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LG IE on a washer dryer

Inlet fault — the machine did not fill within the expected time.

Verdict

You can fix this yourself

No special tools or qualifications needed

Urgency
Fix soon

About 27 min to work through

Typical cost

Free to £120

DIY: Up to £30 in parts

What IE actually means

LG machines allow a fixed window to reach the target water level and show IE when it is missed. The cause sits upstream of the machine far more often than inside it — check the tap and the inlet gauze before suspecting the valve.

Before you start

  • Water: Turn the tap off before unscrewing the fill hose — it stays pressurised.

What causes it, most likely first

  1. Tap closed or partly open

    Most likely

    The commonest cause, and it frequently follows plumbing work or time away.

    How to check: Trace the fill hose to its tap and open it fully.

  2. Blocked inlet filter gauze

    Most likely

    A fine mesh in the inlet port scales up in hard-water areas and chokes the flow.

  3. Kinked fill hose

    Common

    Crushed flat where the machine has been pushed back against the wall.

  4. Low mains water pressure

    Occasional

    LG machines need a reasonable flow rate. A low-pressure supply can trip IE with nothing broken.

  5. Failed inlet valve

    Occasional

    The solenoid valve fails to open. Confirmed only once the supply and gauze test good.

    Inlet solenoid valve£12–£30 for the partDIY with care

How to fix it, step by step

  1. Open the tap fully

    Follow each fill hose to its tap and open it completely.

    2 min

  2. Prove the supply

    Turn the tap off, unscrew the hose at the tap end, aim into a bucket and briefly open the tap. Strong flow means the supply is fine.

    5 minBucket

  3. Clean the inlet gauze

    With the tap off, unscrew the hose at the machine end, ease the mesh out with long-nose pliers, rinse and descale, then refit squarely.

    10 minLong-nose pliers

  4. Reconnect and test

    Hand-tighten both ends, open the tap, check for weeps, and run a rinse cycle listening for fill.

    10 min

Need an engineer for this IE?

We list 4 washer dryer repair businesses across the UK, 2 of which are LG-authorised. Diagnostic callouts typically start around £55, and many will put that towards the repair if you go ahead.

Find washer dryer engineers near you

Parts you might need

Typical UK prices for the part alone, before fitting. Worth knowing before you accept a quote — the part is often a small share of what a repair is priced at.

  • Inlet solenoid valve

    The valve behind the machine that opens to let mains water in. Blocked inlet gauzes are a far more common cause than a dead valve.

    £12–£30

Related problems

Other LG washer dryers codes

All LG washer dryers fault codes