AE or E1 on LG LDT7808SS indicates water in the base or a condition that activates leak protection; stop water before resetting. Use the exact code to separate water inlet, drainage, foam, leak protection and internal faults. Do not order a part until the visible installation and removable filters have been checked. An actual hose/door leak, oversudsing or a badly levelled installation can send water to the base sensor. Visible water under the unit or continuous filling makes this urgent; bE with foam but no base leak follows the detergent path instead. Cancel, close the tap, switch off and unplug. Wipe only accessible water, inspect visible hose and door areas, and do not tip or remove the built-in dishwasher. Keep the tap closed if moisture, dripping or the code remains. LG service must find the leak before another cycle.
Models covered
Safety first
- Wear gloves around the sump because broken glass may be hidden. Do not tilt a built-in appliance or remove its base, side panels or wiring cover.
What the symptom may indicate
Checks in the right order
- Confirm the pattern
An actual hose/door leak, oversudsing or a badly levelled installation can send water to the base sensor.
- Prepare safely
Cancel the cycle, switch the dishwasher off, close the water valve and wait for hot water and dishes to cool before touching a filter or hose.
- Apply the official check
Cancel, close the tap, switch off and unplug. Wipe only accessible water, inspect visible hose and door areas, and do not tip or remove the built-in dishwasher.
- Retest once
Keep the tap closed if moisture, dripping or the code remains. LG service must find the leak before another cycle.
Stop and get qualified help when
- Stop and arrange service for water in the base, a heat or motor code, a leak that continues with the valve closed, or a code that returns after one empty test.
Next step
Repair, replace a part, or arrange a diagnosis?
Use the checks and stop conditions above to choose a cautious next step. A symptom alone never proves that the appliance has failed.
Resolve it without buying anything
Complete the 4 user-accessible checks in order. If normal operation returns and no warning sign remains, no replacement is indicated.
Replace only the confirmed part
If the checks isolate a worn or blocked component, match its complete reference to the exact appliance model before ordering.
This guide does not identify a replacement part. Do not order a generic component from the symptom alone.
Arrange a diagnosis before replacing the appliance
Stop at any warning sign listed above. A qualified diagnosis should confirm that repair is unsafe, unavailable or uneconomical before an appliance replacement is considered.
Sources used
- LG — LG's official material documents “LG LDT7808SS AE or E1 error: leak detected” and the user checks retained here.
Last checked: 30 August 2026