LG Dishwasher AE or E1 Error Code: Leak Detected, What to Do

What to try first

Safety: Treat any water under or around the dishwasher as live until the power is off. LG says to switch the dishwasher off at the circuit breaker before dealing with water in the base; do the same before you mop the floor.

1. 1

   Check the floor, then cut the power

   If water has reached the floor, close the dishwasher's water valve under the sink and mop up. Switch the dishwasher off at the circuit breaker: LG asks for this in case an electrical charge discharges through the water.

2. 2

   Switch to the right detergent and dose

   Use one pod or tablet per load. With liquid or powder, fill only to the 15 line for light loads or soft water, or to the 25 line for heavy loads or hard water. Never use hand dish soap; LG says it is far more concentrated and floods the tub with bubbles.

3. 3

   Clean the door gasket

   Wipe food and grease off the rubber seal and off the edge of the tub where it seals. Buildup stops the door from closing tight.

4. 4

   Clean the spray arms

   Take out the spray arms, clear any blocked holes and scrub them with a soft brush and warm soapy water. Refit them and check that each one spins freely.

5. 5

   Load big plates and pots upside down

   LG's error guide lists this among its fixes for the leak and overfill codes, next to using detergent made for dishwashers.

6. 6

   Run LG's level test

   Remove the bottom rack, pour about a gallon of water into the tub and see whether it pools to one side. You can also hold a level against the top, sides and bottom of the tub.

7. 7

   Let the base dry, then reset at the breaker

   Leave the breaker off while the water in the base evaporates. LG's drying guide allows 24 to 48 hours, and water dries more slowly with the lower kick plate in place, so give it at least that long. Then turn the breaker back on, which resets the dishwasher, and run an empty cycle.

Most likely causes of AE

1. 1. Too many suds from dish soap, a second pod or overfilled detergent (most common)

   You ran out of dishwasher detergent and used hand dish soap, put in two pods, or filled the dispenser to the top. Foam on the tub floor is a giveaway.

2. 2. Buildup on the door gasket, or a torn gasket (common)

   You see food or grease on the rubber seal or on the tub edge it presses against, or drips at the lower corners of the door.

3. 3. A blocked or damaged spray arm (common)

   An arm does not spin freely by hand, its holes are clogged, or it is cracked.

4. 4. The dishwasher is not level, or the door is out of line (common)

   Water poured into the tub pools to one side, or the gap between the door and the tub is wider on one side.

5. 5. Water poured into the Heat Dry blower (Dynamic Heat Dry models) (less common)

   AE appeared right after you topped up the water softener, and you may have filled the Heat Dry filter cap by mistake.

6. 6. An internal leak or a faulty float switch (less common)

   Detergent, gasket, spray arms and level all check out, yet AE comes back after the base has dried.

When to call a pro

• AE is still on after the base has dried and the breaker reset. LG's error guide says that when the code shows with no water on the floor, unplug the dishwasher and request service.
• The door gasket is torn or a spray arm is damaged. LG says both need service.
• AE comes back while you use a single pod or the correct detergent line. LG says the dishwasher then needs a technician.
• The level test shows water pooling to one side. The leveling legs are adjusted from behind the toe kick panel, and LG says to request service.
• You poured water into the Heat Dry blower on a built-in dishwasher. LG says not to pull the unit out yourself, so the floor is not damaged; request service.
• Water keeps reaching the floor, or you would rather not take off the kick plate to soak up the base as LG's article shows.

What a AE repair costs