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LG dishwasher repair and error codes

RepairWell repairs LG built-in dishwashers in Ottawa and Gatineau, including models with Dynamic Heat Dry and Auto Open Door. We are independent and not authorized by LG, so repairs under LG's warranty go through LG Canada. Otherwise the diagnostic is $89, waived when you go ahead with the repair, with a written finding and quote before any work.

Most LG dishwasher codes fall into three groups: water getting in (IE), water getting out (OE), and water where it should not be (AE, E1, FE, bE). A good share of those are caused by the installation, the filter or the detergent rather than a failed part, and LG's own pages say so. The rest, covering the heater, sensors, motors and the Heat Dry system, LG sends straight to service.

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RepairWell is an independent repair service and is not affiliated with or authorized by LG.

LG dishwasher error codes

The codes below come from LG's dishwasher error code guide and its AE/E1, OE and bE pages on LG's U.S. support site, and from an LG Canada page written for first-generation LG dishwashers. LG notes that its guide was created for all models and that codes differ by model, so the images or wording may not match your dishwasher. Where the older Canadian page and the newer guide describe a code differently, both are given. Check the owner's manual for your model number before acting on a code.

F31 and F35 apply only to models with Dynamic Heat Dry, and F37 only to models with Auto Open Door. PF and CL are not faults; they are listed because they stop a cycle.

CodeWhat LG says it meansChecks LG lists for ownersWhen to bookSource
AE or E1There is a leak inside the dishwasher that has activated the float switch in the base. LG says the dishwasher keeps draining to protect the floor while the code is shown.
  • Check the dishwasher is level. LG's test: remove the bottom rack, pour about a gallon (4 L) of water into the tub and see whether it pools to one side.
  • Clean food or grease off the door gasket and the tub edge it seals against.
  • Check the spray arms for buildup; LG says to remove and clean them with a soft brush and warm soapy water.
  • Use one pod or tablet only, fill liquid or powder no higher than the marked lines, and never use hand dishwashing liquid.
  • LG also describes drying the base pan behind the kick plate with the breaker off. That means removing a panel; we do it at the visit.
Book if AE or E1 returns with the unit level, the gasket clean and the right detergent, if the gasket or a spray arm is damaged, or if there is water on the floor.LG USA Support
FEThe dishwasher has been overfilled and the drain pump turns on automatically. LG Canada lists a faulty water inlet valve or control board as causes, as well as water added on top of the normal fill.
  • Do not add water to the tub.
  • Use only detergent made for dishwashers; LG's guide notes suds from dishwashing liquid can cause the same group of codes.
  • If the dishwasher keeps filling, switch it off at its breaker or switch and book.
Book when FE appears with normal detergent; LG Canada lists it as a technician call.LG Canada Support
IEWater inlet error: the specified amount of water did not reach the tub.
  • Check the kitchen and bathroom taps for water, in case of a supply outage.
  • Check the inlet hose under the sink is not pressed, kinked or frozen; move anything leaning on it.
  • If the dishwasher is new or was moved, check the valve feeding it under the sink is open (turn anti-clockwise), as well as the shut-off valve above it. LG notes installers often close it.
Book if IE returns with water on and the hose straight; for a new installation, LG says to contact the installer first.LG USA Support
OEWater outlet error: the tub is not fully drained. LG Canada says the code sets when water has not drained after 5 minutes and lists a kinked or over-long drain hose, a clogged air gap or a drain pump fault.
  • Clean the filter: remove the lower rack, turn the filter handle anti-clockwise, lift it out, separate the parts and rinse them under running water. LG says to wait 30 minutes after a cycle because the tub is hot, and warns of sharp edges on the steel filter.
  • Check the drain hose under the sink is not pinched or kinked.
  • If you have an air gap on the sink, remove its cover and cap and clear any debris.
  • New dishwasher or new garbage disposal: the disposal's knockout plug may still be in place. LG says the installer or a plumber should remove it.
  • LG describes a forced drain: hold the two buttons for Cancel and Drain (they vary by model), or start any cycle and switch off after 45 seconds.
Book if OE returns after the filter, hose and air gap are clear, or if water stays above the filter level.LG USA Support
bEBubble error: too many suds. LG says the dishwasher shows bE to prevent suds from leaking out.
  • Do not use hand dish soap or kitchen detergent. LG recommends powder or solid detergent made for dishwashers.
  • To confirm, run the dishwasher empty with no detergent; foam and bE mean the detergent was the cause.
  • LG's fix for leftover foam: set the rinse aid level to L0, put a bowl with 200 to 300 ml (7 to 10 oz) of milk in the middle of the upper rack, run a Normal cycle with no detergent, repeat if needed, then reset the rinse aid.
Book if bE appears when there are no suds.LG USA Support
tEA temperature sensor problem, such as a contact problem or sensor failure. LG Canada adds that it can show if the incoming water is above 90 °C (194 °F).
  • None. LG says this needs inspection by a service technician.
Book when tE appears.LG USA Support
HEThe heater that heats the water is malfunctioning, so the water supplied to the dishwasher is not being heated.
  • None. LG says this needs inspection by a service technician.
Book when HE appears; dishes may also come out wet or poorly cleaned.LG USA Support
LE (older models: CE or LE)The cleaning (wash) motor is not working normally. LG Canada describes the older code as the dishwasher sensing something wrong with the wash motor's operation.
  • None. LG says this needs inspection by a service technician.
Book when LE or CE appears.LG USA Support
PEA problem with the water level sensor, which the dishwasher uses to prevent leaks. LG says this applies to certain older models.
  • None. LG says this needs inspection by a service technician.
Book when PE appears.LG USA Support
nELG's guide lists nE as a vario pump issue, where the impeller does not spin normally or dishes touch it. LG Canada's older page describes it as the vario valve switch not responding.
  • Rearrange the dishes so nothing touches the impeller, then restart the dishwasher.
Book if nE persists after the dishes are rearranged.LG USA Support
F31Dynamic Heat Dry models: the heat dry fan motor is not running. LG says the fault may be in the fan motor or one of its components.
  • None. LG says a detailed inspection is needed.
Book when F31 appears; drying performance will usually suffer.LG USA Support
F35Dynamic Heat Dry models: the temperatures of the Heat Dry components cannot be measured. LG says the issue may be the heat dry heater or its temperature sensor.
  • None. LG says a detailed inspection is needed.
Book when F35 appears.LG USA Support
F37The Auto Open Door feature is not working.
  • Make sure nothing near the door is in the way of it opening.
Book if F37 remains with the door area clear; LG says the auto-open parts then need inspection.LG USA Support
PFNot an error. LG Canada describes PF as the power failure compensation function: the power was cut during a cycle.
  • When power returns, press the power button to let the dishwasher continue the cycle.
  • LG's guide adds that water left in the tub after a power cut drains when the dishwasher next runs.
Book only if PF appears without any power interruption.LG Canada Support
CL (Control Lock)Not an error. The control panel is locked, so buttons, cycles and options cannot be selected. LG says the lock stays on even after the dishwasher is switched off and on.
  • Hold the CL button or buttons for 3 seconds. On some models LG says the combination is Half Load and Energy Saver, held for at least 3 seconds.
Book only if the panel stays unresponsive after the lock is released.LG USA Support

A code tells you what the control board measured, not which part failed. Tell us the code when you book; it shortens the diagnosis. How to read any error code →

Symptom guides for LG dishwashers

Finding the model and serial number

LG's support page says the model and serial tag on an LG dishwasher is on the right side of the door when it is opened. LG serial numbers start with three digits: the first gives the year of manufacture and the next two the month. Send us the model number from the tag. Code meanings changed between LG dishwasher generations, so the model number decides which list applies.

General guide to model labels →

What's specific to LG dishwashers

  • Leak protection in the base. LG describes AE and E1 as a leak inside the dishwasher activating a float switch, and says the dishwasher keeps draining while the code is shown. LG's guide adds that if there is no water on the floor but the code is displayed, the dishwasher should be switched off and serviced. The water in the base is a symptom; the job is finding where it came from, whether a gasket, a spray arm, suds or a part.
  • Drain installation limits. LG says the drain hose should not exceed 12 ft (about 3.7 m) and should not be extended, and that the hose end must be at least 12 in (305 mm) and no more than 40 in above the base of the dishwasher so water is not siphoned from the tub. LG Canada notes that an outlet lower than the base lets water siphon out with a sucking sound, and that an air gap solves this. A new disposal with its knockout plug still in place gives OE on the first cycle. For new installs see dishwasher installation.
  • Filters. Many LG models have a removable filter under the lower spray arm; LG recommends cleaning it after each load for best results, and at least once a month in hard-water areas. LG notes some models instead have a self-cleaning filter that grinds food, which does not need cleaning. LG also says water standing below the filter is normal, because it blocks sewer smells.
  • Detergent. LG ties bE, and some AE and FE codes, to suds from hand dishwashing liquid or too much detergent. That makes detergent the first thing to rule out before a leak code is treated as a part failure.
  • Dynamic Heat Dry and Auto Open Door. On models with these features, F31, F35 and F37 point to the heat dry fan, its heater or sensor, and the auto-open parts. LG's international guide also warns owners of models with a water softener not to pour water into the Heat Dry filter cap by mistake, which can cause a leak code; most North American models do not have a softener, so check your manual.

Recalls and notices

We found no Health Canada recall of LG dishwashers when this page was reviewed in September 2026. We searched the Government of Canada Recalls and safety alerts site and its open-data export, which held records to 24 September 2026. The dishwasher recalls listed there are for other brands, including Bosch, Siemens, GE, Viking, ASKO, Cove and several Maytag-family brands. The LG listings in the database cover ranges, TVs, portable air conditioners, two top-load washer models and phone products.

A recall is a formal safety action published by Health Canada. A service bulletin is a manufacturer's note to technicians, and a complaint is an owner's report; neither is a recall. If a recall is posted later, the notice will name the affected models and what LG offers.

When to book

Book when LG lists a code as needing a technician (tE, HE, LE or CE, PE, F31, F35, FE), when OE or IE returns after the checks above, or when AE or E1 comes back once detergent, levelling and the gasket have been ruled out. Book straight away, and switch the dishwasher off, if there is water on the floor. Tell us the code as displayed and the model number. The diagnostic is $89, waived if you go ahead with the repair, with a written finding and quote before any work. If the dishwasher is inside LG's warranty, contact LG Canada first.

The visit: $89 diagnostic with a written finding, waived when you go ahead with the repair. Dishwasher repair → · All LG appliances →

LG dishwasher questions

What does AE or E1 mean on an LG dishwasher?

LG says a leak inside the dishwasher has triggered the float switch in the base. Check the unit is level, the door gasket is clean, the spray arms are clear and you are using proper dishwasher detergent. If it comes back, or there is water on the floor, book a technician.

How do I clear an OE code on my LG dishwasher?

LG's steps are to clean the filter, check the drain hose under the sink for kinks, and clear the air gap if you have one. On a new install, the disposal's knockout plug may still be in place. LG also describes a forced drain; if OE keeps returning, the drain pump or hose needs a technician.

Why does my LG dishwasher show bE?

bE is LG's bubble error. It usually means hand dishwashing liquid or too much detergent was used. LG's fix is a Normal cycle with no detergent, rinse aid set to L0 and a bowl of milk on the upper rack. If bE shows with no suds, book a visit.

My LG dishwasher won't start and shows CL. What do I do?

CL means Control Lock is on. Hold the CL button, or on some models Half Load and Energy Saver together, for 3 seconds. LG says the lock stays on after the dishwasher is switched off, so it will not clear by itself.

Is it normal to have water in the bottom of my LG dishwasher?

Some, yes. LG says water standing below the filter is normal because it traps sewer smells. Water above the filter after a finished cycle is not, and points to a drain problem.

Are you authorized by LG?

No. RepairWell is independent and not authorized by LG. We repair out-of-warranty LG dishwashers; warranty work goes through LG Canada.

Other brand guides for this appliance

Sources

Sources checked 2026-09-24.

Book LG dishwasher repair

Tell us the model number and the code or symptom. We confirm the window before we come.

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