LG Washer IE Code: Meaning & Fixes
- Meaning
- Water inlet error: the washer didn't fill with enough water in the time allowed.
- Can I fix it?
- Yes, usually a DIY fix
- Also shown as
- 1E
- Seen on
- LG front-load and top-load washers, the SideKick pedestal washer and WashTower. Owners often read it as 1E.
LG gives the washer about 8 minutes to fill. If not enough water arrives in that time, it stops with IE. The usual causes are a partly closed tap, a kinked hose or a clogged inlet filter. One cause people miss is on the drain side: a drain hose pushed more than 4 inches into the standpipe can siphon water out as fast as it comes in.
Try this first
- Open both water taps behind the washer all the way.
- Straighten any kinks in the inlet hoses and replace a hose that's crushed or damaged.
- Turn on another tap in the house. If the pressure is weak there too, the problem is the supply.
- Check that the drain hose goes no more than 4 inches into the standpipe and its holder is in place.
- In freezing weather, check for frozen hoses or taps.
What causes IE
| Cause | What you notice | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Taps closed or partly closed | Very slow fill, or a water outage | Both taps behind the washer |
| Kinked or crushed inlet hose | IE after the washer was moved | The hoses between taps and washer |
| Clogged inlet filters | Weak flow, often after plumbing work | The mesh filters where the hoses meet the washer |
| Low water pressure | Other taps run weak too | LG lists 14.5 to 116 psi for top-loaders |
| Drain hose siphoning | Water drains while the washer fills | Hose no more than 4 inches into the standpipe, holder in place, end not submerged |
| Frozen hose or tap | IE in cold weather | Thaw before the next cycle |
| Failed water inlet valve | Supply is fine but no water enters | Needs a technician |
Fix it step by step
Tap a step number to tick it off as you go. Ticks stay on this device.
-
Turn off water and power
Close both taps and unplug the washer.
Safety: Keep a towel ready. The hoses hold water under pressure.
-
Clean the inlet filters
Unscrew each supply hose from the washer counterclockwise. Pull the small mesh filter out of the inlet with pliers, scrub it with a toothbrush under running water and push it back in.
-
Check the hoses
Straighten kinks and replace any hose that's damaged. On a WashTower or stacked unit, make sure the hot hose goes to the hot tap: tap color markings can be misleading.
-
Check the drain hose
The drain hose should go no more than 4 inches into the standpipe, be held so it can't pop out, and its end should never sit under water. Keep the hose holder in place; use an extension hose rather than removing it.
-
Thaw frozen parts
In freezing weather, wrap the tap in a hot, wet towel for about 5 minutes and warm the hose in water below 120°F (50°C).
Safety: Don't use boiling water or a heat gun on the hoses.
-
Test
Reconnect the hoses, open the taps fully, plug the washer in and start a cycle. Water should start running within a few seconds.
When to call a technician
If the taps are fully open, the hoses and filters are clear, pressure is normal and IE keeps coming back, LG says the water supply valve may have failed and the washer needs repair service. On a WashTower, where the hoses are hard to reach, request service rather than pulling the unit out. LG notes that service fees may apply if the cause turns out to be the water supply.
Questions people ask
Is IE the same as 1E on an LG washer?
Yes. The code is the letter I followed by E, but it's easy to read as 1E. Both mean the washer didn't fill in time.
Can the drain hose cause an IE code?
Yes. LG lists it as a cause. If the drain hose is pushed more than 4 inches into the standpipe, or its end sits under water, water siphons out while the washer fills, so it never reaches the right level.
How do I clear IE on an LG washer?
Fix the water supply, then restart the cycle. There's no separate reset: the code clears once the washer can fill normally.