LG Dryer E13 Error
E13 belongs to hybrid condensing dryers — machines that condense moisture and pump the water away instead of venting it. A vented dryer does not post E13.
What to check first
- E13 is the hybrid condensing dryer's drain-hose code (LG US).
- Causes: hose kinked, crushed or clogged — or frozen sump water.
- Extended hose fitted? LG's rule is standard hose only.
- Clear the hose, press Start/Pause; E13 repeats → service.
An E13 code appears on hybrid condensing dryers, and LG's US list gives it three causes in one line: the drain hose may be kinked, crushed or clogged — or the water in the sump is frozen. Its UK list works the hose in order: not kinked or twisted, no clog with water backing up at the end of it, and the rule owners break innocently — if the drain hose is extended, the water may not drain well; only the standard LG drain hose should be used. Clear the hose, press Start/Pause, and an E13 that repeats is LG's repair-service case.
Safety first
- A frozen sump is a cold-room case: thaw the installation space gently (room heat, time) — never apply a flame, heat gun or boiling water to a frozen hose or sump, and never run the dryer to “thaw itself” against a blocked drain.
- Stop condition: stop using the machine and unplug it — and do not run it again until it has been checked — if you smell burning, see smoke, find damaged electrics (a scorched plug, a melted or cut cable), or water is leaking in quantity.
Common causes
The drain hose — kinked, crushed or clogged
LG's main cause family. A condensing dryer pumps its water out through one hose; a kink when the machine was pushed back, a crushed section under it, or a clog with water standing at the hose's end all stop the water leaving — and E13 is the report.
An extended drain hose
LG UK's specific warning: if the drain hose is extended, the increased resistance means the water may not drain well. The published correction is not a bigger pump — it is the standard LG drain hose, at its standard length.
Frozen water in the sump
LG US's third cause: the water in the sump is frozen. Condensing dryers in unheated spaces in winter hold water that can freeze — the pump then has nowhere to send the next load's water.
Step-by-step checks
- Check the drain hose end to endMake sure the hose is not kinked or twisted, not crushed, and not clogged — LG UK asks specifically whether water is gathered at the end of the hose, which is the clog announcing itself.
- Extended hose? Return to the standard LG hoseLG's rule: use only the standard LG drain hose. An extension raises the resistance the pump works against and is a documented E13 cause.
- Frozen sump? Thaw the room, then retryIf the dryer stands somewhere freezing, let the space warm until the sump water is liquid again before running it — gently, with room heat only.
- Press Start/PauseWith the hose clear, press the Start/Pause button to resume. (LG UK's sequence.)
- E13 repeats? Book serviceLG's endpoint on both lists: if the issue repeats, the unit may require a repair service.
When to call a technician
Service is LG's stated endpoint when E13 repeats after the hose checks. Quote E13 and say whether the hose is extended — LG's own list makes the extension a named cause, and it is the first thing a technician will ask.
Model differences
| What you have | What changes |
|---|---|
| Container-emptying model (no drain hose) | Your water display is the container symbol — the Empty Water Container page covers that system, including the shared crushed-hose causes on plumbed setups. |
| Vented dryer | No condensate drain, no E13. A vented dryer's water-side problems do not exist; its warnings are the Flow Sense family. |
One-page checklist — E13
- Code read as E13 (hybrid condensing dryers)
- Drain hose checked: not kinked, twisted, crushed or clogged
- Hose is the standard LG hose — no extension fitted
- Cold room: sump thawed with room heat before retrying
- Start/Pause pressed; E13 repeats → service booked
Official LG references
Frequently asked questions
Why does extending the drain hose cause E13?
LG UK's explanation: an extended hose increases the resistance, so the water may not drain well. The pump is sized for the standard hose; length is load. LG's correction is to use only the standard LG drain hose.
Can cold weather really freeze a dryer?
The water in it can: LG's US list names frozen sump water as an E13 cause. A condensing dryer holds water by design; in an unheated space in winter that water can freeze, and the pump then cannot move the next load's condensate. Warm the room and retry before booking anyone.
E13 or Empty Water Container — which system do I have?
Plumbed hybrid condensing dryers drain through a hose and post E13 for hose trouble. Container models collect the water in a tank you empty by hand, and their display is the container symbol on the Empty Water page. Some models offer both routes — the display tells you which one is complaining.