LG Direct Drive washers are known for their spotless cleaning and are on a higher end than their belt drive siblings. However, that doesn’t mean they are faultless. As you can tell from the LG Direct Drive washing machine problems, I’ll cover them in this troubleshooting guide.
You can troubleshoot an LG Direct Drive washer that won’t turn on, open, fill with water, drain, spin, heat water, or take in fabric softener, as well as one with vibration issues.
This guide will expound on the eight issues, explaining the causes of each problem and the fix to attempt. Later, we will learn how to interpret common LG Direct Drive washer error codes and how to perform a quick reset.
Here we go!
Are you in a rush? Below is a table summary of the eight LG Direct Drive washer problems and their quick troubleshooting.
LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Troubleshooting – Quick Guide
| – | Problem | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
| 1. | LG Direct Drive Washer Won’t Turn On | Power outage, unplugged power cord, use of extension cord, or tripped circuit breaker | Check the power, plug the washer power cord directly into the wall socket, drop using an extension cord, and replace a tripped breaker |
| 2. | Washer Won’t Open | Active Child Lock, faulty door lock, or overheating issue | Untwist or unclog the inlet hoses, turn the water valves on, and raise your home water pressure to 120 psi |
| 3. | LG Direct Drive Washer Won’t Fill Up | Twisted or clogged inlet hoses, tuned-off valves, or low water pressure | Untwist or unclog the inlet hoses, turn the water valves on and raise your home water pressure to 120 psi |
| 4. | LG Direct Drive Washer Won’t Drain | Clogged filter, hose, or pump | Clean the filter and unclog the hose and pump. If any is damaged, replace it |
| 5. | LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Not Spinning | Unstable washer, washer overload, or clogged drain pump | Place the washer on a flat ground with feet touching it, remove some clothing, and ensure it’s at ¾ mark. Unclog the drainage system |
| 6. | Water Won’t Heat | Swapped hoses, a defective heating element, or a malfunctioning thermostat | Connect the hoses correctly and replace the heating element and the thermostat if defective |
| 7. | Washer Won’t Take in Fabric Softener | Clogged fabric softener slot or thicker softener consistency | Clean a clogged softener slot and dilute it if it has a thicker consistency |
| 8. | Vibration Problems | Washer overload or unstable washer | Fill the washer to ¾ full and redistribute the laundry. Also, adjust the washer legs until they all touch the ground |
1. LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Not Turning On
After pressing the start button, you expect your LG Direct Drive washer to turn on. However, at times, this doesn’t happen. If you face such a scenario, check out the following:
- Power outage – Your washer needs a sufficient power supply to turn on. If there’s a power outage, your washer won’t turn on.
- Unplugged power cord – This always happens to me. It’s not necessarily that there is something wrong with your washer. If you share the socket with another appliance, like the dryer, you could have forgotten to plug the washer power cord, which could be why your washer isn’t turning on.
- Use of an extension cord – Another common explanation for a washer that won’t turn on is using an extension cord. These cords do not transmit enough voltage to power your washer.
- Tripped breaker – If your home circuit breaker tripped, maybe due to a recent power surge, your washer won’t receive power to turn on.
Quick Fix
Wait for power to return in case of an outage. Then, ensure you plug your washer power cord into the wall socket – and not the extension cord. What’s more, check the circuit breaker using a multimeter and replace it if it shows no continuity.
2. LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Not Opening
If your washer door fails to open, it could be due to the following:
- Active Child Lock – The Child Lock control setting disables kids from using the washer in your absence. If active, it locks all your washer functions, including door opening.
- Faulty door lock – If your washer door lock is defective, your door will jam and fail to open.
- Door overheating – Another case is when the door is very hot. This happens mostly after the completion of a wash cycle due to the use of boiling water.
Quick Fix
Wait for the lock control feature to go off, deactivate the Child Lock control, and replace a faulty door lock. But if the door is too hot, wait for it to cool down before opening it.
How To Unlock LG Direct Drive Washing Machine
However, before attempting any fix, you should try unlocking your washer by following the following easy steps:
- Wait for the Door Lock feature to turn off and open the door manually
- Then power on the washer by pressing on/off
- Activate the washer to drain
- The washer will then unlock automatically
3. LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Not Filling With Water
Your washer needs a sufficient supply of water to wash the laundry. When you realize your washer isn’t filling with water, you should check the following:
- Clogged inlet valve – Your washer water supply comes through an inlet valve. If the valve is clogged, water may flow slowly and not fill the washer.
- Twisted/Clogged inlet hoses –There are hot and cold hoses at your washer back. If you squeeze your washer too close to the wall, the switches could have turned off, which could be why your washer isn’t filling up.
- Low water pressure – Another common cause for low water supply is low water pressure. This can happen due to clogging or faulty plumbing systems.
Quick Fix
Check the inlet valve for clogging and unclog it. Push your washer to the front to untwist the inlet hose, and turn the hot and cold hoses on if they are off.
Lastly, check the water pressure using a pressure gauge, and in case it’s below 20 psi, raise it to at least 120 psi.
4. LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Not Draining
Your washer should drain severally during each wash cycle. If it fails to drain, check out the following:
- Clogged filter – Your washer has a filter that prevents solid particles from passing through and causing damage to the drain hose. With time, the filter will likely clog, which explains why your washer isn’t draining.
- Obstructed drain hose – If the filter is free from clogging, it’s time to check the drain hose. The hose could clog over time, and if so, water won’t pass flawlessly through it.
- Clogged drain pump – If the hose is okay, then check the drain pump. The pump could clog or have damage, which causes wastewater to flow back to the washer.
Quick Fix
Remove the filter and wash it with a mild detergent in running tap water if clogged. Use a snake drain to unclog the drain hose and the pump in case of clogging. If the pump is damaged, replace it.
5. LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Spin Cycle Problems
Spinning is necessary for dirt to loosen and give you spotless clothes. If your washer fails to spin, it could be due to the following issues:
- Unstable washer – If your washer isn’t standing on flat ground, it will struggle to spin and may fail to spin altogether.
- Washer overload – If you fill your washer above the specified capacity of ¾, your washing machine won’t have any space for clothes to turn. This forces it to stop spinning.
- Clogged drain pump – If there’s a problem in the drainage system that may be due to clogging and wastewater fails to drain, your washer won’t spin either.
LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Making Noise When Spinning
Another problem related to a non-spinning washer is when it spins when making noise. But why is your washer making such annoying sounds? Well, it could be due to the following:
- Loose foreign objects in the drum
- Load imbalance
- Unstable washer
- Washer overload
- Rusty tub bearings
- LG Direct Drive washing machine motor problems (defective motor)
Quick Fix
Place your washer on stable ground with all feet touching the ground, ensure you fill your washer to ¾ fill, and fix any issue in the drainage system.
Also Read: LG Washer Sounds Like Jet Engine
6. LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Not Heating Water
It’s devastating to find out that water will not heat up. Below should be what to check:
- Swapped inlet hoses – At the washer back are the hot (red) and the cold (blue) water hoses that supply water into the washer. If they are swapped in that the hot is connected to the cold and vice versa, water won’t heat up.
- Defective heating element – Another thing to check is the heating element. There could be broken circuits that are making water fail to heat up.
- Malfunctioning thermostat –The thermostat helps in controlling water temperature. Sometimes, it may fail to heat the water.
Quick Fix
Connect the hoses correctly. If the heating element lacks continuity, replace it. Replace the thermostat if defective.
7. LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Not Taking Fabric Conditioner
If your washer fails to take the fabric conditioner, it could be due to a dirt-clogged softener slot, or the softener could be of thicker consistency.
Quick Fix
Clean a clogged fabric softener slot and dilute it if it has a thicker consistency.
8. LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Vibration Problems
Generally, your LG Direct Drive washer may shake or vibrate violently due to the following issues:
- Washer overload – If the washer is overloaded, it may cause the washer to vibrate. Also, if the load is unbalanced, that’s another thing that causes your washer to vibrate as it struggles to spin.
- Unstable washer – If your washer isn’t standing on level ground, it will make weird vibrations trying to spin.
Quick Fix
Fill your washer to 3⁄4 full and ensure you redistribute your clothes evenly. If it’s an unstable washer, adjust its legs until they all touch the ground.
LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Error Codes
LG Direct Drive washers have sensors that tell specific issues when your washer misbehaves. Below are some common error codes and their explanations:
| Error Code | Interpretation |
| PF | Power failure |
| UE | Unbalanced load |
| CL | Active Child Lock |
| IE | Low water supply |
| dE | Open door |
| FE | Washer overflow |
| OE | Drainage issues |
| AE | Water leak |
| LE | Overworking motor |
How To Reset LG Direct Drive Washing Machine
Resetting your LG Direct Drive washer saves you time and money, as it can solve many issues. Below is the easy reset method you should follow:
- Unplug your washer from the wall socket for 30 minutes (to break the circuit)
- Alternatively, flip the breaker for the same amount of time
- Connect it back, and that’s it!
Concluding Thought On An LG Direct Drive Washing Machine Problems
Above is a detailed guide to help you solve common LG Direct Drive washer problems. You can fix a washer that won’t turn on, drain, spin, fill with water, take fabric softener, not heating water, not opening, and one with vibration issues.