Samsung Washer 1C Error Code: Causes, Cost & Fix

What is the Samsung Washer 1C error?#

1C on a Samsung washer is a water-level sensor fault: the pressure switch that tells the board how full the tub is has failed, or the thin hose that feeds it pressure has come loose or clogged, so the machine cannot judge its water level. That shows up as a washer that fills endlessly or not at all, or fills to the wrong level for the cycle. There is a safety edge — if the machine is filling non-stop, shut off the supply valves at once to prevent an overflow. Beyond that it is not dangerous. The first thing worth checking is that thin pressure-sensing hose running from the bottom of the tub up to the switch.

1C on a Samsung Washer: likely causes and repair cost#

On a Samsung Washer, the 1C code signals: water level sensor fault.

Typical professional repair: $150–$300 · Difficulty: hard · usually a technician job

Symptoms that often accompany 1C: Washer fills indefinitely or not at all; Incorrect water level for the selected cycle; Machine starts a cycle without filling with water; Error appears immediately at cycle start

Technician diagnostic sequence for 1C:

1. Locate the pressure switch hose — a thin rubber or plastic tube running from the bottom of the outer tub up to the pressure switch (usually near the top of the machine at the back)
2. Check the hose for disconnections, cracks, or kinks. Blow gently through the hose — you should feel no blockage and hear a slight click from the pressure switch
3. If the hose is clogged, especially at the tub connection point, clean it with warm water. Sediment and soap residue are common blockages
4. Test the pressure switch by blowing into the hose while measuring continuity across the switch contacts — the switch should click and change state at a consistent pressure
5. If the switch does not click or is erratic, replace the pressure switch/frequency sensor assembly

Parts a technician may check or replace: Samsung DC96-01703G; Samsung DC67-00334A

Field note: Samsung newer models use a frequency-based water level sensor instead of a mechanical pressure switch. These electronic sensors fail with an open circuit rather than sticking. Test with a multimeter for continuity at the sensor connector first.

Safety note: A malfunctioning water level sensor can cause overfilling. If the washer is filling non-stop, shut off the supply valves immediately to prevent overflow and potential water damage.

How to troubleshoot the 1C error yourself#

1C often comes down to the pressure-sensing hose, which owners can check. Find the thin rubber or plastic tube that runs from the bottom of the outer tub up to the pressure switch near the top-rear of the machine, and inspect it for a disconnection, crack, or kink. Blow gently through it — you should feel no blockage and hear a faint click from the switch as the pressure changes. If it is clogged, especially where it meets the tub, clean it with warm water, since sediment and soap residue are common blockages there. If the machine is overfilling while you work, shut off the supply valves first to avoid water on the floor. On newer models that use a frequency-based sensor rather than a mechanical switch, the failure mode is usually an open circuit, so those are tested at the sensor connector for continuity. Where you stop is replacing the pressure switch or the frequency sensor assembly — that is a technician's job. If a clear, connected hose does not resolve 1C, book the repair.

Is the Samsung Washer 1C error worth fixing?#

1C is generally worth fixing on a Samsung washer. The professional repair runs $150 to $300 for the pressure switch or frequency-sensor assembly, a modest sum against a new machine and well under half its price. On any washer that otherwise runs normally once it reads its level, restoring accurate fill control for that amount is a clear yes — and worth doing promptly given the overfill risk a bad level sensor carries. I would only lean toward replacement on a very old unit already facing motor or bearing work, where 1C is one more item. Because the sensing hose is often the free culprit and the paid part is inexpensive, 1C rarely tips a sound washer toward replacement.

Samsung Washer 1C: frequently asked questions#

What does the 1C error mean on a Samsung Washer?#

1C means the water-level sensor cannot read the tub correctly — usually the pressure switch has failed or its sensing hose has come loose or clogged. The washer then fills endlessly, not at all, or to the wrong level.

Is it safe to keep using a Samsung Washer that shows the 1C error?#

Not safely if it is overfilling — shut off the supply valves to prevent an overflow. If it simply will not fill, there is no hazard, but it will not wash properly until the level sensor is fixed.

Can I clear the 1C error myself, or do I need a technician?#

You can inspect and clean the pressure-sensing hose yourself, which clears many 1C codes. Replacing the pressure switch or frequency-sensor assembly is a technician job.

How much does it cost to repair the 1C error on a Samsung Washer?#

A professional 1C repair typically runs $150 to $300 for the pressure switch or frequency-sensor assembly. A cleared sensing hose, by contrast, costs only labor.

Which parts usually fail when a washer throws the 1C code?#

The pressure switch is the usual failed part, along with a disconnected or clogged sensing hose. Newer frequency-based level sensors tend to fail as an open circuit instead.

Why does pressure switch failure trigger the 1C error?#

The board reads tub level from the pressure the sensing hose delivers to the switch. When the switch fails or the hose clogs or disconnects, that reading is wrong or missing, so the washer raises 1C because it cannot control the fill.