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LG Washer IE Error Code: Not Filling With Water? How to Fix It

Low urgencyUpdated Checked against LG USA Support

Also shown or searched as: 1E, E02, E10

IE on an LG washer is the water inlet error: the tub did not fill to the right level in time. LG also shows it as E02 or E10, and many owners read it as 1E. Open both taps fully, straighten the inlet hoses, clean the inlet filter screens and check that the drain hose is not siphoning.

What to try first

Safety: Turn both taps off before you disconnect the inlet hoses, and unplug the washer before you reach behind it.

  1. 1

    Open both taps fully

    Turn each tap behind the washer counterclockwise until it stops. If you have just moved, or a plumber or the water company has been working, check the taps before anything else.

  2. 2

    Check the inlet hoses

    Make sure each hose is screwed on tightly at both ends, the hot hose goes to the hot inlet and the cold hose to the cold, and neither is folded or crushed. Tap colors do not always match what comes out, so run each one to check. A damaged hose needs replacing.

  3. 3

    Clean the inlet filter screens

    Turn both taps off and unplug the washer. Unscrew the hoses from the back of the washer, pull the mesh screens out of the inlets with your fingers or pliers, and scrub off rust, sand and grit with a toothbrush under running water. Put the screens back before you reconnect the hoses and reopen the taps.

  4. 4

    Pull the drain hose up

    Lift the drain hose so only its end goes into the drainpipe, and make sure that end is not sitting in water. Leave the holder that keeps the hose high on the back of the washer in place.

  5. 5

    Thaw a frozen supply

    Take a hose off and open its tap. If nothing comes out, wrap the tap in a cloth soaked in hot water for about 5 minutes. Thaw the hoses in warm water below 122°F, then reconnect them.

Most likely causes of IE

  1. 1. A tap that is closed or only partly open (most common)

    IE appeared right after a move, plumbing work or a water outage, or the tap handle is not turned all the way.

  2. 2. A kinked or crushed inlet hose (common)

    The washer has crept back toward the wall during spins and a hose is folded behind it.

  3. 3. Clogged inlet filter screens (common)

    Rust, sand or small pebbles show in the mesh screens where the hoses meet the washer, and the fill has been getting slower.

  4. 4. A drain hose that siphons water out (common)

    You can hear water draining while the washer is still filling, or the drain hose sits deep in the standpipe or in standing water.

  5. 5. A frozen tap or supply hose (less common)

    The washer is in a garage or another unheated room and IE showed up during a cold snap.

  6. 6. A faulty water inlet valve (less common)

    Both taps run strongly with the hoses off, the screens are clean, and the drum still does not fill.

When to call a pro

  • IE comes back after the taps, hoses, screens and drain hose all check out. LG says the inlet valve may then be at fault.
  • Both taps run strongly with the hoses off, but the drum still does not fill.
  • The hoses are hard to reach because of how the washer is installed, for example stacked or built in. LG suggests a service visit.
  • A tap or a pipe in the wall leaks or will not open: that needs a plumber, not a washer repair.

What a IE repair costs

$100–$300

HomeGuide's 2026 national range for a new washer water inlet valve, parts and labor. Opening a tap, freeing a hose or rinsing a screen costs nothing, and HomeGuide's minimum service fee is $70 to $130.

Source

IE, 1E, E02 and E10

LG's front-load error list puts IE, E02 and E10 on one line and calls it the Water Inlet Error. In LG's words, it appears when the tub does not fill to an adequate level within a set period. That timing matters: a fill that is only slow, from a half-open tap or a dirty screen, can trigger IE even though some water arrives.

On LG displays the letter I is a single upright bar, the same shape as the number 1. If your washer seems to show 1E, it is this code.

A drain problem that shows up as a fill error

One cause sits on the wrong side of the washer. If the drain hose is pushed deep into the standpipe, or its end sits under water, it can siphon the way a toilet flushes and pull water out as fast as the inlet lets it in. LG's top-load page puts the limit at 4 inches into the drainpipe. The tub never reaches its level, and the display says IE.

LG also warns against removing the holder that keeps the drain hose high on the back of the washer. Without it, the hose drops below the water line in the drum and water drains away during the fill. If the hose is too short for your setup, LG says to buy a longer drain hose instead of taking the holder off.

Check the taps before you book a visit

LG's help pages say a technician visit for IE caused by a closed tap or a water outage can be billed even while the washer is under warranty, because nothing is wrong with the product. A minute behind the washer is worth it before you call.

What a technician will check

  • The water inlet valve: each coil for an electrical fault, and the valve body for a blockage or crack.
  • The pressure sensor and its small air tube, which tell the washer how much water is in the tub.
  • The wiring from the washer's controls to the inlet valve, and whether the valve gets power when it should open.
  • Water flow from each tap with the hoses disconnected.

What fixed it for other readers

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Questions people ask about LG IE

Can a problem with my water heater cause IE?

It can on a cycle that calls for hot water. LG's checklist includes confirming that hot water actually reaches the washer. Run the hot tap at a nearby sink; if it stays cold or weak, look at the water heater before the washer.

Does IE mean the inlet valve is bad?

Not at first. LG's checklist runs through the taps, hoses, screens and the drain hose, and only points to the inlet valve when IE keeps returning after all of those are fine.

How much does it cost to fix an LG IE error?

Usually nothing, since the common causes are a closed tap, a bent hose or a dirty screen. If the inlet valve has failed, HomeGuide puts replacement at $100 to $300 with labor.

Sources