LG AE fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
LG’s leak code. LG tell you to call for service if it happens again — we think that is the wrong advice and explain why.
Stop — this needs an engineer
Get a qualified appliance engineer to look at your LG AE
Vetted local appliance engineers. No obligation.
What AE means
Here is everything LG’s UK owner’s manual says about AE, quoted in full: "Water leakage problem. Call for service if the same problem occurs again." That is the complete entry. We are reproducing it verbatim because the omission matters more than the content. Every other manufacturer covered on this site tells you to isolate the machine when it reports a leak. Miele tell you to close the stopcock, switch off and unplug. Samsung’s manual tells you to close the water valve and trip the breaker. Lamona say turn off at water supply and mains electric. CDA say unplug the machine and close the tap. LG say none of that, and the phrase "if the same problem occurs again" reads as an invitation to run it once more and find out. Do not take that invitation. AE means the machine has detected water where water should not be, and what fills a base tray is a leak that has been developing quietly under a worktop where nobody could see it. Running the cycle again puts more water through the same failed joint. We are going further than LG do here and we would rather say so plainly than dress our advice up as theirs: turn the tap off, switch the machine off at the wall, and get it looked at before it runs again.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Internal hose or joint leaking | A connection inside the cabinet weeping into the base. The most common cause and often a cheap part. | Common |
| Door seal perished | Water running down the inside of the door and collecting underneath rather than escaping onto the floor where you would notice it. | Common |
| Tub or sump leaking | A split or a failed seal at the base of the machine. The expensive end, and it needs finding before it can be priced. | Occasional |
| Tap connection loose | LG note separately that a poor connection at the tap can leak, and that this can happen with the power off. Worth a look before assuming the fault is internal. | Occasional |
Can you fix it yourself?
Stop — this needs an engineer
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£90–£300
Around £90 to £180 for a hose, joint or door seal. Tub or sump work runs higher and on an older machine may not be worth doing.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated August 2026. Your quote may differ.
What other owners found
Nobody has shared what worked for them on this code yet. If you have had it, you would be the first — and it genuinely helps the next person.
Related LG fault codes
- E15Stop — call an engineerThe water protection system has activated — there is water in the base of the machine. Turn the tap off and call service. Do not tilt it, whatever else you read.Related: flood protection
- i30Stop — call an engineerThe anti-flood device has triggered — water has collected in the base of the machine. AEG say to close the water tap and call service.Related: flood protection
- F01Stop — call an engineerAnti-flooding overflow. The one code in the Hotpoint list that offers no owner check at all — it goes straight to an engineer.Related: flood protection
- F70Stop — call an engineerThe Waterproof System has activated. Miele give the clearest emergency instruction of any dishwasher manufacturer — close the stopcock, switch off, unplug, call.Related: flood protection
- E4Stop — call an engineerA water leak. Candy specifically warn against tilting or moving the machine, which rules out the fix most often recommended online.Related: flood protection
- E01Stop — call an engineerWater in the chassis. Beko’s own instruction is to cut off the electricity and close the valve — the bluntest wording of any brand we cover.Related: flood protection
Common questions about LG AE
LG say call for service if it happens again. Should I just run it again?
No, and this is the one place where we deliberately depart from what the manufacturer prints. AE means water has already collected where it should not be. Another cycle sends more water through whatever is leaking, into a cabinet you cannot see into, in a room where the damage will be to your floor and the one below. Isolate it and book the visit.
There is no water on the floor. Is it a false alarm?
Usually not. The detection sits in the base of the machine specifically so it catches water before it reaches your kitchen. A dry floor is the system doing its job, not evidence that nothing is wrong.
What should I turn off, and in what order?
The tap first, then the power at the wall. Water is what does the damage and it keeps arriving whether the machine is switched on or not. LG do not print this instruction; every other manufacturer we have looked at does.
Can I tip the machine to drain the base tray?
No. It is the most widely shared dishwasher "fix" on the internet and it is wrong for every brand. It clears the warning without touching the leak, and it puts water into parts of the machine that are meant to stay dry.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer technical and service documentation
Checked by Appliance technical reviewer (Qualifications to be displayed on appointment) on 5 August 2026.