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Samsung Washing Machine Error Code HC

Reviewed by the ApplianceErrors Editorial Team · Verified against manufacturer service documentation · Last verified: July 19, 2026
⚠ High Severity 🔧🔧🔧 Advanced DIY Also shown as: HC1, HC2, HE3

Heating over-temperature error — water heated beyond safe limit

The most common cause of the HC error on a Samsung washing machine is thermistor (temperature sensor) failure (~45% of cases); start with: power cycle.

💰 DIY cost: $20–$110 👨‍🔧 Pro cost: $200–$400 Save $180+ by doing it yourself
Samsung Washing Machine error code HC on the display panel
How the HC code appears on a Samsung washing machine display

What Does Error Code HC Mean on a Samsung Washing Machine?

Heating over-temperature error — water heated beyond safe limit.

HC (and its HC1/HC2/HE3 variants) fires when the control reads wash-water temperature — or drying-air temperature on combo units — above a safe threshold and cuts power to the heater. It usually stems from a thermistor reporting a false high value or a control-board relay stuck closed that keeps energizing the element. Unlike 1C, which flags a bad or open thermistor signal, HC indicates the sensed temperature actually exceeded the over-temp limit, prompting a protective shutdown.

Models affected: Samsung front-load washers and washer-dryer combos with an internal heating circuit (including combo models such as the WV60M9900AV series)
What owners report: Owners commonly report HC appearing shortly after a heated or sanitize cycle begins rather than at start-up. A one-time over-temp glitch sometimes clears with a power cycle, but if it returns each heated cycle, a failing thermistor is the fault most people end up finding first.

What Causes Error Code HC?

Here are the most common causes in order of frequency. Start with the most likely cause before moving to the next:

  1. 1
    Thermistor (temperature sensor) failure 45% of cases
  2. 2
    Heater relay stuck closed on control board 30% of cases
  3. 3
    Heating element fault 15% of cases
  4. 4
    Wiring/connector fault at the heater 10% of cases

How to Fix Samsung Washing Machine Error Code HC

🔧🔧🔧 Advanced DIY Est. time: 1–3 hours
⚡ Safety first: Unplug the appliance before opening any panels or touching internal components.
  1. 1

    Power cycle

    Unplug the washer for 10 minutes. A one-time over-temp glitch may clear.

  2. 2

    Test the thermistor

    Access the heater area and check the NTC sensor — roughly 10k ohms at room temperature. Out of spec = replace.

    🔩 Multimeter 🔩 Samsung washer thermistor ($20–$50)
    ⚠️ Unplug before accessing the heater.
  3. 3

    Inspect the heating element

    Check the element for continuity and signs of scaling or burn-through.

    🔩 Samsung washer heating element ($40–$110)

How to Reset Error Code HC

Unplug 10 minutes and restart. If HC returns once a heated cycle begins, test the thermistor first.

Note: If the error returns after resetting, the underlying issue has not been resolved. Work through the fix steps above.

Full Samsung washer reset guide → Enter diagnostic mode →

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When to Call a Professional

If the thermistor and element test good but HC persists, the control board heater relay is stuck and the board needs replacement.

Average professional repair cost for this issue: $200–$400

Related Error Codes

1C
Water level sensor error — pressure (level) sensor fault
⚠ Medium Severity

Same Code on Other Brands

Error code HC appears on these other brands too. See every brand that shows HC →

Whirlpool logo
Whirlpool Washing Machine HC
Hot and cold water hoses reversed
Maytag logo
Maytag Washing Machine HC
Hot and cold water hoses reversed

Find Replacement Parts

Use these links to find the exact replacement parts for your Samsung Washing Machine:

🔩
Search PartSelect
Samsung Washing Machine repair parts
🔧
Search RepairClinic
Step-by-step video guides

External links — ApplianceErrors.com is not affiliated with these retailers.

More Samsung Washing Machine Error Codes

4C Water supply not detected UE Unbalanced load detected OE Drain failure — water not draining LE Motor locked — drum cannot rotate DE Door not properly closed or door lock failure HE Water heater error — water not heating to target temperature

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep using my Samsung Washing Machine when error HC appears? +
It is not advisable. The washing machine may still power on, but running it while HC is active can worsen the heating fault or damage related parts. Treat it as a soon-as-possible repair.
What most commonly causes HC on a Samsung Washing Machine? +
Across reported Samsung washing machine repairs, the most frequent is thermistor (temperature sensor) failure (45% of cases), heater relay stuck closed on control board (30%), then heating element fault (15%). Check them in that order before replacing any parts.
HC keeps coming back after a reset — what should I check next? +
A reset only clears the stored HC fault; if it returns, the heating problem is still present. Move on to the physical checks — power cycle, then test the thermistor — since the code will reappear until the root cause is resolved. This is an advanced repair involving deeper disassembly or electrical testing.
How much does it cost to fix Samsung Washing Machine error HC? +
A DIY repair typically runs $20–$110 in parts, versus $200–$400 for a professional service call, so handling it yourself saves around $180. Expect the work to take 1–3 hours.
Which Samsung Washing Machine models show error HC? +
HC is documented on Samsung front-load washers and washer-dryer combos with an internal heating circuit (including combo models such as the WV60M9900AV series). Other units sharing the same control platform can display it too, so the fixes here generally transfer across the series.

Sources & References

Content verified against manufacturer service documentation. Last verified: July 19, 2026.

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