Code appears almost right away
The dishwasher starts, may fill and move water briefly, then throws HC or HE early in the cycle.
Start here: Start with incoming water temperature, then check the temperature sensor area and visible wiring connections.
Dishwasher heating fault
Samsung Dishwasher HC HE Code
Direct answer: A Samsung dishwasher HC or HE code usually means the machine thinks water is getting too hot, not heating the way it should, or the temperature sensor circuit is giving a bad reading. The first checks are the incoming hot water, whether the code appears right away or late in the cycle, and any signs of damaged wiring or a failed heating component.
Most likely: Most often, this comes down to a temperature sensing problem, a heating circuit fault, or a control issue reading the heater correctly.
Separate the timing first. If the code shows up almost immediately, think sensor or wiring. If it appears after the dishwasher has been washing for a while, think heating circuit or temperature rising out of range. Reality check: this code is not usually fixed by detergent, rinse aid, or a deep interior cleaning. Common wrong move: killing power over and over without checking when the code returns just wastes time.
Don’t start with: Don’t start by ordering a control board. On this complaint, a bad sensor reading, loose connection, or heater fault is more common than a board guess.
If the code appears within the first few minutes,focus on the temperature sensor and wiring path before suspecting the heater itself.
If the dishwasher washes for a while, then stops with HC or HE,focus on the heating circuit and whether the water is overheating or being read wrong.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What the HC or HE code looks like in the field
Code appears later in the wash
The unit runs for a while before stopping with the code, often around the point when water should be heating.
Start here: Start with the heating circuit branch and look for a failed dishwasher heating element or damaged heater wiring.
Dishes seem extra hot or there is a hot-plastic smell
Steam is heavier than normal, dishes feel unusually hot, or you catch an overheated smell when the cycle stops.
Start here: Stop using the dishwasher and inspect for a stuck heater relay, damaged wiring, or a false temperature reading.
Code clears after power reset but comes back
Turning power off may let one cycle start again, but the same code returns.
Start here: Treat that as a real fault, not a glitch. Check for a repeatable timing pattern and inspect the sensor and heater circuit.
Most likely causes
1. Dishwasher temperature sensor reading out of range
An early HC or HE code often points to the control seeing a temperature that does not make sense for the point in the cycle.
Quick check: Note whether the code appears within the first few minutes, then inspect the lower tub area and harness connections for looseness, corrosion, or heat damage.
2. Dishwasher heating element fault
If the code shows up later, the dishwasher may be trying to heat and failing, or the heater may be behaving abnormally.
Quick check: Look through the tub bottom for visible damage, blistering, or a broken section on the dishwasher heating element if it is exposed in your model.
3. Damaged heater or sensor wiring
A rubbed, burnt, or loose wire can make the control read bad temperatures or lose the heater circuit under load.
Quick check: With power off, inspect accessible wiring near the bottom front and under the tub for melted insulation, loose plugs, or darkened terminals.
4. Dishwasher electronic control fault
Less often, the control misreads the sensor or keeps the heater on at the wrong time.
Quick check: Only consider this after the water supply, sensor, heater, and visible wiring check out and the code pattern is repeatable.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Start with the water supply and the code timing
You want to know whether the dishwasher is seeing a bad temperature right away or developing a heating fault later. That split saves a lot of guessing.
- Run the hot water at the kitchen sink until it turns fully hot, then start a normal wash cycle.
- Watch the dishwasher for the first 5 to 10 minutes and note whether HC or HE appears early or only after it has been washing for a while.
- If the dishwasher has just finished another hot cycle, let it cool down for a bit before retesting so you are not chasing leftover heat.
- If the code appears immediately even with normal sink hot water, lean toward a sensor or wiring problem rather than a simple supply issue.
Next move: If the dishwasher completes the cycle after starting with fully hot supply water, the issue may have been marginal fill temperature or a one-off false read. If the code comes back in the same part of the cycle, move on. Repeat timing matters here.
What to conclude: Early code usually points to temperature sensing or wiring. Later code points more toward the heating circuit or a control problem.
Stop if:
- You smell burning insulation or hot plastic.
- Water is leaking underneath the dishwasher.
- The breaker trips when the dishwasher starts or when the code appears.
Step 2: Do a safe reset and look for obvious heat damage
A reset can clear a one-time logic hiccup, but visible damage tells you this is a real hardware problem and not something to keep restarting.
- Turn off power to the dishwasher at the breaker for a few minutes, then restore power.
- Start a short cycle and see whether the code returns in the same way.
- Open the door after the unit stops and look for signs of overheating inside the tub, including warped plastic near the bottom, unusual scorching, or a sharp burnt smell.
- Remove the lower kick panel if accessible and inspect the area underneath for melted connectors, darkened wires, or moisture around electrical plugs.
Next move: If the code does not return after several normal cycles, it may have been a temporary control misread. If the code returns quickly or you find heat damage, stop resetting it and inspect the heater and sensor circuit more closely.
What to conclude: A repeat fault after reset points away from a simple glitch. Burn marks or melted plugs strongly support a heater, sensor, wiring, or control failure.
Step 3: Inspect the dishwasher heating element and lower tub area
A failed dishwasher heating element is a common later-cycle cause, and the lower tub area also gives clues about overheating or contact damage.
- Disconnect power at the breaker before touching anything inside or below the dishwasher.
- Remove the lower rack and inspect the dishwasher heating element if your model has an exposed element in the tub bottom.
- Look for splits, blistering, pitting, sagging, or spots where the dishwasher heating element may have contacted plastic or debris.
- Check the lower sump area for anything melted onto the element or signs that a utensil or plastic item dropped and overheated during the cycle.
Next move: If you find a clearly damaged dishwasher heating element, that is a strong repair direction. If the element looks normal, do not rule it out yet. Move to the sensor and wiring checks.
Step 4: Check the dishwasher temperature sensor area and wiring connections
An HC or HE code that shows up early is often the dishwasher reading temperature wrong, not just heating wrong.
- With power still off, inspect the accessible harness plugs connected to the lower tub components and look for loose, wet, corroded, or heat-darkened terminals.
- Find the dishwasher temperature sensor location if it is accessible from the lower area on your machine and inspect its connector for a poor fit or moisture intrusion.
- Gently reseat any accessible plug connection once, making sure it is fully seated and not crooked.
- If you see damaged insulation, green corrosion, or a partially backed-out terminal, treat that as a real fault instead of a loose-wire maybe.
Next move: If a loose connection was the issue, the dishwasher may run normally again without the code. If the code still returns with clean, tight connections, the sensor itself or the control is more suspect.
Step 5: Replace the confirmed failed part or call for electrical diagnosis
By this point you should have narrowed it down to the heater, the temperature sensor circuit, damaged wiring, or the control. The right next move depends on what you actually found.
- Replace the dishwasher heating element if it has visible damage or the code reliably appears during the heating part of the cycle and the rest of the wiring looks sound.
- Replace the dishwasher temperature sensor if the code appears early, wiring and connectors look good, and the fault keeps repeating after reset.
- If wiring is burnt, terminals are heat-damaged, or the diagnosis depends on electrical measurements you are not set up to do safely, book an appliance service technician.
- After repair, run a normal wash cycle from a cold start and confirm the dishwasher gets through the heating portion without showing HC or HE.
A good result: If the dishwasher finishes a full cycle with no code and normal drying, the repair path was correct.
If not: If the code remains after a confirmed heater or sensor replacement, the dishwasher electronic control becomes the likely next suspect and is usually best confirmed by a pro.
What to conclude: A part that fixes the repeat timing pattern confirms the diagnosis. If not, the remaining fault is usually in the control logic or a less obvious wiring issue.
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FAQ
What does HC or HE mean on a Samsung dishwasher?
It usually means the dishwasher has detected a heating or temperature problem. That can be actual overheating, failure to heat correctly, or a bad temperature reading from the sensor circuit.
Can I keep using the dishwasher with an HC or HE code?
Not a good idea. If the code is tied to overheating or damaged wiring, repeated use can make the damage worse. Stop and inspect it before running more cycles.
Is this usually a bad heating element?
Sometimes, especially if the code shows up later in the cycle when the dishwasher should be heating. If the code appears almost immediately, a temperature sensor or wiring issue is often a better fit.
Will unplugging or resetting the dishwasher fix the code?
A reset may clear a one-time control hiccup, but if the code comes back in the same part of the cycle, there is usually a real fault that needs repair.
Should I replace the control board first?
No. Control boards are not the first bet on this symptom. Check the timing of the code, the dishwasher heating element, the temperature sensor area, and visible wiring before going there.