Error code · Washer

LG Washer Code OE, E03, E21: Will Not Drain

Medium · inspection needed

Code: OE, E03, E21
Appliance: Washer
Brand: LG
Warranty: 30-day workmanship

What OE, E03, E21 means

OE appears when the washer cannot drain the wash water. On LG front-load washers with an alphanumeric display, OE, E03 and E21 point to a kinked drain hose or a clogged drain pump filter, and over-sudsing can trigger it. On LG top-load washers with an alphanumeric display, OE is an outlet error: kinked, clogged or frozen drain hose, or a hose set too high. The tub stays full.

Common causes of OE, E03, E21

Kinked or clogged drain hose
Clogged drain pump filter
Drain hose set too high
Frozen hose or too many suds

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Front-load: straighten the drain hose. 2. Run SPIN ONLY and listen for the drain pump to hum for about 15 seconds. 3. Clean the drain pump filter, then run Tub Clean and use less detergent. 4. Top-load: straighten the hose, keep it from being set too high, and thaw it if frozen. 5. Lift the hose and run a spin to see whether the drain hole is blocked.

! Why to stop there

If the hose is clear and the pump hums yet water stays, we cannot say from the display what is blocking it.
We check the hose, filter and pump, and give a written price before work.

Opening a panel yourself does not automatically cancel a manufacturer warranty, but it can cause accidental damage, and some manufacturers set their own service conditions. Check your warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.

→Same appliance

Other Washer codes

UELG Washer Code UE: Unbalanced Load vS, uSLG Washer Code vS, uS: Vibration Sensor dE1LG Mini Washer Code dE1: Drawer Not Closed dE3 (dO)LG Mini Washer Code dE3 (dO): Inner Cover Open dE4LG Mini Washer Code dE4: Drawer Lock Trouble Ed5LG Front-Load Washer Code Ed5: Board Communication tCLLG Washer Code tCL: Tub Clean Reminder EELG Top-Load Washer Code EE: Control Board Memory

OE, E03, E21OE, E03, E21 questions

What should I hear in the SPIN ONLY test?

A front-load washer's drain pump should hum for about 15 seconds. If you hear nothing, tell us, because that points to the pump. The tub drain depends on a clear hose and pump filter, and a pump that hums shows it is trying to work.

How high can the drain hose go?

Not too high. The drain hose has a height limit, so we check your hose against that when we arrive rather than guess. Height limits depend on the model, so we check the hose position when we arrive and set it correctly.

Is water left in the drum safe to leave?

Do not open the door on a full drum. If it will not drain after the checks, call us and we can handle it. Use only what the manual allows to reach water, and leave the door shut on a full drum.

Book a visit

Still seeing OE, E03, E21?

A technician diagnoses it on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.

(713) 597-5662