LG Washer PF — What It Means & How to Fix It
Power to the washer cut out mid-cycle — harmless and self-explanatory after an outage, worth investigating when it happens on its own.
What this code means
PF is a power failure notice: the machine lost supply while running and is telling you why it stopped. After a storm or tripped breaker it's pure information. PF appearing without any outage is the interesting case — then the machine is reporting flickering power that the rest of the house might not notice.
PF is informational across LG's range. Most models let you restart or resume the interrupted cycle directly after the code — your manual notes which buttons resume versus restart.
Most likely causes
| Cause | How likely | DIY-fixable? |
|---|---|---|
| A genuine outage, brownout, or tripped breaker mid-cycle | Very common | Yes — just resume |
| Loose plug or worn outlet making intermittent contact | Common | Yes — reseat, inspect |
| Overloaded circuit or weak breaker dropping out under load | Occasional | Partly — electrician territory |
| Extension lead or power strip sagging under the heater's draw | Occasional | Yes — plug into the wall |
What you can try yourself
- Press Start/Pause to resume, or restart the cycle — after a known outage, that's the whole fix.
- If there was no outage, reseat the plug firmly and check the outlet isn't loose, scorched, or warm to the touch.
- Move the washer off any extension lead or shared strip — heating phases draw enough current to expose weak links.
- Check whether the breaker for that circuit also feeds other heavy appliances; simultaneous draws can dip the supply low enough to register as failure.
- If PF keeps appearing with the plug, outlet, and circuit all healthy, have an electrician check the outlet and breaker before blaming the washer.
When to call a technician
- PF repeats on most cycles with no household outages — something in the supply path is intermittent.
- The outlet or plug shows heat discoloration: stop using it and get the outlet replaced.
- Other appliances on the same circuit flicker when the washer heats, pointing at the circuit rather than the machine.
Typical professional repair cost: Usually free. An outlet or breaker replacement by an electrician typically runs $100–$250.
Frequently asked questions
Did the power cut ruin my laundry or the machine?
No — the machine simply stopped and remembered why. Resume or rerun the cycle. Modern washers tolerate interruptions gracefully; detergent already dispensed just gets a little extra soak time.
Why does my washer show PF when nothing else in the house lost power?
The washer notices dips too brief or too local for lights to show — a worn outlet, a marginal breaker, or voltage sag when its own heater kicks in. Repeated PF without outages deserves an electrician's look at that circuit.
Will the cycle resume where it stopped?
Most LG models resume the interrupted cycle when power returns or when you press Start — some restart the phase from its beginning. Either way nothing needs draining or resetting by hand.
Related LG codes
- LG Washer OE Your LG washer couldn't pump the water out within its time limit — start with the drain pump filter behind the lower front panel, which fixes most OE errors.
- LG Washer IE Water isn't reaching the drum fast enough — usually a tap, hose, or inlet-screen issue you can sort out in a few minutes rather than a failed component.
- LG Washer UE The drum's load is too unbalanced to spin safely — small uE means the washer is fixing it by itself, capital UE means it gave up and needs your help.
- LG Washer LE The motor couldn't turn properly — often a one-off from an overloaded drum that clears after a rest, but a repeating LE usually means the motor's hall sensor has failed.
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