# Dishwasher Leak Codes: E15, AE, LC and Suds

> What Bosch E15, LG AE, LG bE and Samsung dishwasher LC mean when a dishwasher reports a leak or oversuds, and which of those codes tell you to stop and call.

A leak code means water, or suds that the sensor reads as water, reached a place the dishwasher protects. Bosch E15 says to turn off the water and contact Bosch. LG AE and Samsung LC list checks you can do, including detergent that is not made for dishwashers. LG bE is the suds code and has its own milk-rinse procedure. Do not keep running a dishwasher that is leaking onto the floor.

## What a leak code is protecting
Dishwashers sit over a finished floor. Several of them have a float or a sensor in the base pan, under the tub, so a hose leak does not become a flood. When that sensor sees water, or sees suds that reached it, the control stops the cycle, often runs the drain, and shows a leak code. The right response depends on which code it is. One of them, Bosch E15, has no homeowner repair at all.

| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| [Bosch E15](https://thefaultcode.com/dishwashers/bosch/e15/) | Leakage protection activated. The safety switch has detected water in the base. |
| [LG AE](https://thefaultcode.com/dishwashers/lg/ae/) | Leakage or overfilling. The water supply exceeded the standard amount, or a leak was detected. The dishwasher keeps draining to protect the floor. Some models show EI or FE. |
| [LG bE](https://thefaultcode.com/dishwashers/lg/be/) | Bubble error. Oversudsing was detected and the dishwasher stops to prevent leaks. |
| [Samsung LC](https://thefaultcode.com/dishwashers/samsung/lc/) | The leak sensor has detected moisture where it does not belong. The dishwasher turns itself on and will not turn off while it tries to drain. Some models show LE. |

Samsung washer LC is a different appliance. It is on the [washer leak and unbalance guide](https://thefaultcode.com/guides/washer-unbalanced-and-leaks/). Do not follow washer hose heights for a dishwasher, or the other way around.

On GE dishwashers, [999](https://thefaultcode.com/dishwashers/ge/999/) depends on the model. On models with Floor Protect with Alert, GE says it indicates a possible leak and the dishwasher will not start until it is serviced. On the other models GE lists, it means the control needs a reset (hold Cycle Select and Start for 5 seconds). Check which one you have before you reset it.

## Bosch E15
Bosch's cause is water collected in the base. The steps are two lines: turn off the water inflow to the dishwasher, and contact Bosch Customer Support. Bosch says the leak needs finding and fixing before you run it again.

There is no filter-clean step on E15. There is no "tip the dishwasher to drain the base" step. Water in the base means a supply hose, a tub seal, a pump seal or a similar path has already failed, and the safety switch did what it was built to do. Shut the water off under the sink so the leak cannot keep filling the pan, leave the breaker off, and contact Bosch.

If the code on the dishwasher is [E24](https://thefaultcode.com/dishwashers/bosch/e24/) or [E25](https://thefaultcode.com/dishwashers/bosch/e25/), that is standing water in the tub, which is the [drain guide](https://thefaultcode.com/guides/dishwasher-will-not-drain/). E15 is water where you may not see it.

## LG AE
Causes LG lists: too much water supplied, oversudsing from dishwashing liquid, the unit not level or the door not aligned, a leak, and water poured into the Heat Dry blower.

Steps:

- Load big plates and pots upside down.
- Use detergent made for dishwashers, not dishwashing liquid. Hand dish soap is the product that suds. The bottle next to the sink is the usual mistake.
- If no water is leaking onto the floor but the error still shows, unplug the dishwasher (the switch or power strip that controls it) and request service.
- If you poured water into the Heat Dry blower, do not pull a built-in unit out. Request service instead.

If the unit is not level, or AE persists on a unit that is level, LG says to request service. Leveling a built-in dishwasher means adjusting the legs and the mounting so the door is not hitting the cabinet. LG names "not level or door not aligned" as a cause. If you are not sure you can put it back without stressing the hoses, that is the service call LG already offers.

The [level](https://thefaultcode.com/parts/leveling-tools/) page is the tool note for this kind of check. It is not permission to drag a built-in dishwasher out across the floor while the water is on.

## LG bE, the suds code
bE means oversudsing was detected and the dishwasher stopped to prevent leaks. Causes: dish soap, or too much detergent.

Steps LG gives, which are specific enough to follow as written and not to invent past:

- Do not use dish soap. Use a small amount of liquid dishwasher detergent, or preferably powder or solid detergent made for dishwashers.
- To confirm oversudsing, run the dishwasher empty with no detergent. If suds and bE appear, the cause is improper detergent. That empty run is the test, not a second wash of dishes.
- To clear suds: set the rinse aid level to L0, add no detergent, put a bowl with 200 ml (7 oz) of milk in the middle of the upper rack, and run the Standard cycle with the Extra Dry and Rinse options. Repeat if suds remain, then restore your rinse aid level.

The milk step is LG's. It is not a general home remedy, and it is not on the Bosch or Samsung pages. Use it for LG bE. Do not pour milk into a Bosch or a Samsung because this guide mentioned it.

If bE appears and there are no suds, LG says to request service. The code without suds is no longer the detergent problem.

Washer suds codes are a different detergent. See [washer suds](https://thefaultcode.com/guides/washer-suds-and-detergent/). HE laundry detergent does not belong in a dishwasher, and dishwasher detergent does not belong in a washer.

## Samsung LC or LE
Samsung's leak code has the longest homeowner list of the four, and a firm stop at the end.

The dishwasher turns itself on and keeps trying to drain. Cut power at the breaker or unplug it while you check. Otherwise you are working on a machine that is still running.

Causes and the matching checks from the support page:

- A leak at the water supply hose, at either connection or along its length. Look and feel. If you find one, turn off the water supply. Samsung says the supply hose is sold separately and is not covered by Samsung service, and it recommends a 3/8-inch stainless steel hose. The shop button on this guide searches for dishwasher detergent, because suds are the homeowner mistake. A supply hose, if you need one, is the [supply line](https://thefaultcode.com/parts/dishwasher-supply-line/) page, and the search there is for the hose. Match the fitting. Samsung's 4C dishwasher page describes a stainless line up to 10 feet and a 90-degree elbow with 1/2-inch NPT on one end and 3/8-inch compression on the other. That hardware note lives on the fill code. Use it only if you are replacing a hose that is leaking.
- Drain hose not connected to the house correctly. Reinstalling or tightening that connection may be all it needs.
- Garbage disposal cap left in place. Same knockout as on the drain codes.
- Door seal pushed out of its channel, dirty, or damaged. Push a seal that has slipped back into the channel, and clean it with a towel and mild soap. If the seal is damaged, Samsung says to request service.
- Dish soap, or too much detergent. Suds escape, and leftover detergent is moist enough to trigger the sensor. Use only detergent labelled for dishwashers. Do not overfill the dispenser or add detergent outside it.
- Dishwasher not level, so the door bumps the cabinets or water pools at the door. Level it side to side and front to back.
- Cabinet screws over-tightened, stretching the tub sides and opening gaps. Measure across the opening exactly where the cabinet screws are. Samsung says it should be 22 inches. If it is more, loosen the screws.
- Food stuck in the nozzles, diverting spray at the door seal. Clean the nozzles and jets. On Waterwall models, make sure no dishes block the water reflector.
  If the reflector itself cannot move, Samsung shows a separate code, [7E](https://thefaultcode.com/dishwashers/samsung/7e/) (7C on some models): clear what blocks it, check the WaterWall logo faces forward and upward, and reseat it on the gray shuttle if it is reversed.
- Water splashed near the sensor underneath when the dishwasher was moved. Give it time to dry, especially after a move, then restore power.

If LC or LE is still on after the area has dried, request service. Also request service if water leaks anywhere along the drain hose other than its connection to the house. Samsung draws that line: the house connection you can reseat, a leak in the hose itself is service.

## Detergent, and only detergent
The shop button searches for dishwasher detergent. Buy a product whose label says it is for dishwashers. The [detergent](https://thefaultcode.com/parts/dishwasher-detergent/) page is the longer note. Pods and powders still have to sit in the cup so they cannot jam it. A jammed cup is [GE C8](https://thefaultcode.com/dishwashers/ge/c8/), which is in the [temperature and detergent guide](https://thefaultcode.com/guides/dishwasher-temperature-and-detergent/), not a leak code.

Do not add a "leak stopper" chemical. None of these pages call for one.

## When water is on the floor
Visible water changes the order. Shut the supply valve under the sink, switch the breaker off, and soak up the water so it does not reach outlets or the base of a neighboring cabinet. Then follow the code. For E15, the next call is Bosch. For AE with water on the floor, LG's service request applies. For Samsung, find whether it is the supply connection you can tighten or a leak Samsung says to service. Do not run another cycle "to see if it was a one-time suds event" while water is still on the floor.

> **Safety first:** Breaker off and water supply off before you pull a toe-kick or feel under a dishwasher. A base pan can hold enough water to spill when the machine moves. Built-in units are screwed to the counter or the cabinet. Do not drag one out on its hoses.

## FAQ
### Can dish soap cause a leak code?

Yes. LG AE lists dishwashing liquid and oversudsing. LG bE is the bubble error from dish soap or too much detergent. Samsung LC lists dish soap, or too much dishwasher detergent, because suds escape and leftover detergent is moist enough to trigger the leak sensor.

### What does Bosch say to do for E15?

Turn off the water inflow and contact Bosch Customer Support. The published steps do not include opening the base and mopping it out as a repair.

### Why does the dishwasher turn itself on during Samsung LC?

Samsung says the dishwasher turns itself on and will not turn off while it tries to drain the water away. Switch it off at the breaker, or unplug it, while you look for the leak.

## Sources
- [Bosch dishwasher error codes](https://www.bosch-home.com/us/owner-support/dishwashers/error-codes)
- [LG dishwasher guide to error codes](https://www.lg.com/us/support/help-library/lg-dishwasher-guide-to-error-codes--20154823515108)
- [Samsung dishwasher error codes (TSG10004499)](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/troubleshoot/TSG10004499/)

Canonical page: https://thefaultcode.com/guides/dishwasher-leak-codes/