LG Washer - What is a Front Load Washing Machine OE Error Code?

At a Glance

An OE error code indicates the washing machine is unable to drain the water used during the wash cycle. An OE error code can be caused by a kinked drain hose or a clogged drain pump filter.

Try This

1. Check for kinked drain hose.

   Check behind the washer to ensure that the drain hose is not kinked or clogged. If any of the clogs have been removed, or the kinks in the drain hose have been straightened; run a spin cycle to confirm that the OE has been resolved.

   

2. Test the drain pump.

   If the drain hose is not kinked, run a spin only cycle to test the drain pump.

   1. Press the POWER button to turn the washer ON.

   2. Press the SPIN SPEED key until HIGH is selected.

   3. Press the START/PAUSE button to start the SPIN ONLY cycle.

   4. Listen to hear a humming sound which indicates that the drain pump motor has started working.

   

3. Do you hear a humming sound?

   During the test above, a humming sound, and possibly the sound of water draining will be heard for the first 15 seconds.

   Yes No

   

4. Clean drain pump filter.

   If you can hear the humming sound, the drain pump motor is working properly, but we need to check if its filter is clogged. For your convienience, watch the video below or follow the step-by-step instructions.

   Do you prefer reading the step-by-step-instruction?

   View Step by Step Instructions

   A.

   Turn off the washer.

   Press the POWER button to turn off the washing machine and remove the plug from the outlet.

   

   B.

   Locate service panel.

   Locate and open the service panel (drain filter area) on the bottom-left corner of the unit.

   

   C.

   Drain the remaining water.

   The drain hose is located on the left side of the service panel. Unclip it and remove the plug (cap) from the drain hose to drain the water remaining inside the wash tub. Drain the excess water into a short bucket or shallow pan. The amount of water will vary according to when the error occured during the cycle.

   Note

   Do not pull the hose too far out. It will kink the hose and prevent the water from draining out. If no water is draining (coming out), push the drain hose back in about 1 inch to remove any potential kink.

   

   D.

   Remove the drain filter.

   After all the remaining water is drained from the drain hose, place a hand towel beneath the drain filter on the right side. Twist the pump filter counter-clockwise to remove it from the washer.

   

   E.

   Clean pump filter.

   Clean the pump filter with a soft-bristle brush with warm water. Do not wash the pump filter inside the dish washer.

   

   F.

   Clean the base.

   Clean the drain filter opening and its base on the washing machine with a soft-bristle brush to remove debris.

   

   G.

   Return drain hose.

   Place the cap back into the drain hose and re-attach the hose to the washer.

   

   H.

   Return drain pump filter.

   Insert the drain pump filter back into the washing machine, making sure it is inserted securely. Tighten the drain pump filter by turning the cap clockwise until it stops. Close the drain pump filter cover and proceed to the next step (tub clean cycle).

   

5. Run tub clean cycle.

   If you cleared debris from the drain pump filter, perform a tub clean cycle to see if the error code is resolved.

   If the drain pump filter is free of debris or clogs, excessive suds could have triggered the error code by creating air pockets that the drain pump cannot effectively remove. Once the drain pump begins sucking air instead of water, the pump signals a drain issue to the unit. Perform a TUB CLEAN CYCLE and REDUCE the amount of detergent used.

   Once the Tub Clean is complete, run a new cycle to see if the code is cleared.

   If the OE error code appears again, the unit may require a repair service. Request a repair with our 24/7 Chat Support.

6. Request Repair.

   If you cannot hear the humming sound, the drain pump is not working properly. The unit requires a repair service. Request a repair with our 24/7 Chat Support.