LG Washing Machine PE Error
Applies to front-load and top-load washers. On LG's front-load list, PE is also shown as E33.
What to check first
- Do LG's reset first: unplug the washer, wait, plug it back in and restart the cycle — 10 seconds on the front-load guidance, a 5-minute wait on the top-load guidance.
- Top loaders: if the washer stands in a humid room, such as a bathroom, moisture at the sensor is a cause LG names — note it before assuming a failed part.
- If PE comes straight back after the reset, stop there — LG sends a repeating PE to repair service.
PE is a sensor code, not a plumbing code. The machine fills by reading the tub's water level through a pressure sensor; when that reading cannot be trusted, the washer stops and shows PE rather than guess at the fill level.
LG documents PE on both of its washer lists, with slightly different wording: the front-load list calls it a malfunctioning water level sensor, and the top-load list describes a pressure sensor having trouble detecting the water level. Both lists give the same shape of answer — one reset, and service if the code returns.
Safety first
- Switch the washer off and unplug it before the reset — the reset itself is done at the plug.
- Keep water away from the plug and socket while you work; if the machine stands in a damp room, dry the area around the outlet first.
- 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
A water level sensor that is not reading correctly
LG's front-load list states PE plainly: the water level sensor is malfunctioning. Without a reliable level reading the washer cannot control filling, so it stops and reports the sensor instead of overfilling or running dry.
Moisture at the pressure sensor (top loaders)
LG's top-load guidance names a cause homeowners overlook: the pressure sensor can have trouble detecting the water level in humid environments, such as a bathroom. A washer that lives in steamy air can show PE without any part having failed outright.
A fault that survives the reset
On both lists, a PE that returns after the power reset is no longer a settings problem — LG directs you to repair service for a sensor-level diagnosis.
Step-by-step checks
- Reset the washer the LG wayUnplug the washer. Front-load guidance: wait 10 seconds, plug it back in and restart the cycle. Top-load guidance: wait about 5 minutes before reconnecting, then run the washer again.
- Watch the next fillStart a normal cycle and stay with the machine while it fills. A washer that fills, washes and drains normally after the reset has cleared the fault.
- If PE returns and the washer is installed in a humid room, note this when contacting LG service. LG identifies humidity as a possible contributing factor on certain top-load models.
When to call a technician
If PE persists after the recommended reset, LG's front-load list directs you to request repair service, and the top-load list says the same when the code recurs after reconnecting. There is no user-level sensor test in LG's documentation — the diagnosis from that point is a service job.
Tell the technician whether the machine lives in a humid room and whether PE appears at fill, mid-cycle or at random; on the top-load list that context is part of the fault picture.
Model differences that matter
| Machine type | What changes |
|---|---|
| Front load | PE also shows as E33 on LG's front-load list. Reset: unplug 10 seconds, replug, restart. A PE that persists goes to repair service. |
| Top load | PE names the pressure sensor. Reset: unplug, wait 5 minutes, reconnect. LG names humid environments (for example a bathroom) as a cause — and warns that if the problem is the usage environment, service fees can apply even in warranty. |
One-page checklist
- Washer unplugged, waited, reconnected (10 seconds front load / 5 minutes top load)
- Cycle restarted and the fill watched
- Top loaders: humid-room cause considered
- PE returned after the reset — service booked
Official LG references
Questions people ask about PE
Is PE a serious fault?
It is a sensor fault: the washer stops because it cannot trust its own water-level reading. LG allows one reset; a PE that returns after it needs repair service, because filling blind risks overfilling.
Can humidity really cause PE?
On top loaders, yes — LG's own list says the pressure sensor can have trouble detecting the water level in a humid environment such as a bathroom, and advises against installing the washer in one.
PE or E33 — are they the same?
On front-load displays, yes: LG's front-load list groups PE with the numeric display E33 as the same water-level-sensor error.