Whirlpool Washing Machine Error Code HC

Reviewed by the ApplianceErrors Editorial Team · Verified against manufacturer service documentation · Last verified: July 19, 2026

✓ Low Severity 🔧 Easy DIY

Hot and cold water hoses reversed

The most common cause of the HC error on a Whirlpool washing machine is hot and cold fill hoses connected to the wrong inlets (~90% of cases); start with: swap the fill hoses.

💰 DIY cost: $0–$0 👨‍🔧 Pro cost: $80–$150 Save $80+ by doing it yourself

Whirlpool Washing Machine error code HC on the display panel — How the HC code appears on a Whirlpool washing machine display

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

Hot and cold water hoses reversed.

The control board reads incoming water temperatures at the hot and cold inlet valves during fill and compares them against expected values. When the sensed hot inlet runs cold and the cold inlet runs hot, the board flags HC at cycle end. It signals a swapped plumbing connection rather than a valve or sensor failure, which distinguishes it from fill or drain faults like F20 that indicate no water reaching the tub at all.

Models affected: Whirlpool top-load washers with internal temperature sensing, commonly newer high-efficiency models such as the WTW5000DW, WTW4816FW, WTW5057LW, WTW8127LC and comparable series

What owners report: Owners commonly report HC right after installing a new washer or moving it, when hoses get crossed at the inlets. A frequent false trigger is house plumbing itself being reversed at the taps, so checking faucet temperatures often resolves cases where the hoses look correct.

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

Hot and cold fill hoses connected to the wrong inlets 90% of cases
2

Hot and cold house plumbing reversed at the faucets 10% of cases

How to Fix Whirlpool Washing Machine Error Code HC

🔧 Easy DIY Est. time: 10–20 min

⚡ Safety first: Unplug the appliance before opening any panels or touching internal components.

1

Swap the fill hoses

Shut off both supply valves and reconnect the hot hose to the hot (typically left) inlet and the cold hose to the cold inlet.

⚠️ Shut off the supply valves before disconnecting hoses.
2

Verify faucet temperatures

If the hoses are correct, run each faucet to confirm the house hot/cold lines are not themselves reversed.

How to Reset Error Code HC

Correct the hose connections, then run a cycle. HC clears once the inlet temperatures match.

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

Full Whirlpool washer reset guide → Enter diagnostic mode → Symptom guide: Washer not filling →

Did this guide fix your appliance?

When to Call a Professional

If the hoses and house plumbing are confirmed correct and HC persists, the inlet temperature sensing on the control board needs testing.

Average professional repair cost for this issue: $80–$150

Related Error Codes

F20

No water detected entering the machine

⚠ Medium Severity

Same Code on Other Brands

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

Samsung Washing Machine HC

Heating over-temperature error — water heated beyond safe limit

Samsung Dryer HC

High temperature detected — overheating safety shutdown

Maytag Washing Machine HC

Hot and cold water hoses reversed

Samsung Dishwasher HC

High temperature heater error — water overheating detected

Find Replacement Parts

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

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Search PartSelect

Whirlpool Washing Machine repair parts

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Search RepairClinic

Step-by-step video guides

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

More Whirlpool Washing Machine Error Codes

F8E1 Low water fill detected — water inlet problem F9E1 Drain failure — cycle paused, water not draining F5E2 Door lock failure — latch cannot engage F1E1 Main control board failure SUD Excessive suds detected — too much detergent F0E2 Dispenser cannot dispense detergent or additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep using my Whirlpool Washing Machine when error HC appears? +

Usually yes — HC is a low-severity water-supply notice that rarely stops the washing machine from working, but clearing the underlying cause prevents it from escalating.

What most commonly causes HC on a Whirlpool Washing Machine? +

Across reported Whirlpool washing machine repairs, the most frequent is hot and cold fill hoses connected to the wrong inlets (90% of cases) then hot and cold house plumbing reversed at the faucets (10%). 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 water-supply problem is still present. Move on to the physical checks — swap the fill hoses, then verify faucet temperatures — since the code will reappear until the root cause is resolved. This is a beginner-friendly job needing only basic hand tools.

How much does it cost to fix Whirlpool Washing Machine error HC? +

A DIY repair typically runs $0–$0 in parts, versus $80–$150 for a professional service call, so handling it yourself saves around $80. Expect the work to take about 10–20 minutes.

Which Whirlpool Washing Machine models show error HC? +

HC is documented on Whirlpool top-load washers with internal temperature sensing, commonly newer high-efficiency models such as the WTW5000DW, WTW4816FW, WTW5057LW, WTW8127LC and comparable series. Other units sharing the same control platform can display it too, so the fixes here generally transfer across the series.

Sources & References

• Whirlpool Product Help — official manufacturer documentation
• Our editorial & verification policy

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

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