The likely causes, most common first
- 01
Clogged drain pump filter
Coins, hair ties, lint and the odd sock collect in the filter behind the small panel at the bottom front. The most common cause, and one you can clear yourself.
- 02
Kinked or blocked drain hose
Stacked and closet-fitted washers get pushed back tight, which can crush the hose. A hose pushed too far down the standpipe, or a blocked standpipe, does the same.
- 03
Drain pump worn or jammed
If the filter and hose are clear and you hear humming with no water moving, the pump has likely failed. A routine part to replace.
Safe things to try first
Check the drain hose
Pull the washer out a little. Make sure the hose isn't kinked, crushed, or pushed more than a few inches into the standpipe.
Drain the leftover water
Unplug the washer. Open the small panel at the bottom front, put down towels and a shallow tray, and pull the little drain tube to let the water out. There can be a lot of it.
Clean the drain pump filter
Turn the filter cap counterclockwise, pull it out, clear what's inside, rinse it and screw it back in firmly so it doesn't leak.
Run Rinse and Spin
Plug back in and run Rinse and Spin on its own. If the water drains, you're done.
Unplug first. Only try checks that need no tools inside the machine.
Stop and book a tech if
- OE comes back with a clean filter and a clear hose
- You hear the pump hum but no water moves
- The filter cap won't turn, or water leaks from it after
- The washer is stacked and you can't safely reach the back
Is it worth fixing?
Usually worth fixing
An OE repair is usually a filter, a hose or a pump: small parts on a machine that otherwise works. It tips toward replacing only when the drain fault comes with other trouble, like a failing motor or bearings on an older washer. Either way, the tech tells you straight, before any work starts.
Where's the sticker on an LG washer?
Open the door. Look at the frame.
- Front loader, including stacked 24 inch units: open the door and look on the frame around the opening.
- Top loader: lift the lid and check under it, or on the back panel.
In a condo or a stacked laundry closet
The drain filter on a stacked LG sits at the bottom of the washer, so it's usually reachable. The hose and standpipe at the back aren't, once the pair is pushed into a closet. That's where we come in. Put your building's rules on the building card (elevator booking, parking, hours) and we plan around them. Need a strata insurance certificate? We send one on request.
Codes that look like this one
| Code | On | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| OE | LG dishwasher | Drain fault, same idea: filter, hose or pump |
| 5C / 5E | Samsung washer | Not draining |
| F21 / F9 E1 | Whirlpool washer | Taking too long to drain |
| E24 | Bosch dishwasher | Drain blocked |
| i20 | Frigidaire dishwasher | Drain fault |
Other codes and problems on this machine
Questions
Why does it show OE when the drum is empty?
The washer still checks that it can drain, even with no clothes inside. A blocked filter, a kinked hose or a failing pump shows OE on an empty drum too.
How do I reset an LG washer OE error?
Fix the cause first, then unplug the washer for a minute and run Rinse and Spin. Resetting without clearing the blockage brings the code straight back.
Can I keep using the washer?
Not until it drains. Water left in the drum can leak or start to smell, and running the pump against a blockage can wear it out.
Do you repair LG washers near me?
Across Greater Vancouver: Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, the North Shore, New Westminster, the Tri-Cities, Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Langley and Maple Ridge.