What PE actually means
Your LG washing machine can't tell how much water is in the drum, so it stops rather than risk under- or overfilling.
The water level is measured by a pressure switch. As the drum fills, air trapped in a small pressure bowl at the bottom of the machine is squeezed up a thin pipe to the switch, which reads the level from that air pressure. If the reading doesn't change as expected, or doesn't make sense, the control board flags PE and halts the cycle \u2014 usually part way through filling, or when it should be deciding the drum is empty enough to spin.
What usually causes it
- The pressure switch itself has failed or gone out of calibration
- The thin air pipe between the pressure bowl and the switch is blocked, split or has slipped off
- Sludge or debris in the sump hose or pressure bowl blocking the air passage
- Poor connection at the pressure switch or a control board fault
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.
- Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and restart a short cycle \u2014 the odd one-off reading does clear.
- Clean out the pump filter at the front bottom of the machine; a drum that won't empty properly can make the level reading look wrong.
- Check the drain hose isn't kinked, and that the end isn't pushed too far down the standpipe.
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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
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- LG FE — Your LG washing machine has taken on more water than it shou…
- LG IE — Your LG isn't getting enough water into the drum in the time…
- LG LE — The machine has tried to spin the drum but the motor isn't t…
- LG OE — Your LG washer hasn't managed to empty the water out within …
- LG TE — The machine has spotted a problem with the sensor that tells…