Most modern dishwashers make use of fancy control panel screens to tell you detailed information about what’s going on with your dishwasher, such as which wash cycle you’re using and any error codes or problems that have cropped up.
But many older Samsung dishwashers don’t have a touchscreen control panel. Instead, when the dishwasher needs to notify you of something like an error, certain light combinations will blink at you.
Depending on what combination of lights are blinking at you, it will indicate a different problem that should be addressed.
If you notice your ‘heavy’ light is blinking at you, then you’re in the right place, as we’ll tell you what’s causing the problem and how to fix it.
Why is my Samsung dishwasher’s heavy light blinking?
There will always be a light blinking on the Samsung Dishwasher based on which kind of wash cycle you have chosen. If you notice a combination of lights blinking, it indicates an error has occurred.
We can use this light combination to determine the problem and how to fix it.
However, identifying the problem becomes a little more complicated as not every dishwasher model has the same washing features and don’t all share the same blinking light names.
Here’s a list of which kinds of lights may be flashing in tandem with the ‘heavy’ light, which will indicate a problem:
- Heavy – present on all dishwasher models
- Auto
- Delicate
- Quick
- Smart Auto
- Express 60
- Quick+
Don’t worry if your particular model of dishwasher is missing one or more of these options. Samsung has created alternate blinking light combinations to accommodate this, which we will list as we go.
1. Auto and heavy
If the auto and heavy lights are blinking, one or more of the internal dishwasher sensors has detected too much water in the dishwasher.
While you can easily end the cycle, wait for the water to drain and start again, which will fix this error temporarily, often you’ll find it comes back again and again until you address the issue.
Sometimes small issues like water accidentally splashed on a sensor can trigger this. But it can also be caused by a drain problem with either the drain pump/hose or that something has become blocked.
The following alternate blinking light combinations may indicate this same issue:
- Heavy and Quick
- Heavy and Smart Auto
- Heavy (only for models WITH the express 60 light)
- Smart Auto and Heavy
2. Heavy, delicate, and quick
When you receive this error code, the temperature sensor has encountered a problem or is failing. Many sensors inside your dishwasher are designed to monitor its performance and ensure it’s operating optimally.
These sensors will ensure the door is closed and there isn’t too much water inside the machine. But one of the most important sensors is the temperature sensor which monitors how hot the water is.
Sometimes this is just a short-term glitch with the system, and it can be fixed by running a normal cycle, but if it keeps returning, it means there is a component problem, and it may need to be replaced.
If your dishwasher is missing the quick option, you will see this error code represented with the following alternative blinking codes:
- Heavy, delicate, and smart auto
- Heavy, quick+, and smart auto
3. Heavy and delicate
When the heavy and delicate lights are blinking, the internal heater fails.
A dishwasher needs to produce hot water to clean the dishes correctly because many modern drainage systems rely on the hot water evaporating and then condensing on the dishwasher’s sides. This system is often called ‘convection drying.’
So when the water is not hot enough, not only will the dishes not be cleaned effectively, you’ll find everything will still be very wet after the wash cycle has finished.
Once again, this can sometimes be a temporary issue where you can run an empty cycle to try and fix it. But if the problem keeps recurring, the heater will need to be replaced.
4. Heavy and Express 60
If the heavy and express 60 lights are blinking, the dishwasher cannot heat.
This problem is not to be confused with the heater failing. It’s a broader and more generic issue with much more potential causes. It just means it hasn’t been able to bring the dishwasher to temperature.
The myriad of potential causes behind this problem can make troubleshooting quite challenging, so it usually requires Samsung Support to check and diagnose the issue.
This issue may also be represented with the following blinking light combination:
- Heavy and Quick+
5. Heavy
This error is specific to models which do not have the express 60 option.
If only your heavy light is blinking, it means one or more of the internal sensors has detected moisture in a place it shouldn’t be.
During this time, the dishwasher will not be able to turn itself off, even after the wash cycle has finished, because it believes there is still water present that needs to be drained away.
A common cause of this is water being splashed near one of the sensors by accident, and it just needs some time to dry off.
However, sometimes it can indicate a drainage issue where the excess water cannot drain away.
There are various steps and checks to ensure the water can drain away, But if the error keeps coming back, it may indicate a sensor problem that the Samsung Support Center will need to address.
6. Normal, heavy, and express 60
This blinking light combination means that the thermistor has short-circuited for some reason.
The thermistor is one of the measuring tools inside the dishwasher that helps to control the heating and temperature within the machine. It monitors the water temperature to ensure it doesn’t get too hot and damage any of the internals.
It can shut off the heating element, so it can be tough to get the dishwasher to clean effectively when this component fails.
Sometimes this short-circuit is a one-off problem that a machine restart will fix. However, if you continually get this error code, the component may have failed, which should be replaced.
The following blinking light combination can also indicate this error:
- Normal and heavy
7. Normal, heavy, and quick
If you receive the normal, heavy, and quick blinking light combination, the internal sensors have detected that there is not enough water inside the dishwasher.
You will not be able to run the cycle while this error is present, as it requires a certain amount of water before the machine will function.
Most of the time, the lack of water is due to either too little or no detergent. However, it can also mean the water has been shut off or a leak somewhere prevents the water from making it to the machine.
This error code is also indicated with the following alternate blinking light combination:
- Normal, heavy, and smart auto
How to fix Samsung dishwasher’s heavy light blinking
As you can see, the heavy light blinking can mean many problems involving many components.
Fixing this is challenging because not all dishwashers contain the same lights, and depending on which model you have, your given light combination for a particular error can be different.
Hopefully, you’ve been able to ascertain what your particular heavy light blinking combination means from the section above. So now, let’s walk through how to fix these problems.
1. Too much water is in the machine
Indicated by the auto and heavy, heavy and quick, or heavy and smart auto blinking light combinations.
If the machine has detected too much water in the dishwasher, it will try to drain the excess water away continually. If it’s unable to do so and the error code persists for a long time, it means something is obstructing the drain.
The first thing to check is that the drain pump is correctly connected to the sink. Without this, the water has nowhere to go and will sit in the dishwasher.
Next, you should check the drain hose to ensure it’s connected and there are no significant kinks/blockages that might prevent water from flowing away.
Run the water of the sink that the dishwasher drain is connected to for 4-5 minutes. This can often flush away any simple blockages and assist the dishwasher in draining itself.
If none of those simple solutions have worked, it may indicate a more severe blockage somewhere in the system. You will need to clean the drain, the water filter thoroughly, and the sump in the tub to make sure water can flow out of the dishwasher unimpeded.
2. Temperature sensor issue
Indicated by the following error codes:
- Heavy, delicate, and quick
- Heavy, delicate, and smart auto
- Heavy, quick+, and smart auto
This means there is some issue with the temperature sensor and that it is failing.
It doesn’t necessarily mean the component is dead. Sometimes this can be a temporary issue. To fix it, you should first empty the dishwasher, add detergent as usual and then run a completely normal cycle while the dishwasher is empty.
This can help flush the system and remove debris or buildup that may have interfered with the temperature sensor.
If this doesn’t work, it may well be that the sensor is failing, in which case, you should power the dishwasher down and turn it off at the circuit breaker to prevent further damage. Then contact Samsung customer support, who will arrange for it to be fixed.
3. Fix the heater
Indicated by the heavy and delicate light combination. It means something is wrong with the heater, and it’s not working correctly.
Once again, it doesn’t necessarily mean the heater is broken, and you should once again empty the dishwasher, add detergent and then run a normal cycle to fully clean the machine and see if it fixes the problem.
If it doesn’t work, you should power the machine down and contact Samsung Suppor,t who will have a technician fix the problem.
4. The dishwasher can’t heat
Displayed by the heavy and express 60 and heavy and quick+ blinking light combination. This is a very broad problem, meaning the dishwasher cannot heat up.
Because there are so many potential causes, the easiest way to resolve it is to contact Samsung support, who will fix the issue.
5. Moisture has been detected
If you have just the heavy light blinking, excess moisture has been detected in the machine.
The first thing to check for is leaks. If you find water leaking from the dishwasher, you should refer to the Samsung guide for dealing with dishwasher leaks.
If you cannot find any signs of a leak, it may be that water has splashed onto one of the sensors and needs some time to dry.
Additionally, suppose the dishwasher has recently been connected to the garbage disposal. In that case, you should ensure the garbage disposal cap has been removed and that you haven’t accidentally overfilled the detergent that has spilled outside the dispenser.
6. Thermistor failure
Indicated by the normal, heavy, and express 60 or normal and heavy blinking light combination.
When the thermistor short circuits, it may be a temporary issue where shutting the machine off and restarting it can sometimes fix the problem.
However, if the error keeps returning, the thermistor is failing, and you should contact Samsung support to replace it.
7. Not enough water
Indicated by the normal, heavy, and quick or normal, heavy, and smart auto blinking light combinations.
If there is not enough water inside the dishwasher, an empty cycle can usually flush it out and restore it to working order.
If it doesn’t, then power the dishwasher down and contact Samsung support to have them fix the issue.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
