LG · Washer Serious
HE — Water heating error
The control board did not see the wash water temperature rise within the expected time. Either the heater isn't drawing current, the thermistor is reading wrong, or the wiring between them has failed.
- Keep using it?
- Limited use only
- DIY difficulty
- Moderate
- Verified against
- disassembleandrepair.com ↗
How to fix it
- Try a cold-only cycle to confirm general operation; if cold works, the fault is in the heat circuit.
- Unplug the washer and trip the breaker before any internal work.
- Remove the lower front panel to access the heater at the bottom front of the outer tub.
- Measure heating element resistance with a multimeter — open or way off 25-30 Ω = replace.
- Measure the thermistor at room temp — should be ~39.5 kΩ at 25°C; out of range = replace.
- Inspect the heater connector for browning/melting — re-crimp or replace as needed.
- If element and thermistor test good and connections are clean, the control board's heater relay is suspect.
- Reassemble, restore power, and run an Allergiene cycle to verify.
Why it happens
Typical signs: HE on the display · Cycle aborts during a heated wash (Sanitary, Allergiene, Tub Clean) · Cold-water cycles run fine, hot-water cycles fail · Long heat-up times before fault
- Failed heating element Open or shorted heating element won't pull current; ~25-30 Ω is typical good resistance.
- Faulty thermistor (water temp sensor) Should read ~39.5 kΩ at room temperature (~77°F / 25°C); way off = bad.
- Loose heater harness High-current connector backs off with vibration or corrodes.
- Thermal fuse on heater tripped Over-temp event opened the fuse.
- Main control board relay failed Board can't switch power to the heater.
Parts you may need
If diagnosis points to a failed part, these are the common replacements. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
More LG washer codes
Always unplug an appliance before servicing it. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for a qualified technician. Verified against manufacturer documentation: disassembleandrepair.com.