LG Dishwasher AE Code: What It Means and How to Fix It

If your LG dishwasher’s display suddenly shows AE, it’s telling you the unit’s float switch has picked up water where it shouldn’t be. It’s an unsettling thing to see mid-cycle, but the AE code is really just LG’s built-in safety system doing its job, stopping the wash before a small issue turns into a flooded kitchen floor. Some LG models display the same fault as E1 instead of AE, but the meaning and the fixes are identical. Before you start pulling panels off your dishwasher, it helps to know what’s actually going on, and if the fix turns out to be more than a quick reset, appliance repair in Saint Pete can get it sorted the same week.

What Is the AE Error Code on an LG Dishwasher

LG dishwashers use a float switch, usually sitting in the base of the tub, to monitor water levels. When that switch detects more water than a normal cycle should produce, the control board halts the wash and displays the AE fault code. This isn’t a random glitch, it’s a deliberate response meant to protect your floors and cabinets from water damage. In most cases, the code traces back to a leak somewhere in the system, but a decent number of AE errors turn out to be false alarms caused by suds, a stuck float, or a dishwasher that isn’t sitting level.

Common Causes of the AE Code on Your LG Dishwasher

Possible Cause	What’s Happening	How Common
Too much or wrong detergent	Excess suds overflow and trip the float switch	Very common
Worn or dirty door gasket	Water seeps out around the door during the cycle	Common
Stuck or faulty float switch	Switch reads a leak that isn’t actually there	Common
Loose water inlet valve or hose	Water drips into the base pan during fill	Common
Dishwasher not level	Water pools to one side and reaches the sensor	Moderate
Damaged spray arm or drain hose	Water sprays or drains outside its intended path	Less common

The overlap between these causes is why the AE code can be tricky to pin down on your own. A dishwasher that’s slightly off-level can produce the exact same symptom as a genuinely cracked hose, so it’s worth working through the easy checks before assuming a part has failed.

LG Dishwasher AE Code But No Leak, What It Means

Plenty of homeowners see the AE code with completely dry floors and no water anywhere near the unit. When that happens, the float switch itself is usually the source of the false reading rather than an actual leak. A little condensation sitting in the base pan, a stray utensil resting against the float, or built-up detergent residue can all be enough to trigger the sensor without a drop of water ever escaping the dishwasher. Using more than one detergent pod per cycle is another frequent, easy-to-miss cause, the extra suds mimic a leak from the sensor’s point of view.

AE Code With the Pump Still Running

One detail most troubleshooting guides skip over: what it means when the AE code appears and the pump keeps running instead of shutting the cycle down completely. On some LG models, the drain pump will continue trying to clear water even after the fault code displays, which can sound like the dishwasher is stuck rather than stopped. This usually points to the control board still receiving a “water present” signal from the float switch, so the pump keeps working to remove water it thinks is still there. If you notice the pump running continuously alongside the AE code, don’t let the dishwasher keep cycling — running the pump against a switch that won’t reset can wear it out faster and turn a simple sensor issue into a pump replacement.

How to Reset the AE Code on an LG Dishwasher

Once you’ve confirmed there’s no active leak, a reset is often all it takes to clear the fault and get back to normal cycles.

Step	Action
1	Turn off the dishwasher and disconnect power at the outlet or breaker
2	Open the door and check the base pan for standing water; dry it completely
3	Locate the float switch (a small dome near the front base) and confirm it moves freely
4	Wipe away any detergent residue or debris around the float
5	Leave the unit unplugged for 5–10 minutes to let the control board fully clear
6	Restore power and run a short cycle to confirm the AE code has cleared

If the reset doesn’t hold or you’d rather have a technician confirm nothing else is at play, our appliance repair services cover diagnostics for dishwashers and the rest of your kitchen lineup.

How to Reset an LG Dishwasher Without Unplugging It

Not every home has easy access to the outlet behind the dishwasher, so it’s worth knowing there’s a way to reset the unit without crawling under the cabinet. On most LG models, holding down the Start/Pause button for around 3–5 seconds will cancel the current cycle and clear a stuck fault code the same way unplugging does. From there, close the door and select a new cycle to see if the AE code returns. This won’t fully reset the control board the way cutting power does, so if the code comes right back, unplugging is still the more reliable option, but it’s a good first move when the outlet is hard to reach.

AE Code Flashing or Won’t Turn Off

If the AE code keeps flashing no matter how many times you reset the dishwasher, or the unit won’t respond to any button at all, the float switch has likely failed and needs to be tested rather than just cleaned. A dishwasher that won’t clear the AE code shouldn’t be run again until it’s been looked at, forcing more cycles through a system that already thinks it’s leaking can lead to a real leak developing from strain on the pump or valve. At this stage, our dishwasher repair service can run a full diagnostic to isolate whether it’s the switch, the control board, or an actual leak causing the code to stick.

When to Call a Professional for LG Dishwasher Repair

A reset resolves the AE code for a lot of households, but a few signs mean it’s time to bring in a technician instead of continuing to troubleshoot:

• Water is visible under or around the dishwasher after a cycle
• The AE code returns immediately, every time, after a reset
• The pump keeps running well after the cycle should have stopped
• You hear grinding, humming, or unusual noises from the base of the unit

LG’s float switches and control boards have their own quirks model to model, so a technician familiar with the brand can usually diagnose the cause faster than trial and error at home. Our LG dishwasher repair service covers everything from float switch replacements to gasket and hose repairs.

FAQs