Dishwasher overfill and leak warning

Samsung Dishwasher OC 0C OE Code

Direct answer: A Samsung dishwasher OC, 0C, or OE code usually means the dishwasher believes the water level is too high or water is collecting where it should not. The most common causes are too many suds, a partially blocked filter or drain path that leaves water behind, or a stuck dishwasher float.

Most likely: Start by canceling the cycle, cutting power, checking for suds or standing water in the tub, and cleaning the dishwasher filter area. If the tub is not obviously overfilled, look next at the float and drain hose routing.

These codes often show up after the machine has already tried to protect itself. Reality check: a dishwasher can throw an overfill code even when the real problem is leftover water and foam, not a true flood. Common wrong move: adding more detergent after a poor wash, which can turn a small drainage issue into a full suds problem.

Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering a pump, inlet valve, or control board. On this code, soap and drainage issues are more common than a failed major part.

If you see heavy foam in the tub,stop using detergent pods or extra soap until you run a rinse and clear the suds.
If there is water on the floor or in the base area,shut off power and water first, then inspect for an active leak before restarting anything.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17

What this code usually looks like in the kitchen

Code appears with lots of suds

You open the door and see foam piled around the bottom of the tub or creeping up the door.

Start here: Start with detergent and rinse-out checks before looking for a failed part.

Code appears with standing water

There is water sitting in the sump or lower tub area, sometimes after the cycle stops early.

Start here: Check the dishwasher filter, sump opening, air gap if present, and drain hose path first.

Code appears but tub is not full

The tub does not look overfilled, but the machine throws the code anyway or runs the drain pump a lot.

Start here: Look for a stuck dishwasher float or water in the base pan from a small leak.

Code returns right after restart

You clear the code, restart, and it comes back quickly during fill or early wash.

Start here: Focus on the float movement, drain hose installation, and whether the dishwasher is slowly taking in water when off.

Most likely causes

1. Too many suds from the wrong detergent or too much detergent

Foam can fool the dishwasher into reading an overfill condition, and it often shows up right after a pod change, hand-dish soap mistake, or extra detergent added to compensate for poor cleaning.

Quick check: Open the door and look for foam around the filter area, lower spray arm, and door bottom.

2. Partially blocked dishwasher filter or sump area

Food debris and grease can slow drainage enough to leave water behind between fills, which makes the next cycle look like an overfill event.

Quick check: Remove the lower rack and inspect the dishwasher filter and sump opening for sludge, labels, glass, or bone fragments.

3. Drain path restriction or bad drain hose routing

A kinked hose, clogged air gap, or poor high-loop routing can let dirty water linger or flow back into the dishwasher.

Quick check: Look under the sink for a pinched dishwasher drain hose, a clogged air gap, or a hose lying too low without a proper rise.

4. Stuck or failed dishwasher float assembly

If the float cannot move freely or the float switch is not responding, the dishwasher may think the water level is wrong even when the tub does not look full.

Quick check: Find the float in the tub, lift it gently, and make sure it moves up and down without grit or binding.

Step-by-step fix

Step 1: Cancel the cycle and separate suds from real overfill

You need to know whether you are dealing with soap foam, leftover water, or an active leak. Those look similar on the display but lead to different fixes.

  1. Press cancel or drain and let the dishwasher try to empty.
  2. Turn off power at the breaker or unplug the dishwasher if accessible before putting hands in the tub for inspection.
  3. Open the door and look for three things: heavy suds, standing water above the filter area, or clear signs of fresh leaking at the door or under the unit.
  4. If you used hand-washing liquid, extra detergent, or a different pod right before the code started, treat suds as the lead suspect.
  5. If there is only light moisture but no pooling, wipe the tub lip and door edge so you can tell whether new water appears later.

Next move: If the code clears after the drain finishes and you found obvious suds, you likely have a soap problem rather than a failed part. If the code stays on, comes back immediately, or you find water outside the tub, keep going without restarting a full wash cycle.

What to conclude: This first look tells you whether to chase detergent, drainage, float movement, or a real leak into the base area.

Stop if:
  • Water is actively leaking onto the floor.
  • You smell burning, see damaged wiring, or hear the drain pump grinding loudly.
  • You cannot safely cut power before inspecting the tub or lower area.

Step 2: Clear suds and leftover water from the tub

Foam and trapped water are the most common reasons this code shows up, and both can often be corrected without parts.

  1. Scoop out excess water from the bottom of the tub with a cup if the level is high.
  2. Remove visible foam with a towel and run a rinse-only or drain cycle with no detergent after restoring power.
  3. If suds keep returning, stop using detergent until the tub runs clear through one or two rinse cycles.
  4. Pull out the lower rack, remove the dishwasher filter, and wash the filter with warm water and mild dish soap.
  5. Wipe debris from the sump entrance carefully and remove labels, seeds, glass chips, or grease buildup you can reach safely.

Next move: If the dishwasher drains cleanly and the code does not return on a rinse cycle, the problem was likely suds or a dirty filter area. If water remains in the tub or the code returns on the next fill, the drain path or float check is next.

What to conclude: A clean filter and foam-free tub rule out the easiest causes and make the next checks more reliable.

Step 3: Check the drain path under the sink

A dishwasher that cannot fully empty can trigger an overfill code on the next cycle even though the real issue is slow draining or backflow.

  1. Inspect the dishwasher drain hose under the sink for kinks, crushing, or a sag that traps dirty water.
  2. Make sure the hose rises high under the counter before dropping to the disposal or sink drain connection.
  3. If your sink has an air gap, remove the cap and clean out debris inside.
  4. If the dishwasher connects to a garbage disposal, confirm the disposal inlet is not clogged.
  5. Run the kitchen sink and listen for slow draining or backup that could push water back toward the dishwasher.

Next move: If you correct a kink, clear the air gap, or restore proper hose routing and the dishwasher then completes a rinse cycle normally, the drain path was the issue. If the hose path looks good and the code still returns, move to the float and leak checks inside the dishwasher.

Step 4: Inspect the dishwasher float and look for water in the base

When the tub is not obviously overfilled, a stuck float or water collected in the base pan can trigger the same code.

  1. With power off, locate the dishwasher float inside the tub and lift it gently, then let it drop.
  2. Clean around the float stem or float dome if crumbs, grease, or scale are keeping it from moving freely.
  3. Look along the door bottom, lower corners, and under the front toe-kick area for signs of a small ongoing leak.
  4. If you can safely remove the toe-kick, check for moisture in the base area, water tracks, or mineral residue.
  5. Dry any small amount of accessible water you find, then watch closely during a short rinse cycle to see where fresh water appears.

Next move: If the float was stuck and now moves freely, or if drying the base clears the code and you identify a simple splash or oversuds event, you may be done. If the code returns with a free-moving float and no obvious drain issue, the remaining suspects are a float assembly fault or a water inlet valve that is letting water in when it should not.

Step 5: Test the restart pattern and decide on the repair

The way the code returns tells you whether you are looking at a float problem, a fill problem, or a leak that needs a closer repair.

  1. Run a short rinse cycle with no detergent and watch the first fill and first drain.
  2. If the code appears only after foaming or after dirty water fails to leave, stay with cleaning and drain-path correction rather than buying parts.
  3. If the tub is not overfilled, the drain path is clear, and the float still acts erratic or sticks, replace the dishwasher float assembly.
  4. If the dishwasher slowly gains water while off or throws the code right as filling starts despite a clear float, suspect the dishwasher water inlet valve and schedule a closer diagnosis or pro service.
  5. If you find a repeatable leak into the base from the door area, hose, or sump area, fix that leak before running normal cycles again.

A good result: If a no-detergent rinse completes normally and the tub ends nearly dry at the filter area, the dishwasher is ready for a normal test load.

If not: If the code keeps returning after these checks, stop cycling the machine and move to the confirmed repair or service path instead of guessing.

What to conclude: You now have enough evidence to avoid random parts buying and choose the right next move.

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FAQ

What does OC, 0C, or OE mean on a Samsung dishwasher?

These codes usually mean the dishwasher thinks it has an overfill condition. That can be true overfilling, but more often it is caused by heavy suds, leftover water from poor draining, a stuck float, or water collected in the base area.

Can too much detergent cause an OC or OE code?

Yes. Too much detergent, the wrong detergent, or adding soap after a weak wash can create enough foam to trigger the code. If you see suds, clear them first and test with a rinse cycle using no detergent.

Why do I get this code when the tub is not full of water?

Because the dishwasher is not only looking for a visibly full tub. A stuck float, trapped water from a slow drain, or water in the base pan can make it think there is an overfill problem even when the tub looks normal.

Should I replace the water inlet valve right away?

No. An inlet valve can cause overfilling, but it is not the first thing to replace on this code. Check for suds, filter blockage, drain hose problems, and float movement first. If the dishwasher slowly fills while off, then the inlet valve becomes a stronger suspect.

Is it safe to keep resetting the dishwasher and trying again?

Only after you have checked for leaks and cleared obvious suds. If the code comes back quickly, the machine is protecting itself for a reason. Repeated restarts can put more water into the base or onto the floor.

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