LG HE Error Code: Heater Fault

Medium severity

HE shows up when the dishwasher can't confirm that water actually reached the temperature the cycle called for, which is usually the first sign dishes are coming out just short of clean.

Applies to: Most LG dishwasher models with a digital control panel and an internal heating element used for wash-water heating, drying, and sanitize cycles.

What it means

A heater-related fault. The heating element isn't bringing water to the expected temperature, or the control board has detected a fault in the heating circuit.

LG's own guidance treats HE the same way it treats most heater and sensor codes on this platform — as a fault that needs a service technician's meter on it rather than a homeowner fix, since there's no safe way to test a mains-voltage heating circuit without opening up the tub.

Because HE sits in that same short list of sensor-and-heater codes LG doesn't publish deep self-repair guidance for, the two checks below are really about ruling out a one-off glitch before you accept that a part has actually failed.

Common causes

A failing heating element
A faulty temperature sensor sending incorrect readings to the control board
Wiring or connector problems in the heater circuit

What you can check yourself

Power-cycle at the breaker and run a normal cycle to rule out a one-time glitch
Descale the interior if hard water scale is visible on the tub walls or heater area

Call a professional when

Heater faults involve mains-voltage components, so if a reset doesn't clear HE, have a licensed technician test the element and its wiring. Heating-element replacements on built-in dishwashers tend to sit in the $150–$400 range that cost guides quote for common single-part repairs, though a control-board-level cause can push that toward $200–$600 installed. A technician visit to confirm which part is actually at fault typically adds a $70–$130 diagnostic fee on top of that, though many companies credit it toward the final bill.

LG tE — a temperature-sensor fault on the same heating circuit
LG IE — a fill problem that can look similar if water never gets hot because the tub never filled properly
Dishwasher Not Heating, Drying, or Sanitizing — the symptom this code most often accompanies

Sources

LG USA Support – LG Dishwasher Guide to Error Codes

This site is an independent reference, not a substitute for a licensed appliance technician or electrician, and is not affiliated with Bosch, Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, or any other manufacturer named here. Dishwashers combine mains-voltage electrical parts with water. Always shut off both power and the water supply before opening the tub, pump, or heating element housing, and if a repair goes beyond checking filters, hoses, detergent, and visible debris, call a licensed technician.