Samsung NC fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
Samsung’s prompt to deal with the lint filter. Rated more seriously here than Samsung rate it, because a blocked filter on a dryer is not the same as a blocked filter elsewhere.
Take care
What NC means
Samsung give this as "Check filter", with the cause "Lint filter problem", and treat it as something the owner sorts out. They are right that it is easy to fix and right that it is not a breakdown. We rate it above information rather than at it, for one reason: this is a heating appliance and the filter is what stops fibre going where the heat is.
Every load sheds fibre. The filter in the door catches most of it and needs the mat lifting off it each time, not a shake. What escapes builds up in the heat exchanger, and once air stops moving freely the machine runs hotter than it was designed to with a supply of dry lint conveniently nearby. That is the mechanism behind essentially every dryer fire, and it is why this prompt is worth acting on the day you see it rather than the weekend after.
One practical thing Samsung do not mention: if your filter feels slightly tacky or the lint clings rather than lifting cleanly, that is fabric conditioner residue, and a rinse under a warm tap with a little washing-up liquid will restore it. A glazed filter looks clean and still restricts air.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary lint on the filter | Expected after every load and not a fault at all. The code is a prompt rather than a diagnosis, and Samsung intend it to appear routinely. | Common |
| The filter is glazed with conditioner residue | A filter that looks clear can still be blocked. Fabric conditioner leaves a film across the mesh that air struggles through, and it builds up invisibly over months. | Common |
| The filter is not seated properly or is missing | A filter left out after cleaning, or pushed in at an angle, lets fibre straight into the machine. Running without one is the single worst thing you can do to a dryer. | Occasional |
| The sensor that detects the filter has failed | When a genuinely clean, correctly fitted filter still produces the code, what remains is the detection rather than the filter. Uncommon, and the only version that needs a visit. | Rare |
What to try yourself
Open the door and pull the filter out by its top. It is two filters — open the outer one and lift the inner one out of it — and Samsung want the lint off both, using the small brush they supply. Do not shake or tap the filter to clear it; Samsung say that damages it.
Hold it up to the light. If you cannot see clearly through the mesh, or it feels waxy, rinse it under a warm tap with a little washing-up liquid and let it dry completely.
Dry it fully before refitting. A wet filter collects lint far faster and makes the problem come back within days.Check the recess the filter sits in for fibre that has collected below it, and pull that out too.
Put the inner filter back inside the outer one and refit the assembly properly, seated flat. Never run the machine without it — Samsung’s manual says the dryer does not work without the lint filter.
If the code appeared with a clean filter, go one level deeper and clean the heat exchanger behind the flap at the bottom front, since that is where the lint the filter missed ends up.
Restart. If the prompt persists with a clean, correctly fitted filter, the sensor is the remaining explanation and it is worth a call.
Get a qualified appliance engineer to look at your Samsung NC
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. When you book a qualified appliance engineer, tell them the make, the model and the exact code or message on the display, and ask whether they carry parts for this make — that is what turns one visit into a repair rather than a quote.
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£100
Time on site
5 minutes
Nothing. This is a two-minute maintenance job, and the only chargeable outcome is the rare case of a failed detection sensor.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 2026. Your quote may differ.
Own this appliance and had this code? . Nothing is published until a person has read it.
Related Samsung fault codes
- 5CUsually simple to fixThe machine cannot get rid of its condensed water. Samsung group four causes under this code and the commonest is simply a full tank.Related: same brand
- HCGet it checkedThe compressor is overheating. Samsung’s website tells you to get an electrician to check the heating element — your machine does not have one, and their own manual says clean the heat exchanger.Related: same brand
- dCUsually simple to fixThe dryer thinks the door is open. Samsung name a cause most people would never guess: the child lock can produce this on a machine that is not even running.Related: same brand
- HCLStop — call an engineerThe refrigerant has leaked out of the sealed circuit. It is propane, and Samsung’s instruction is that the machine must not be used at all until an engineer has been.Related: same brand
- NC2Get it checkedThe inner cover of the heat exchanger is not fitted properly. Usually something an owner has just done, and usually fixable in a minute.Related: same brand
- tC5Get it checkedThe sensor watching the compressor temperature is not reporting properly. Samsung ask for a longer pause than usual before you try again.Related: same brand
Own a Samsung tumble dryer? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Common questions about Samsung NC
It says NC1 rather than NC.
Samsung list both together as the filter code, so treat them as one. Their manuals also render it as nC with a small n on some models, and the newest machines write out "Check filter" instead of showing a code at all.
How often does the filter really need doing?
Every cycle. That is not a counsel of perfection — it takes ten seconds, and it is the single thing that keeps a dryer efficient, keeps cycles short and keeps lint away from heat. A filter cleaned every load never gets to the state where it needs rinsing.
Is there another filter I should know about?
Two things. The door filter itself is a pair — an outer filter with an inner one inside it — and Samsung’s manual has you open both and clean both, so a filter that has only ever had its outside wiped is half cleaned. Then behind the cover at the bottom front is the heat exchanger, which is not a filter but collects what the filter missed. Samsung say to clean it once a month with a soft brush or vacuum cleaner. Many owners never open that cover for years; if you have not, open it now.
Why do you rate this higher than Samsung do?
Because of what it sits next to. On most appliances a blocked filter means poor performance. On a dryer it means restricted airflow around a heat source with a supply of dry fibre present, which is the standard description of how tumble dryer fires start. The fix is trivial; the reason for doing it promptly is not.
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer support portal
- Manufacturer technical and service documentation
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.