5C: Drain error — won't drain (5E)
- Clogged Debris Filter/Pump
- Kinked Drain Hose
- Drain Pump
The Tools to Test + Fix With
You don't need a shop full of tools — you need these. The multimeter is the one that pays for itself the first time it stops you buying the wrong part on a fault code.
Digital multimeter
Test a suspect part for continuity BEFORE you buy — the single best way to avoid replacing the wrong thing on a fault code.
🔎 On Amazon →Nut driver set (¼" + 5⁄16")
Most appliance panels are held on with ¼" and 5⁄16" hex screws.
🔎 On Amazon →Screwdriver set (Phillips/flat/Torx)
Covers the odd panel screw and the Torx fasteners many brands use.
🔎 On Amazon →The Fix — Free Checks First, Then the Part
Work top-down: the free checks before you spend a dime, and test to confirm the part is actually bad before you buy. When it is a part, you get both options — the genuine OEM part sourced through us and shipped to your door, or a budget aftermarket part on Amazon. Your call.
No part — clean the debris filter
Bottom-front access door; twist the cap out (towel down, water spills). Clear lint, coins, and hair from the filter and the pump impeller behind it.
✅ No part needed — try this firstDrain pump
If the filter's clear but the pump only hums or is silent during drain. Buy for your exact model.
Prices shown are typical aftermarket ranges and vary by brand and model — genuine OEM is priced by quote when you request it. Amazon links open a search so you can match your exact model number; as an Amazon Associate, Appliance Ant may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Always confirm the part fits your model.
Safe to Try · Know the Risk · Call a Pro
General guidance, not professional advice. Always unplug the appliance (or shut off the gas/water) before you check anything. If it feels beyond you, that's exactly when to get a pro.
✅ Safe to try yourself
- Open and clean the bottom-front debris filter (towel + shallow pan first).
- Check the drain hose behind the washer for kinks and clogs at the standpipe.
- Run a spin/drain-only cycle to confirm.
⚠️ Doable — know the risk
- Drain pump replacement — doable with power off and water shut off; leftover water in the tub.
🛑 Call a pro — don't touch this
- Water reaching the motor/control board, or a leak you can't trace.
The Honest Call
Very worth it — the filter clean is free and clears most 5C codes; a drain pump is $30–70 and about an hour versus $600+ for a new washer.
In Middle Tennessee or Louisiana?
Don't want to DIY it? Our own family of technicians will come clear that 5C for you — honest flat pricing, usually same-day, 4.5★ from 1,000+ neighbors.
🔧 Get it fixed by our techs →