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AE code on LG dishwasher: what it means and how to fix it

Your LG dishwasher may show AE or E1, stop the cycle, or keep the drain pump running even when the tub looks empty. This page explains what that code means, what you can check safely, and when the leak needs a technician.

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Straight answer

The AE code on an LG dishwasher means water has reached the base pan and lifted the leak float, so the machine may stop filling and run the drain pump. The single most common thing to find is water sitting in the lower base pan after a suds overflow or a door-area leak.

Check these first

Safe to do yourself. Unplug the appliance before you start.

  1. Shut it down safely

    Turn the dishwasher off at the breaker and close the water valve under the sink before you touch anything wet. If there is water on the floor, avoid the plug and nearby electrical parts.

  2. Check the detergent and suds

    Use only automatic dishwasher detergent. One pod is enough, and liquid or powder should stay at LG's marked 15 or 25 line in the dispenser. Hand dish soap or overfilling the cup can make foam that pushes water past the door and into the base pan.

  3. Clean the door gasket

    Open the door and wipe the rubber gasket plus the tub edge where it seals. Grease, food grit, or a small hard item on that seal can let wash water slip out at the lower corners. If the gasket is torn, loose, or flat in one spot, it needs replacement.

  4. Inspect the spray arms

    Pull the racks out far enough to see each spray arm. Make sure the arms can spin, the holes are clear, and there are no split seams. A cracked arm can throw a hard stream straight at the door seal, which is a classic AE leak that gets missed.

  5. Check whether the dishwasher is level

    Place a level inside the empty tub, front to back and side to side. LG also suggests pouring about a gallon of water into the bottom and watching whether it pools to one side. If it leans forward or sideways, the door seal may not hold water during wash.

  6. Let the base dry after the cause is fixed

    The AE code may stay on until the water in the base pan dries enough for the float to drop. With power off, give it 24 to 48 hours before testing again. If AE returns, there is still a leak or the float circuit needs service.

When it's a repair

A technician usually finds the leak before replacing parts. Common repairs, in order, are a door gasket, a cracked spray arm, a loose inlet hose or elbow, a water inlet valve, an internal hose, a sump seal, then a circulation or drain pump leak. If the base is dry but AE stays latched, the float switch or the control board comes next. On an older basic dishwasher with a sump leak plus control trouble, replacement can make more sense than stacking repairs.

Models where this shows up most

LG uses AE or E1 as a dishwasher leak-detection code across its dishwasher line. Repair guides include LDF and LDS model families, with no year range called out.

Worth knowing

Conditions that make this more likely

Inlet screens clog quietly

The small mesh screens where the hoses meet the machine catch sediment and scale. On hard water or an older supply line, a screen can block enough within a few years to trigger a fill error. Cleaning them is a common fix.

Hard water makes this more likely

Water above about 7 grains per gallon counts as hard, and USGS maps put much of the Southwest, Texas, the Great Plains and the Midwest above that. Scale builds up on inlet screens, valves, heating elements and spray arms years sooner than the manuals assume. If you're on hard water and this fault points to a fill or heating part, mineral buildup is the first thing a technician will look for.

What a technician tests

Most likely part first. These are for a technician with a meter and the tech sheet, not a weekend project.

PartHow it's tested
Base pan and float switchA technician removes the lower access area or pulls the unit as needed, then checks the base tray for water, foam residue, and a float stuck in the raised position. With power off, the float switch is checked for a continuity change while the float is moved; no change points to a failed switch or stuck float.
Door gasket and tub lipThe seal is checked for cuts, hardened spots, loose sections, and food packed where the gasket meets the tub. During a controlled test cycle, drips at the lower door corners or a wet trail below the door point back to the gasket, latch fit, or tub level.
Spray armsEach arm is removed and inspected under light for hairline splits along the molded seam. Blocked holes get cleaned, but a split arm is replaced because it can aim a concentrated jet at the door instead of spraying the load.
Water inlet valve, supply hose, and elbowThe valve body, 90 degree elbow, threads, and supply hose are dried, then checked during fill with a paper towel or visual leak check. A slow wet mark at the fitting, a cracked elbow, or a valve that overfills the tub means the leaking part is replaced.
Sump, pumps, and internal hosesWith the unit accessed safely, the technician watches the sump seal, circulation pump, drain pump, and hose joints during wash and drain. Drips under the sump, water trails from a pump housing, or wet clamp areas identify the leak source.

Don't see your symptom?

Describe it on the phone. The company on the other end works on these every day and will know what to ask.

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Common questions about appliance repair

Can I reset the AE code on an LG dishwasher?

A power reset may clear the display only after the base pan is dry and the float has dropped. If water is still in the base, or the leak happens again, the code will return.

Why does the drain pump keep running with AE showing?

That is the anti-leak response. The control is trying to keep more water from entering the dishwasher while the float switch says there is water in the base.

Can using the wrong soap cause the AE code?

Yes. Hand dish soap or too much dishwasher detergent can make heavy foam, and that foam can carry water over the door seal into the lower base pan.

Is it safe to run the dishwasher after the AE code clears?

Run it only after the obvious cause has been corrected and the floor is dry. Stay nearby for the first test cycle and stop it if you see water, suds, or the code returns.

Does AE always mean the float sensor is bad?

No. Most of the time the float is doing its job because water reached the base pan. The sensor is tested after suds, the door seal, spray arms, level, and visible leaks are ruled out.

Still showing the problem after the checks?

Call and describe what you tried. You'll be connected with an independent repair company near you.

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