LG dishwashers report trouble with short letter codes on the display — and like the LG washer codes they share a language with, each one names a symptom, not a part. Here is what the common codes actually mean on Denver Metro service calls, and which repairs they usually point to.
OE — drain error
Water is still standing when the cycle expects an empty tub. The usual chain: food debris in the filter, a clogged drain pump, a kinked or blocked drain hose, or an air-gap/disposal connection problem. If you have already cleaned the filter and OE returns, the blockage has moved somewhere you can’t reach without opening the machine — and repeated forced drains are hard on the pump motor.
IE — water inlet error
The tub never filled in the allowed time. Suspects: a clogged inlet valve screen — sediment is a frequent find in Denver Metro homes — a failing inlet valve, low supply pressure, or a supply valve someone half-closed under the sink. If your kitchen faucet pressure is fine, the valve or its screen is the likely culprit, not your plumbing.
E1 — leak detected
Water reached the base pan and the float switch tripped; the machine stops and often runs the drain pump continuously to protect your floor. Causes range from a loose hose clamp or door gasket to a cracked sump seal. E1 is the code we least recommend ignoring: the pan hides the leak while it quietly works on your cabinet floor.
LE — motor error
The wash motor circuit reported a fault — a seized circulation motor, a wiring issue, or a control problem. Sometimes it is debris physically jamming the impeller, which is a cheap fix; sometimes the motor itself is done. The two cost very different money, which is exactly why this one deserves a meter before a part order.
HE — heater error
The water never reached temperature, or the heater circuit faulted. Dishes come out wet and films of detergent stay behind — heat is half of what a dishwasher does. Heating elements and their thermistors are routine, affordable repairs.
Why we don’t recommend guessing parts
Every code above has one cheap cause and one expensive cause: OE can be a sock of debris or a pump; LE can be a jammed impeller or a motor. Swapping parts in price order is how a $150 repair becomes a $400 one. Live diagnosis tells us which it is before anything is ordered — and our diagnostic fee is credited toward the repair.
Repair or replace?
Pumps, valves, heaters and sensors are all solidly repair-side money on an LG dishwasher. The honest exception is a failed control board on an older discontinued model, where the part alone can approach half the cost of a new machine — we will tell you which side of that line yours is on before you commit.
LG dishwasher repair across the Denver Metro
FiXiFY repairs LG dishwashers across Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Westminster and the surrounding metro — same-day in most areas, with genuine OEM parts. See our dishwasher repair page, the LG repair page, or the dishwasher not cleaning guide if there is no code at all.
BOOK ONLINECALL (303) 214-1240
LG Dishwasher Code FAQ
Can I fix an LG OE code by cleaning the filter myself?
Sometimes — a visibly clogged filter is fair DIY territory. If the filter is clean and OE persists, the blockage is in the pump or hose, and reaching those means opening the machine.
My LG dishwasher shows LE but runs fine after a restart — should I worry?
Yes, mildly. LE is a motor-circuit error, and an intermittent one usually means it is progressing. Catching it while the motor still runs keeps the repair cheaper.
Does the E1 leak code mean my kitchen floor is at risk?
The machine stops the cycle and most water stays in the base pan — that is the point of the code. But the pan hides the leak from view, so ignoring E1 for weeks is how cabinets get damaged.
Are LG dishwasher parts expensive?
Generally reasonable — LG’s dishwasher pumps and sensors are common parts. The variable is the control board; we test before ordering so you never buy a board a $60 sensor would have fixed.
FiXiFY Appliance Repair — 7030 E 46th Ave Dr, Unit A, Denver, CO 80216 · (303) 214-1240 · support@fixifycolorado.com