LG Washing Machine Error PE – Causes & Fix
LG's water-level (pressure) sensor sends an unusable signal. Check its tube and plug, then the sensor.
At a glance
Severity: Low
- Meaning
- Pressure Sensor Error – Water Level Unreadable
- System
- LG · Washing Machine
- Typical repair cost
- $0–$500
- DIY difficulty
- Moderate
PE means the LG control has lost a sensible reading from the pressure sensor that measures how much water is in the tub. The sensor turns air pressure from a tube connected to the bottom of the tub into a frequency signal; if the frequency is missing, frozen at one value or outside its normal window, the washer can't judge filling or draining and stops with PE. LG's own advice is to unplug and call service, but a disconnected or blocked tube and a loose plug are common, checkable causes. A fault here can also make the washer overfill, which is why PE sometimes appears together with FE.
How it looks on the display
Model families & display variants
| Model family | Shows | Note |
|---|---|---|
| LG front-loaders (incl. WashTower) | PE | Pressure sensor under the top panel; tube runs to the tub's air chamber. |
| LG top-loaders | PE | Same sensor type, usually mounted under the rear control console. |
| With an overfill | PE + FE | A misreading sensor can let the washer overfill; fix the sensor fault before relying on the washer again. |
Safety first · Consult a professional
Unplug the washer before lifting the top panel. If the washer overfilled before PE appeared, close the water supply first and deal with any water on the floor.
- Unplug the appliance or switch off the breaker before opening any panel. Mains voltage can kill.
- Water and electricity: unplug first, keep towels ready and never stand in water while the appliance is connected.
Symptoms
- PE appears at the start of the fill or partway through
- Washer fills well above or below its normal level before stopping
- PE after a drain problem (OE) or an overflow
- Code started after the washer was moved or serviced
- Water left in the drum when the cycle is aborted
Possible causes
Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).
- Pressure sensor failed – drifting or dead signal
- Pressure tube blocked at the air chamber with detergent sludge or lint
- Tube slipped off, pinched or cracked – often after moving the washer
- Sensor plug loose or damp after water spilled from the detergent drawer
- Wiring between sensor and main board damaged
- Main board fault
Fix it step by step
Drain and power down
If water is in the drum, drain it with Spin Only or through the small drain tube behind the bottom-front access cover of a front-loader. Then unplug the washer for a minute and try a Rinse+Spin.
Tools: Towels & shallow pan
Watch the next fill
Stay with the washer on the retry. If water rises far past the usual level, press Power and close the supply valves – the sensor isn't reading, and you want to avoid an overflow.
Tools: Flashlight
Locate the sensor
Unplug the washer and remove the top panel – on LG front-loaders it slides back after removing the screws at the rear. The pressure sensor is a small round unit clipped to the cabinet near the top, with a thin tube and a three-wire plug.
Tools: Screwdriver, Flashlight
Clear the pressure tube
Trace the tube down to the air chamber on the side of the tub. Remove it at the sensor end and blow gently toward the tub; bubbling means it's open. If it feels blocked, detach the lower end and flush it and the chamber nipple with warm water.
Tools: Flashlight, Pliers
Reseat the plug
Pull the sensor plug, dry any moisture, look for green corrosion on the pins and push it back until it latches. Follow the harness toward the control panel and check it isn't pinched by the top panel edge.
Tools: Flashlight
Run Smart Diagnosis
Connected LG models can run a diagnosis through the ThinQ app; older models use the phone-sound method in the manual. If the tube and plug are fine, the result usually confirms the sensor or board.
How to reset PE
- Drain any water, then press Power and unplug the washer for about a minute.
- Plug in and start Rinse+Spin while watching the fill.
- Stop the washer if the water goes far above normal.
- PE that returns right away means the sensor circuit still isn't reading.
Where the parts are
- 1Door lock
- 2Water inlet valve
- 3Water level sensor
- 4Filter
- 5Drain pump
- 6Motor
- 7Heating element
- 8Temperature sensor
Repair options & costs
| Repair | DIY? | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Reattach or flush the pressure tube | Yes | $0–$10 |
| Reseat or clean sensor plug | Yes | $0 |
| Pressure sensor (DIY part) | Yes | $25–$65 |
| Pressure sensor replaced by a technician | No | $150–$260 |
| Main board replaced | No | $250–$500 |
Rough US estimates; technician call-out fees vary by region. Not a quote.
When to call a technician
Book LG service or an appliance technician if PE comes back with a clear tube and a firm plug, or if it appeared together with an overfill. Don't keep running loads with an unreliable level reading.
Frequently asked questions
LG says to call service for PE – can I check anything myself?
Yes, as long as the washer is unplugged. A blocked or loose pressure tube and a damp or loose plug are common and easy to fix. The sensor itself is a simple swap too.
Why did PE show up after an OE drain error?
When the tub sits full for a while, dirty water and lint can back up into the air chamber and block the pressure tube. Flushing the chamber and tube usually cures it.
Is PE the same as a leak?
No. PE is about measuring the water level. If water is on the floor, look for a leak separately – but a faulty sensor can cause an overfill that spills out, so check both.
Can I keep using the washer with PE?
Not safely. Without a trustworthy level reading it could overfill or run the heater with too little water. Keep the supply valves closed until it's repaired.
Sources
- Official LG user documentation and support pages (facts only; wording is our own)
- Methodology: How We Build Code Pages · Data Sources We Use · Editorial Policy