HC on a Samsung dishwasher is an over-temperature problem. The heating element or the water inside the tub has climbed above the safe operating range the control board allows, so the cycle stops to prevent damage to dishes, the pump, or internal components.
What Can Cause This
- Incoming hot water from the home’s water heater set too high for the dishwasher’s cycle expectations
- A heating element that’s stuck on due to a failed relay on the control board
- A water temperature sensor giving an inaccurate high reading
- Mineral buildup on the heating element causing it to run hotter than normal to reach target temperature
What to Check
Run the kitchen hot water tap near the dishwasher for a minute before starting a cycle and note how hot it gets — if your water heater is set unusually high (above about 120°F), that can push incoming water temperature past what the dishwasher expects. If you have access to your water heater, this is worth checking as a first step since it’s the simplest fix.
Beyond water temperature, this code more often points to an internal component — a stuck heating relay or a miscalibrated sensor — that isn’t something to test without opening the control panel.
When to Call a Technician
Because HC can involve a heating element that won’t shut off, it’s worth having it looked at promptly rather than running more cycles. Our Samsung dishwasher repair technicians test the heating circuit and temperature sensor to confirm the problem safely.
This is an independent repair service and is not affiliated with Samsung.
