level has a problem itself. LC is therefore two hunts in one: first find (or rule out) a real leak, then use Samsung's own suds test to separate a leak from a detergent problem masquerading as one.
Safety first
- Unplug the machine before pulling it out or reaching behind it — you are looking for water near electrical connections.
- If water is actively pooling, turn the supply taps off first and mop up before anything else.
Common causes
A small leak
Samsung's first instruction: look for evidence of a leak — and its warning that some leaks are so small they go unnoticed. Its logic: if you find a leak, fixing the leak will fix the error.
Kinked hoses behind the washer
Check that the hoses behind the washer — supply hoses and drain hose — are not kinked.
The drain-hose holder screw removed
A detail most guides miss, from Samsung's own text: do not remove the screw on the back of the washer that holds the drain hose against the washer. If it has been removed, the hose can sit wrong; if the holder is missing entirely, service is required.
Too much detergent, or non-HE detergent
Excess suds can trigger this error family — which is why Samsung's own test for it is a detergent test, below.
A faulty water level sensor
Samsung's framing of the code includes the sensor itself: moisture detected where it doesn't belong, or an issue with the sensor.
Step-by-step checks
- Hunt for the leak firstLook under and behind the machine, along both supply hoses and the drain hose, and around every connection. Even a slow drip counts — Samsung stresses that leaks can be small enough to go unnoticed.
- Check the hoses behind the washerConfirm the supply hoses and the drain hose are not kinked.
- Check the drain-hose holder screwMake sure the screw on the back of the washer that holds the drain hose is in place. If it was removed, screw it and the holder back in with any screw that fits. If the holder itself is missing, Samsung says service is required.
- Run Samsung's empty-cycle suds testRun an empty cycle with no additives — no detergent, no fabric softener — and watch for suds. If suds appear, too much detergent or a non-HE detergent has been used. Keep running empty cycles until no more suds appear, then see whether the code comes back.
When to call a technician
If no suds appear in the empty-cycle test and the code continues — with no leak found — Samsung's instruction is to request service. At that point the evidence points at the sensor side of the code rather than at water where it shouldn't be.
A missing drain-hose holder is also, per Samsung, a service item rather than a DIY fix.
Model differences
| What you see | Notes |
|---|---|
| LC / LC1 | The current display forms of the water level / leakage error. |
| LE / LE1 | Listed by Samsung in the same group — same checks. |
| 1E / 1C | Also in Samsung's leakage group (1E, LE, 1C, LC, LC1). Some third-party sites file 1E under water supply with 4C — Samsung's own Latin table puts it here, with leaks and level sensing, and that is the grouping we follow. |
One-page checklist — LC
- Machine unplugged, taps off if water is pooling
- Floor, hoses and connections checked for small leaks
- Supply and drain hoses unkinked
- Drain-hose holder screw in place
- Empty cycle run with no additives — suds or no suds noted
- Empty cycles repeated until suds are gone
Official Samsung references
Frequently asked questions
Are LC and LE the same fault?
Yes — Samsung lists LC, LC1, LE, LE1 and 1E as one water level / leakage error group. The display differs by model; the checks are identical.
There's no visible leak. Why is LC showing?
Two of Samsung's own possibilities remain: a leak too small to have noticed (its words), or the sensor side of the fault. Run the empty-cycle suds test — if no suds appear and the code continues, Samsung says to request service.
Why does a leak code involve a detergent test?
Because excess suds from too much detergent — or a non-HE detergent — can trigger this code family. Samsung's empty cycle with no additives is how you separate the two causes.
What is the screw on the back of the washer for?
It holds the drain hose against the washer. Samsung warns not to remove it; if the holder is missing, service is required.