Samsung Washer 4C Code: What It Means and How to Fix It
A 4C is almost never a “bad washer” on day one. In most cases the water supply is partly closed, a hose is pinched behind the machine, or grit has built up in the inlet screens. Work through the checks below in order; the first four take about ten minutes and need no tools.
Samsung 4C code: match what you see
| What you notice | Most likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| 4C right after you moved or installed the washer | A tap left partly closed, or a kinked hose | Taps and hoses |
| 4C only on warm or hot cycles (even some “Cold” ones) | Hot hose not connected, or hot tap closed | Hot hose |
| 4C, but the tub is full of water, or water keeps running out | Drain hose pushed too far down the standpipe and siphoning | Drain hose |
| Slow trickle when it fills | Clogged inlet mesh filters or low water pressure | Clean the filters |
| No water at all, taps open, filters clean | Water inlet valve or control fault | Request service |
1. Open both taps fully and straighten the hoses
Samsung’s first two steps: make sure both supply hoses “are not bent or kinked,” and “Open the water valves completely and leave them open as the washer is running.” Pull the washer forward a few inches and look at the hoses behind it; pushing a washer back against the wall is the most common way to pinch one. A quarter-closed tap still lets some water through, which is why the washer may fill slowly and then show 4C instead of failing straight away.
Samsung also notes: “Do not use Flood Safe hoses.” If you have them, swap them for standard hoses.
2. Check the hot hose goes to the hot inlet
Hot goes to hot and cold to cold. Samsung warns that “If you do not connect the hot water line, you will get an error when the washer attempts to use hot water,” “which may happen even on cycles labeled Cold.” Modern cold cycles often blend in a little warm water, so a capped hot inlet can trigger 4C on a cycle you’d expect to use only cold.
3. Set the drain hose 6 to 8 inches deep
It sounds odd for a filling error, but it’s one of the most common causes. Samsung says the drain hose “should not be inserted less than 6 inches or more than 8 inches into the drain pipe.” Push it deeper and “it creates a siphoning effect”: water drains out while the washer is trying to fill, the level never rises, and you get 4C.
Leave the clamp on the back of the washer alone. Samsung: “Do not remove the screw on the back of the washer that holds the drain hose against the washer.” Removing it “may cause the washer to drain automatically and give an LC or 4C error code.” If the screw is gone, put the holder back with any screw that fits; if the holder itself is missing, Samsung says service is required.
4. Reset the washer
Samsung: “Unplug the washer or flip the circuit breaker for the washer for 1 minute.” “Then, restore power and try to run a cycle.” A reset clears the code but won’t fix a supply problem, so do steps 1 to 3 first.
⚠️ Caution: power and water off before you touch the hoses
Unplug the washer and turn off both taps before disconnecting a hose. Keep a towel and a bucket under the connection, since the hose will still hold water. Don’t remove the washer’s back panel or test the inlet valve with power on; that’s a job for a technician.
5. Clean the inlet mesh filters
Each water inlet on the back of the washer has a small mesh screen. Samsung explains that debris in your water “will get filtered before entering the washer, and if enough debris builds up, it will block water from entering the washer.” This is common after plumbing work or a water-main repair.
- Unplug the washer and close both taps.
- Unscrew the hoses from the back of the washer (towel underneath).
- Gently pull out the mesh filters with needle-nose pliers and rinse them under a tap.
- Push them back in, reconnect the hoses snugly (don’t overtighten), and open the taps fully.
- Check for drips, plug the washer in and run a rinse cycle.
A Samsung top-load manual recommends cleaning these screens “once or twice a year.” If a filter is torn, replace it rather than running without one.
6. Check your water pressure
Samsung washers need household water pressure between 20 and 116 psi (Samsung’s published range). If other taps in the house are also weak, or the 4C showed up during cold weather when a supply line could be partly frozen, fix that first. An inexpensive pressure gauge that screws onto the laundry tap will tell you in a minute.
Samsung’s UK support adds one more check: a clogged detergent drawer can slow the fill on some front loaders. Pull the drawer out and rinse it.
What a 4C repair usually costs
| Repair | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Water inlet valve replacement | $95 to $190 | HomeAdvisor (June 2026), Fixr (Jan 2025) |
| Washer repair, most jobs | $125 to $450 (average about $180) | HomeAdvisor (June 2026) |
| Diagnostic visit | $50 to $100 | Fixr (Jan 2025) |
When to call a technician
Samsung: “If the code continues, visit our Support Center to request service.” Call if both taps are fully open, the hoses and filters are clear, the drain hose sits 6 to 8 inches deep, and you still get no water or only a trickle. That usually points to the water inlet valve or its wiring. Have the model and serial number (on the label inside the door or lid) and tell the technician what you’ve already checked. Print the checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What does 4C mean on a Samsung washer?
It’s a “Not filling error”: “Water is not entering the washer correctly.” On other models the same fault shows as nF, 4E or 1 4C.
How do I fix 4C on a Samsung washer?
Open both taps fully, unkink the hoses, put the hot hose on the hot inlet, set the drain hose 6 to 8 inches deep, unplug the washer for 1 minute, then clean the inlet filters if it comes back.
Why does my Samsung washer say 4C when it’s full of water?
Usually siphoning: the drain hose is pushed too far down the standpipe, or the drain hose holder screw was removed, so water drains while the washer fills. Reset the hose to 6 to 8 inches and refit the holder.
Is 4C a drain problem?
No. Samsung lists drain problems as nd, 5C or 5E. See our Samsung ND code guide. The two can overlap only through siphoning, as above.
How do I reset my Samsung washer after an error code?
Power it off for 2 to 3 minutes, power it back on and restart the cycle. For 4C, Samsung says to unplug it or flip the breaker for 1 minute.
My Samsung washer is brand new and shows 4C. Is it faulty?
Rarely. New installs usually have a tap not fully open, a hose kinked when the washer was pushed back, or the drain hose pushed too deep. Check those before booking service.
Sources: Samsung: washer error codes · Samsung: washer spins poorly (drain hose and siphoning) · Samsung: water pressure for washers · Samsung UK: 4E error · HomeAdvisor: washer repair cost · Fixr: washer repair cost.
Updated October 23, 2026. Written and edited by Jordan Hale. Steps checked against Samsung’s support pages; no hands-on test is claimed. Buttons and codes vary by model, so follow your owner’s manual.
