What the codes on an LG dishwasher mean
LG posts its dishwasher codes on its support site. Five of them come up often.
- OE means the machine found a drain problem. Food clogs and drain hose faults are the usual cause.
- IE means not enough water is coming in.
- AE or E1 means water has leaked into the base and lifted the float switch.
- LE means a motor error. The motor or its wiring may be at fault.
- HE means a heater error. The water did not heat, or it got too hot.
A code is a starting point. We still test the part before we replace it.
Drain faults behind the OE code
Clean the filter first. If OE comes back, the drain pump is next. A shard of glass or a cherry pit can jam the pump. It can also burn out. The hose gets a look at the spot where it joins the sink drain. A new disposal with the plug left in will block it. That one is an install slip, not a broken part.
Leaks and the AE code
LG puts a float switch in the base pan. When water collects there, the switch trips and the machine stops. The pump may run nonstop to protect your floor.
The leak itself can come from many spots. A door gasket, a loose hose clamp, a cracked sump or a worn motor seal. Too much soap can foam over as well. We tip the machine, dry the pan and find the source. Drying the pan alone does not fix it.
Wash and dry systems on LG models
LG dishwashers use an Inverter Direct Drive motor for the wash. QuadWash Pro sprays from arms that move in more than one direction. If those arms stop turning, cleaning falls off fast. A seed in a jet or a worn arm gear is often why.
For drying, LG uses Dynamic Heat Dry, which moves hot air through the tub. TrueSteam models add steam from nozzles on the door. A failed heater, fan or steam part leaves plastics wet. An HE code with cold dishes points at the heater circuit.
An IE code means the fill is short. Check that the supply valve under the sink is open. If it is, the inlet valve on the machine may be stuck shut. Its screen can clog with grit. Low house pressure will also trip it.
A few owner checks
- Rinse the filter and the fine mesh under the lower arm.
- Make sure the drain hose loops up high under the counter.
- Switch the breaker off for a minute to clear the control.
- Use rinse aid and the right amount of soap.
- Look for a utensil hanging down and blocking an arm.
Visit, fee and 30-day repair warranty
Booking takes a minute online. Lines come on at 6 AM and go quiet at 9 PM, all seven days. We can reach most homes the same day. An LG dishwasher diagnostic is $79 for a home. The tech then writes up one price with parts and labor. If you go ahead, that $79 is not charged. The same goes for the $119 stacked or double unit call. LG dishwasher calls go to insured, licensed techs who cleared a background check. Each repair is under our 30-day repair warranty. A+ works as an independent company.
When to fix an LG dishwasher
Pumps, valves, gaskets and sensors are fair repairs. They bring a good machine back for years. A failed wash motor and a bad board together on an aging unit is where a new machine starts to make sense. We will lay out the cost so the choice is easy.
California homes can find us on the Los Angeles area appliance repair page. Read more at dishwasher repair or the LG appliance repair brand page. We fix laundry too, so see LG washer repair if that machine shows an OE code of its own. Both use the same letters for a drain fault, but the pumps are not the same part.