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LG Dishwasher AE Error: Causes & Fixes

On an LG dishwasher, AE (shown as E1 on some models) means the dishwasher detected a leak inside itself, which has activated the float switch in the base of the unit.

Before you work on your dishwasher

  • Power: Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker before removing panels or touching wiring.
  • Water: Turn off the water supply valve before disconnecting hoses or the inlet valve.
  • Heat: Water and the heating element can be hot right after a cycle; let the dishwasher cool first.
  • Sharp debris: Wear gloves when reaching into the filter or sump; broken glass often collects there.
  • Stop: If you smell burning, see smoke or sparks, or find water near wiring, switch off the breaker and call a technician.
  • Water on or near electrical parts: Water is on or near the dishwasher's wiring, power cord, outlet, or control board. Do not touch the dishwasher, its cord, or standing water around it.
  • Disconnect power before accessing internal dishwasher parts: Unplug the dishwasher or switch off the circuit breaker that powers it before removing panels, the filter, or the drain pump cover, or before reaching into the sump.
  • Heavy appliance: two-person lift: A dishwasher is heavy and can tip. Do not pull it out of the cabinet, tilt it, or lift it by yourself; get a second person to help.

What causes LG AE

  1. Too much detergent, or dishwashing liquid used: Overfilling the detergent dispenser past its two marked levels, or using dishwashing liquid instead of dishwasher detergent, creates excessive suds that make the water level overflow inside the unit. Difficulty 1/5.
  2. Water still standing in the base pan holding the float up: Water that has collected in the base pan keeps the float switch raised, so the AE or E1 code stays on until the base pan is dried out; LG's own procedure for clearing the code is to dry the base pan and reset the dishwasher. Difficulty 2/5.
  3. Food or grease on the door gasket or its sealing surface: Food or grease built up on the door gasket, or on the part of the tub the gasket seals against, keeps the door from sealing and causes leaking. Difficulty 1/5.
  4. Door seal damaged or torn: A door seal that is damaged or torn leaks, and LG says that condition requires service rather than a home repair. Difficulty 1/5.
  5. Spray arms blocked by buildup: Buildup or blockages in the spray arms are one of LG's checks for the AE leak error; a damaged spray arm requires service. Difficulty 1/5.
  6. Spray arm damaged: A damaged spray arm sprays water where the tub cannot contain it and, per LG, requires service. Difficulty 1/5.
  7. Dishwasher not leveled correctly: A dishwasher that is not level lets water sit to one side of the tub, which LG lists as a cause of the AE leak error; water pooling to one side when a gallon is poured into the tub shows the unit is not leveled correctly. Difficulty 3/5.

Find the cause of AE on your dishwasher

Step-by-step checks for LG AE

Check that the dishwasher is level

About 15 minutes

  1. Open the door and hold a level against the top, sides, and bottom inside the unit.
  2. Remove the bottom rack.
  3. Pour about a gallon of water into the bottom of the tub.
  4. Watch whether the water sits evenly or pools to one side.

Inspect the door gasket

About 15 minutes

  1. Run a finger along the door gasket and the area of the tub the gasket seals against.
  2. Look for food or grease buildup, and clean any away.
  3. Look closely for tears, splits, or flattened sections in the seal.

Inspect the spray arms

About 20 minutes

  1. Turn each spray arm by hand and check that it spins freely.
  2. Look for buildup or blockages in the spray holes.
  3. If any are blocked, remove the spray arms and clean them with a soft brush and warm soapy water.
  4. Check for cracks or broken ends before refitting them.

Check and dry the base pan

About 30 minutes

  1. Turn off the dishwasher's circuit breaker; LG gives this instruction in case an electrical charge discharges through the water.
  2. Unscrew the two screws holding the kick plate at the bottom of the dishwasher and take the plate off.
  3. Look into the base pan for standing water.
  4. Soak up any water you can reach with towels. If water reached the cord, outlet, or wiring, leave the breaker off and stop here.
  5. If the pan cannot be reached from the front, leave the kick plate off for 24 to 48 hours to improve evaporation.

How to fix LG AE

Clean the door gasket

About 15 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Wipe food and grease off the gasket and off the area of the tub the gasket seals against.
  2. Dry the gasket, close the door, and run a cycle to check for leaking.

Clean the spray arms

About 20 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Remove the spray arms.
  2. Clean them with a soft brush and warm soapy water until the holes are clear.
  3. Reinstall the spray arms and check that they spin freely.
  4. Run a cycle and see whether AE returns.

Use dishwasher detergent, within the marked levels

About 10 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Stop using dishwashing liquid in the dishwasher; LG recommends against it because it creates too many bubbles and makes the water level overflow.
  2. Fill the dispenser only to its marked levels, or use one tablet.
  3. Wipe out any spilled detergent, then run a cycle and see whether AE returns.

Dry the base pan and reset the dishwasher

About 45 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Turn off the dishwasher's circuit breaker before touching anything in the base.
  2. Remove the two screws and take off the kick plate.
  3. Soak up the water in the base pan with towels, or leave the kick plate off for 24 to 48 hours so it evaporates.
  4. Once the pan is dry, turn the circuit breaker off and back on to reset the dishwasher.
  5. Refit the kick plate, then run an empty cycle with nothing in the unit.
  6. If AE or E1 comes back, the leak is still happening; work through the gasket, spray arm, level, and detergent checks.

Level the dishwasher

About 45 minutes · Difficulty 3/5

  1. Confirm the problem: hold a level against the top, sides, and bottom inside the unit, and pour about a gallon of water into the tub to see which way it runs.
  2. Level the dishwasher following the leveling instructions in its installation guide.
  3. Recheck by pouring a gallon of water into the tub; it should sit evenly rather than pooling to one side.

When to call a technician about LG AE

  • Have a damaged door seal serviced
  • Have a damaged spray arm serviced

Sources

  1. Dishwasher SP.. Instruction Manual, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  2. Dishwasher SMS6HAI01A User Manual, Bosch Home Appliances US (retrieved 2026-09-18)
  3. AE & E1 Error Code - Dish Washer, LG Electronics USA Support (retrieved 2026-09-19)
  4. Samsung DW6000J series dishwasher user manual, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-18)

Last updated September 29, 2026 · facts last verified September 19, 2026 · How we source and verify

Guidance only; follow your appliance manual and local codes. If anything looks unsafe, stop and call a qualified technician. Safety disclaimer