Appliance error codes: how to read them

An error code is the appliance's control board reporting what it can measure: a sensor out of range, a motor that did not reach speed, a fill that took too long. It is a symptom in shorthand, not a diagnosis. The board knows the drain did not finish; it does not know whether the hose is kinked, the filter is blocked or the pump has failed. Reading the code correctly narrows the search. Treating it as the answer leads to replacing parts that were fine.

Why the same code means different things

Codes are assigned by each manufacturer for each control platform, and they change between product lines and generations. Samsung's Canadian dishwasher page, for example, lists 1E or IE as a filter flow fault on Waterwall models and as an overheating fault on rotary models. An "E1" on one brand's oven and another's washer have nothing in common. Lists that claim to cover all brands, or that are not tied to a model family, are unreliable. Always read the code against the manual or the manufacturer's support page for your model.

How to find the right manual

1. Find the model number on the appliance label; the model number guide shows where.
2. Search the manufacturer's Canadian support site for that model number, not the series name. The owner's manual and, for many models, a troubleshooting page with the code list are there.
3. Note the exact code as displayed, including letters that look like digits (5 and S, 0 and O, 1 and I). Samsung's page lists 5C, SC, 5E, SE and SR together for this reason.
4. If no manual is online, the brand pages link to each manufacturer's support and we can look it up from the model number when you book.

What to do when a code appears

• Note the code and what the appliance was doing when it appeared.
• Do the safe checks the manual lists for that code: a kinked drain hose, a closed tap, an unbalanced load, a blocked filter, a child lock. Many codes clear with a correction and a restart.
• Try one power reset: switch off at the outlet or breaker, wait a minute, restore power. If the code returns, stop repeating the reset; it can hide a fault that is getting worse.
• Stop using the appliance for any code that involves heating, water level or motor faults where there is a smell, a leak or a noise; book a diagnostic and give us the code.

A short verified table

The codes below are taken from the manufacturer pages cited beside them, for the model families those pages cover. They are examples of how codes read, not a lookup for other brands or models. [ERROR-CODE TABLES FOR OTHER BRANDS AND MODEL FAMILIES TO BE ADDED ONLY FROM MANUFACTURER PAGES OPENED AND CITED; DO NOT EXPAND FROM THIRD-PARTY LISTS.]

Brand and family	Code	Meaning as stated by the manufacturer	Source
LG washers (front load, top load, WashTower, combo)	OE	Water cannot drain; drain hose may be kinked or clogged	LG washer error code list
LG washers	IE	Water supply is inadequate or water pressure too low	same LG page
LG washers	UE	Laundry is unbalanced	same LG page
LG washers	dE	Washer unable to lock its door	same LG page
LG washers	LE	Motor is overloaded and locked	same LG page
LG washers	CL	Child lock is active	same LG page
Samsung dishwashers (Canada)	4C or 4E	Inadequate water pressure or temperature	Samsung Canada dishwasher error codes
Samsung dishwashers	5C, SC, 5E, SE, SR	Difficulty in draining water	same Samsung page
Samsung dishwashers	LC, LE	Moisture detection or blocked water reflector	same Samsung page
Samsung dishwashers	OC, 0C, oE	Excessive water, often linked to drainage problems	same Samsung page
Samsung dishwashers	1E or IE	Waterwall models: water not passing through the filter. Rotary models: overheating inside the dishwasher	same Samsung page

What a code cannot tell you

Which part failed. LG's OE means the washer did not drain in time; the cause can be a kinked hose, a blocked pump filter, a failed pump or a control fault. Samsung's LC means the leak sensor saw moisture; the cause can be a real leak, a splash from overfilling detergent, or a sensor fault. The diagnostic exists to tell those apart before a part is bought. If a code persists after the manual's safe checks, book a visit and tell us the code; it shortens the diagnosis.

Questions

Related

• Finding a model and serial number
• Preparing for a technician visit
• Brands we service
• LG
• Samsung
• Washer not draining
• Dishwasher not draining