LG · Washing machine · Error code

OE – Drain error

The washer cannot drain water properly, often due to a blockage in the drain system.

Severity: Medium · Typical fix time: 20–40 minutes · Affects: LG Direct Drive series

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Smart summary for OE

This quick AI-style overview sums up how serious this error is, how hard it usually is to fix yourself and roughly how long it takes.

Risk level Medium
DIY difficulty Moderate – follow steps carefully and stop if unsure.
Typical time to resolve 20–40 minutes

What OE means

OE on LG washers signifies that the machine has detected a drain problem. Water remains in the drum when the machine expects it to be empty.

Common causes

  • Clogged drain pump filter
  • Drain hose pinched or blocked
  • Standpipe or sink drain blocked
  • Drain pump impeller jammed

Quick checks you can do yourself

  1. Turn the washer off and unplug it.
  2. Locate the drain filter cover at the bottom front, open it and pull out the small emergency drain hose.
  3. Drain remaining water into a shallow tray, then unscrew and clean the filter.
  4. Check the main drain hose for kinks or clogs and verify the household drain is clear.
  5. Run a rinse and spin cycle to check that water now drains correctly.

Always unplug the appliance and switch off power at the mains before removing panels or working near wiring or water connections.

When to call a professional

If the drum still does not empty, or the pump is very noisy, contact an LG service centre or qualified engineer.

Recommended next steps

Leaving the filter unchecked can lead to pump damage over time; clean it a few times per year.