LG Error Code OE / IE

What OE and IE Mean

These are two separate codes that get mixed up often because they look similar on the display. OE means the machine tried to drain and the water didn't leave the tub within the time it expects. IE means the opposite problem — the machine is waiting for water to fill and it isn't arriving fast enough. Both are timeout errors: the washer isn't broken outright, it's just not seeing the water movement it needs to continue.

Likely Causes

• OE: drain pump filter clogged with lint, coins, or small items
• OE: drain hose kinked, clogged, or the pump itself has failed
• IE: hot or cold water supply valve closed or barely open
• IE: kinked inlet hose, clogged inlet screen, or low household water pressure

What You Can Check Safely

Seeing OE? Look at the drain hose behind the machine for kinks, then find the small drain pump filter door at the bottom front of the washer and check it for coins, buttons, or built-up lint — that's the most common culprit. Seeing IE? Go behind the machine and confirm both the hot and cold water valves are turned fully open, and check the fill hoses for kinks or, in cold weather, freezing. There's nothing here that requires opening the cabinet — if the hoses and filter look clear, that's as far as a homeowner should go.

When to Call a Technician

If the hoses are clear, the filter's clean, and the valves are open but the code keeps showing up, the drain pump (for OE) or an internal fill valve (for IE) is probably the real issue. Those parts sit inside the cabinet and need to be tested and replaced by a technician.

Call (250) 522-2252

Own an LG appliance? See more on our LG repair page or our washer repair service.