LG dishwashers are known for their reliable performance. According to a press release by LG in 2017, their washers experience the lowest breakage rates ranging between 6% and 14%. However, such proven efficiency doesn’t make LG problem-free.
Seeing an LG washer SUD error can be stressful, especially considering the company’s reputation for quality.
The good news is that this error message is not a permanent fault but a temporary issue related to excessive suds in your LG washer.
Stay tuned to our blog post, as we’ll explore the SUD error in detail. We’ll offer practical advice to get your laundry routine back on track.
This guide applies to multiple LG washers in both front loaders and High-efficiency categories. Here are a few of these models:
Front Loader Washer:
- LG WM3900HWA
- LG WM4000CBA
- LG F4951TM
- LG WM3500CW
- LG WM2301HR
- LG WM3488HW
- LG WM4370HKA
- LG WM5000HVA
- LG WM3488HS
- LG F1495WM
- LG WM3370HVA
- LG LMV7705
High-efficiency Washer:
- LG WT7900HVA
- LG WM3977HW
- LG 3988WM
- LG WM3997HWA
- LG WM3700HWA
- LG WTG9000HVA
- LG WM4270HC
- LG 5099WE
- LG WM3400HW
- LG VM
What Does SUD Error Mean On an LG Washer?
You might have guessed what the SUD error message stands for. It warns you about the presence of too many suds inside your LG washer. Here’s a breakdown of the LG washer SUD error:
- Meaning: When the washer’s screen blinks these three letters, it signifies that the machine has detected excessive suds during a wash cycle. These suds can turn into excessive foam, which may overflow and mess with internal components.
- Safety Feature: In general, blinking messages, like fe and de error codes on your washing machine’s screen act as a proactive safety net. This applies to the SUD code too. The SUD code triggers a pause in the cycle, preventing a foamy mess.
- Impact on Use: While this sud error code won’t damage your washer, it results in a major inconvenience. The current wash cycle will halt until you resolve the suds issue.
- Warning Signs: This LG washer SUD error won’t take you by surprise. There are some signs to warn you before the forceful cycle stops. These signs include the unusual presence of foam spilling from the washer door and poor agitation during the cycle.
- Importance of Addressing: Ignoring the SUD code leads to further problems like mold growth or machine malfunction.
Why Does Your LG Washer Show SUD Error?
When you spot the SUD alarm on your LG washer’s screen, you may typically feel puzzled. You might not realize where all this foam comes from. But all you know is that it turns your convenient experience into a nightmare. The sudsy buildup in the drum can happen due to several reasons:
1. Excessive Detergent
When you see soapy foam circulating the drum, you should suspect using too much detergent. Using more detergent than the recommended or required will eventually form foamy suds. Crossing the limits of the detergent level disrupts the drum’s balance and affects its ability to spin and clean the clothes.
Another negative outcome of using too much detergent is ending up with an unbalanced load inside the drum. This hinders the washer’s ability to properly distribute water and detergent, ultimately affecting the cleaning performance of your clothes.
2. Unattended Buildup
Besides the excessive detergent buildup in the drum, fabric residue, lint, and dirt can accumulate, affecting the drain hose and drain pump. This buildup can prevent the washer from draining properly, causing suds to accumulate. This way, you will end up with a persistent
lg washer sud error.
3. Clogged Drain Hose
This hose plays a vital role in removing suds and unclean wastewater from the washer. When it is blocked, your LG washer won’t drain properly. Trapped water mixed with suds will eventually trigger the LG washer sud error or the oe error code.
4. Faulty Drain Pump
During each spin cycle, the drain pump evacuates wastewater from the drum. If this pump malfunctions, the unclean and sudsy water won’t leave the washer. Usually, a faulty pump results in triggering a Fe error code. But if there is too much sudsy water left behind, your washer triggers the ‘SUD’ error, indicating excessive suds.
Moreover, you can identify a faulty drain pump from symptoms like unusual noises or incomplete draining.
5. Water Supply Issues
Didn’t expect this as a potential cause, right? Low water pressure won’t provide sufficient water to dilute the detergent. This way, the drum will have an overflow of suds.
In other cases, if you have a malfunctioning water valve, it will allow excessive amounts of water inside the machine. This scenario results in diluting the detergent but might not stop suds from forming. There is no need to mention the accompanying overflowing hazard.
6. Faulty Thermistor
While less common, the thermistor plays a role in triggering LG washer sud error. This component acts as a thermometer for your LG washer. So, it monitors the water temperature inside the drum and sends readings to the control board.
If this thermistor malfunctions, it may send wrong signals to the control board. So, it may send a false message that the water inside the drum is colder than it should. In this case, the washer will heat more water to adjust the temperature. Excessive hot water contributes to the formation of suds and triggers the error warning.
7. Power Failure
While you believe that power failure may only trigger the pf error code, you might be surprised to see the SUD error blinking on the washer’s screen. But how can a power outage create foamy suds inside your LG washer’s drum? A sudden power outage or surge can disrupt the control board’s operations mid-cycle.
A confused control board might lose track of the amount of water already added. This can lead to the washer continuing to pump in water even if enough suds are already present. Eventually, the suds error may blink and the cycles will halt.
8. Faulty Water Level Sensor
As the name suggests, this component observes the level of water and tells the control board when more water is needed. So, a faulty water level sensor sends inaccurate messages to the control board. It might think there’s less water than there is, causing the washer to keep filling the drum.
Besides overflowing, there would be trapped water in the drum. This excess water will disrupt the balance of present suds. Even with the excess water diluting the detergent concentration, there might still be enough suds to trigger the LG washer SUD error code.
How To Reset LG Washer SUD Error
Resetting your LG washer can resolve the SUD error if it is associated with temporary malfunctions. It acts like a refresh button for the control panel and the washer’s board. This solution can potentially clear up any temporary glitches that might be causing the sudsy chaos.
This solution may also work when tackling various error responses, including ie error code, ce error code, and cd error code
To correctly reset your LG washer, follow these steps:
- Power the machine down.
- Let it sit in peace for some time (5-7 minutes).
- Connect it back to the power source.
- Restart the interrupted wash cycle.
How To Fix LG Washer SUD Error
You might think fixing an LG error code is a tough task. However, the fixing process relies on determining the main. When it comes to resolving the LG washer sud error, many causes can be addressed with proper DIY skills. But sometimes, it is better to seek a professional repair service to tackle more serious issues.
1. How To Fix Excessive Detergent
This is one of the easiest fixes for your LG washing machine SUD error. You don’t need a pro to help with this issue. Here’s what you can do:
- Remove the suds. When this error code triggers, the washer will stop automatically. If not, you can manually pause the cycle by pushing the pause button and start reducing the suds. You can use a cup to scoop out the foam.
- Add some clean and dry cotton towels to soak up the remaining foam.
- Run a rinse cycle but don’t add any extra detergent. For better results from the suds reducing cycle, you can use hot water for this cycle.
- You should stick to the recommended amount of detergent for new wash cycles.
- Avoid using a regular detergent for your High-efficiency LG washer. Instead, use a suitable He detergent.
2. How To Fix Unattended Buildup
If you don’t regularly clean your LG washer, you shouldn’t be surprised by different buildups almost everywhere in the appliance. If you suspect buildup to be the cause behind your LG washer SUD error, here’s what to do:
- Clean the Drain Filter. This filter traps all sorts of debris to prevent them from reaching the drain pump. Look for it at the bottom front of the washer, and remove and clean it under running water.
- Run a tub clean cycle or drying cycle. Refer to your manual to ensure that your model has this option and check the instructions for activating it.
3. How To Fix Clogged Drain Hose
While an obstructed drain hose might be a hidden culprit behind an LG washer SUD error, addressing it can be easy.
- Find the hose. It connects the drainpipe and the bottom part of your LG washer.
- Follow the hose to identify its connection points. If it has clamps, you will need adjustable pliers to detach the hose. If it has screws, use a screwdriver for this task.
- Once removed, check the hose for clogs. If found, use a straightened coat hanger to push through any caught debris.
- Flush both the hose and the drain to forcefully dissolve stuck clogs. For better results, you can add some vinegar, bleach, and baking soda to the flushing water.
- If the clogs are cleared, reconnect the hose but ensure it is free of damage or kinks.
- In case the hose appears damaged, get a new one.
4. How To Fix Faulty Drain Pump
Troubleshooting a faulty drain pump can be partially easy if there are clogs around it. However, addressing its electrical connections or motor can be a serious issue that requires certain professional skills.
When it comes to clearing clogs around the pump area, here’s what to do:
- Locate the drain pump at the back bottom part of your LG washer.
- Remove the back panel to have access to this component.
- Remove the clogs around the pump housing. But do this with caution to avoid damaging the housing.
5. How To Fix Water Supply Issues
When your water supply acts funny, your laundry plans won’t be complete. Here’s a DIY approach to tackle the common culprits:
- Check the water shut-off valve on your main water line. Find it behind the washer.
- Make sure the valve’s handle is turned on in a parallel position to the pipe.
- Check the inlet hoses., which are located at the washer’s back. These hoses connect your washer to the hot and cold water supply valves. Try to straighten them if they are kinked or replace them if they are damaged. Use the same tools and detaching techniques as the drain hose.
6. How To Fix Faulty Thermistor
As an electrical and delicate component, troubleshooting an LG washer thermistor can be a bit tricky for DIYers. However, you can fix some of its issues before seeking pro help.
- Find the thermistor near the drum’s bottom part. Look for a white plug, which is the thermistor connector.
- Check it for any corrosion or debris. If found, use a dry cloth to wipe down the connection points.
- Use a multimeter to evaluate the condition of the thermistor. If the readings are within range ( between 0 and 1 ohms), the thermistor is doing well. If not, you should get a new thermistor.
7. How To Fix Power Failure
Besides the resetting process we discussed earlier, you can fix the consequences of power failure through the following steps:
- Reset the circuit breaker. Sometimes this issue results from a tripped breaker. So, look for it and bring it to its correct position.
- This step may revive the current cycle and may help in resetting the control board.
- If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you should remove the suds manually. However, don’t attempt to open the door unless there is no power reaching the appliance.
8. How To Fix Water Level Sensor
If you suspect the water level sensor to be the orchestrator of the sudsy mess, Here’s how to address a faulty water level sensor, but remember, if you’re uncomfortable with any step, seek help from a qualified appliance repair technician:
- Disconnect your LG washer from power and leave it for around 15-30 minutes to cool down.
- Remove the washer’s front panel to have access to the sensor.
- Check the sensor for any debris or soap residue and clean it.
- Ensure the sensor’s wiring to the control panel is secure. If not, use your screwdriver to tighten the connection.
- Bring the multimeter to perform an ohm test to check its continuity. If the readings are inconsistent, replace the sensor.
Conclusion
Seeing the LG washer SUD error can disrupt your laundry routine, but don’t worry! This guide has explored the causes, from excessive detergent to a faulty water level sensor. For most issues, we’ve provided DIY solutions to get you back on track. With each troubleshooting attempt, you must unplug your LG washer to avoid safety hazards.
However, if you’re uncomfortable with any step, or if the problem persists, seek immediate help from a qualified appliance repair technician.
Remember, a properly functioning washer ensures the best possible experience for your clothes
If you experience further issues with your LG washers, take a look at these blogs
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
