LG IE washing machine: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What IE actually means

Your LG isn't getting enough water into the drum in the time it expects, so it stops and shows IE (often misread as 1E).

The machine opens its fill valve at the start of the cycle and watches the water level rise. If the level hasn't reached the target within the allotted time, it abandons the fill and flags IE. You'll usually see the drum with little or no water in it and the programme stalled early on.

What IE looks like on a LG washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a LG washing machine, IE usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle
Overfilling, or won't stop filling
Stops with water still inside
Fills and drains over and over
No function at all

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

Tap turned off, partly open or running at low pressure
Kinked or trapped fill hose behind the machine
Blocked filter gauze where the hose screws onto the water valve
Faulty water valve ype type type type type type type type type type — on newer LG models a DC valve
Pressure sensor or wiring to the valve giving the control board bad information

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Check the water tap is fully open and, if you have a mixer or shared supply, that pressure is decent elsewhere in the house
Pull the machine forward gently and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, squashed or looped tightly
Turn off the tap, unscrew the fill hose at the tap end into a bucket and check water gushes out freely, then reconnect firmly
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then restart a short cycle to clear a one-off fault

Common questions about LG IE

What does IE mean on a LG washing machine?

Your LG isn't getting enough water into the drum in the time it expects, so it stops and shows IE (often misread as 1E). The machine opens its fill valve at the start of the cycle and watches the water level rise. If the level hasn't reached the target within the allotted time, it abandons the fill and flags IE. You'll usually see the drum with little or no water in it and the programme stalled early on.

Can I fix LG IE myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the water tap is fully open and, if you have a mixer or shared supply, that pressure is decent elsewhere in the house.
Pull the machine forward gently and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, squashed or looped tightly.
Turn off the tap, unscrew the fill hose at the tap end into a bucket and check water gushes out freely, then reconnect firmly.
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then restart a short cycle to clear a one-off fault.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair LG IE?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing IE?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most washing machine faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other LG washing machine codes

All LG fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

LG IE error — washing machine