User Manual Dishwasher
NOTE
The top-control models have 3 indicator LEDs centered at the top of the front cover.
The default “ON” setting keeps the green light on until the door is opened. If the setting is changed to “OFF”, the green light turns off after 90 seconds. To change the setting, turn the power on and press and hold the High Temp button for 3 seconds until “ON” or “OFF” appears in the display. The setting is stored until you change it.
1 Only load items that are dishwasher-safe. 2 Remove solid, burned-on scraps from dishes prior to loading in the dishwasher. 3 Place items with deep dish bottoms at an angle to help water run off and speed the drying process.
• Do not load utensils that are not heat-resistant or have decorative metal trim.
Scrape the dishes free of excess food, bones, and any other hard, non-soluble residue. Pull each rack out and load the dishes as described in this manual.
Using the guidelines in this manual, fill the detergent cup with the recommended amount of detergent and close the lid. If a prewash is desired, the recess on top of the lid should also be filled with detergent.
To turn on the display panel, press the Power button.
The Rinse Aid icon will flash if the level of rinse aid in the dishwasher is low. Add rinse aid if the level is low to maintain the effectiveness of the dry cycle.
Select the cycle and options that best fit the load by referring to the Cycle guide. The display will show the estimated time for the cycle and options selected.
• Press the Start button and then close the door in less than four seconds to operate the dishwasher. If the door is not closed within four seconds, the white LED with time flashes, an audible tone is heard, and the cycle does not start.
• Close the door first and then press the Start button to operate the dishwasher.
If the door is opened during the cycle, the dishwasher will stop. To resume the cycle, see methods 1 and 2 above.
• If the door is opened during the cycle and is not closed within four seconds after selecting the Start button, or if the door is closed without pressing the Start button, the white LED with time flashes, an audible tone is heard, and the cycle does not start.
When the cycle is complete, a chime will sound and the display will show End until the door is opened or Power is pressed. To save energy, press and hold High Temp for three seconds to set the End display to automatically turn off a few minutes after the cycle ends.
• Do not open the door during operation or immediately after it has completed the wash cycle as the steam build up may cause scalding as the door is opened.
• Empty the lower rack first and then the upper rack. This will avoid water dripping from the upper rack onto dishes in the lower rack.
The dishwasher automatically turns off after four minutes of inactivity if paused or if no cycle is started.
• : Control Lock
1 Power
: Rinse Aid Icon
• : Digital Display
- The digital display on the control panel shows the ESTIMATED cycle time. When the cycle and options are selected, the display shows the total estimated time to complete those selections. During operation, the display shows the remaining estimated operating time.
NOTE
• : Control Lock
3 Cancel
4 Start
Chime On/Off
• To activate or deactivate the button sounds, press and hold Dual Zone and Energy Saver simultaneously for three seconds. The error alert sound cannot be turned off.
Select your desired cycle.
Auto
This cycle senses the soil amount and soil toughness and is optimized to achieve the best cleaning.
Heavy
This cycle is for heavily soiled dishes and dishes with hardened on soil. The Heavy cycle defaults to the strongest spray intensity and uses it to wash heavily soiled dishes.
Use this cycle to clean delicate items such as fine china and stemware.
This cycle is for moderately soiled, everyday loads. Select the Night Dry option if leaving dishes overnight. Press and hold Extra Dry for three seconds to activate Night Dry.
• After the cycle ends, the fan runs for an hour to help vent the warm, moist air in the tub. You can stop the fan by opening the door after the cycle ends.
This cycle will clean heavily soiled dishes in an hour using slightly more energy and water.
• This cycle does not have drying. Select the Extra Dry and Night Dry option or another cycle for better drying.
Use a dedicated cycle downloadable via Wi-Fi or NFC.
• Only the cycle code for the current Download cycle appears on the appliance. See the smartphone app for cycle codes, names, and more information about the available cycles.
- Default Cycle : P1. Pots & Pans
This cycle is for cleaning the inside of the dishwasher. Use the cycle without dishes in the machine. It eliminates residual soils, odor, white spots, and other dirt. Add citric acid or another cleaning agent for more effective results.
• Press and hold Heavy for three seconds to activate.
• The Machine Clean icon flashes every 30 cycles. To activate or deactivate the icon, press the Delicate button for three seconds.
This cycle is a quick rinse for dishes that will not be washed immediately. The cycle rinses dishes that have excess soil to soften dried on residue. Rinsing the dishes helps prevent odors in the dishwasher. No detergent should be used.
This cycle will quickly clean lightly soiled dishes. (Time : 33 minutes)
Select the desired cycle button and then select the options for that cycle.
This option automatically sets the spray intensity to soft for the upper spray arm and strong for the lower spray arm. Place heavily soiled dishes like plates and bowls in the lower rack and lightly soiled dishes like cups and small plates in the upper rack to get the best results.
This option washes intensively by selecting the upper or lower racks. For small loads, use just the upper or lower rack to save energy and time. By pressing the Half Load button, the settings and the cancellation of the Half Load option are available.
This option saves energy by reducing the wash and rinse temperatures. Wash time is increased to maintain wash performance. Do not use this cycle with heavily soiled dishes.
Raises the main wash temperature to improve cleaning.
Select the Extra Dry option for better drying performance. This option adds extra drying time to the cycle and raises the heated rinse temperature.
• When the rinse aid is empty, the Extra Dry option is selected automatically.
Dishes are often left in the dishwasher overnight after the cycle ends. This can result in the steam inside the tub condensing on dishes, leaving them wet. The Night Dry option runs the ventilation fan periodically to help vent the steam from the tub.
The Delay Start feature delays the start of a selected cycle. Each time the Delay Start button is pressed, the delay time increases by an hour. The delay time can be set from 1 to 12 hours, in one-hour increments.
The cycle guide below shows the available options for each cycle.
Cycle | Auto | Heavy | Delicate | Normal | Turbo | Express | Rinse | Machine Clean | |
Soil Level | all levels | heavy | light | all levels | heavy | light | light | ||
*Water Usage | 13.1- 20.1 L 3.4- 5.3 gal | 20.3 L 5.4 gal | 19.7 L 5.2 gal | 9.2- 19.5 L 2.4- 5.2 gal | 27.5 L 7.3 gal | 20.4 L 5.4 gal | 6.8 L 1.8 gal | 12.3 L 3.2 gal | |
**Wash Time with Options (Mins.) | 90 - 180 | 139 - 214 | 95 - 133 | 98 - 190 | 59 - 121 | 33 - 103 | 12 | 82 | |
Available Options | Dual Zone |
| |||||||
Half Load | |||||||||
***Energy Saver | |||||||||
High Temp | |||||||||
Extra Dry | |||||||||
Night Dry | |||||||||
Delay Start |
| ||||||||
* Actual water consumption will vary depending on soil level and hardness of water.
** The actual running time and cycle time displayed may change depending on options chosen, soil level, water temperature, and hardness of water. Therefore, display time and actual running time can be different.
*** Energy Saver cannot be used at the same time as Extra Dry or High Temp.
: Extra drying time only, no added high-temperature rinse.
: ON by default.
NOTE
• Options are not available for Download Cycle.
The extra tall tub allows loading of dishes, pans, or other utensils up to 14" high.
For effective washing performance, always follow the following instructions.
The combination of high water temperature and dishwasher detergents may damage certain items. Do not wash the following items in the dishwasher.
Lower Rack Loading Tips:
Fold tines down to fit larger dishes; pull tines back up to fit smaller dishes.
Case 1
NOTE
• The silverware basket ships installed at the back of the bottom rack. For best performance, install it along the right side as shown.
Loading Dishes & Pots
The silverware basket has separators to avoid scratching and tarnishing of delicate silverware.
Loading 12 Place Settings Silverware Loading Tips:
When unloading the dishwasher, it is best to start with the silverware basket. Doing so will prevent water droplets from falling on your silverware from the upper rack.
Upper Rack Loading Tips:
Fold tines down to fit larger dishes; pull tines back up The upper rack adjusts up and down. Raise the
to fit smaller dishes. upper rack to allow items up to 14” tall in the lower
rack. Lower the upper rack to allow dishes up to 12” tall in the upper rack. The dishwasher ships with the upper rack raised.
There are three available positions for adjusting the height of the upper rack to create more space.
Lowering the Rack:
Hold the rack at the center of each side to support its weight. Then, push the button on each side to release the rack and lower it to the lower position.
Raising the Rack:
Lift the rack at the center of each side until the rack locks into place in the upper position. It is not necessary to lift the lock levers to raise the rack.
• Before adjusting, ensure the rack is empty of all dishes. Otherwise dishes may get damaged or you may get injured.
The Rinse Aid indicator appears in the display when more rinse aid is needed.
The use of rinse aid is recommended to prevent water spots on dishes and to enhance drying performance.
The dispenser has five adjustment levels. The dishwasher is programmed at the factory for a rinse aid dispenser level of 2. This can be checked and altered by using the buttons on the control panel. 1 Ensure the appliance is off.
How often the dispenser needs to be refilled depends on how often dishes are washed and the rinse aid setting used.
• The Rinse Aid icon flashes when more rinse aid is needed, unless the rinse aid dispenser setting is set to L0.
The SmartThinQ application allows you to communicate with the appliance using a smartphone.
Search for the LG SmartThinQ application from the Google Play Store on a smart phone. Follow instructions to download and install the application.
Download new and special cycles that are not included in the basic cycles on the appliance.
Appliances that have been successfully registered can download a variety of specialty cycles specific to the appliance.
Only one cycle can be stored on the appliance at a time.
Once cycle download is completed in the appliance, the appliance keeps the downloaded cycle until a new cycle is downloaded.
This function shows how many cycles remain before It is time to run the Machine Clean cycle.
This function provides useful information for diagnosing and solving issues with the appliance based on the pattern of use.
Set the Rinse Aid Dispenser Level, Machine Clean Reminder, Chime On/Off and Clean Indicator Light.
NOTE
Should you experience any problems with the appliance, it has the capability of transmitting data via your telephone to the LG Customer Information Center. NFC or Wi-Fi equipped models can also transmit data to a smartphone using the LG SmartThinQ application.
• For appliances with the logo
This gives you the capability of speaking directly to our trained specialists. The specialist records the data transmitted from the appliance and uses it to analyze the issue, providing a fast and effective diagnosis.
1 Call the LG Electronics Customer Information Center at:
(LG U.S.A.) 1-800-243-0000
(LG Canada) 1-888-542-2623 2 When instructed to do so by the call center, place the mouthpiece of the phone close to the Smart Diagnosis™ icon. Do not press any other buttons.
3 Press and hold Download Cycle until a countdown displays on the appliance. 4 Keep the phone in place until the tone transmission has finished.
5 Once the countdown is over and the tones have stopped, resume your conversation with the call center agent, who will then be able to assist you using the information transmitted for analysis.
SMART FUNCTIONS
• For appliances with the logo
Use the Smart Diagnosis feature in the SmartThinQ application for help diagnosing issues with the appliance without the assistance of the LG Customer Information Center.
Follow the instructions in the SmartThinQ application to perform a Smart Diagnosis using your smartphone.
• Smart Diagnosis™ cannot be activated unless the appliance can be turned on using the Power button. If the appliance cannot be turned on, troubleshooting must be done without using Smart Diagnosis™.
To maintain performance and prevent trouble, it is important to check the outside and inside of the dishwasher, including filters and spray arms, at regular intervals.
• If you have not used the dishwasher for a long time, refresh the inside by running the Machine Clean cycle without detergent. When the cycle is finished, clean the inside and outside of the dishwasher according to the Maintenance instructions.
• In most cases, the exterior of the dishwasher can be cleaned with a soft damp cloth or sponge, then dried with a soft cloth. If the dishwasher has a stainless steel exterior, use a stainless steel cleaner.
• If cooking oil is spilled on the exterior of the product, wipe it off immediately. Do not clean the exterior of the product with cleaners which contain alcohol, thinners, bleach, benzene, flammable liquids, or abrasives. These substances may discolor or damage the appliance.
MAINTENANCE
Check the drain air gap or in-sink disposal if the dishwasher is not draining well.
The warranty provided with the dishwasher does not cover service costs directly associated with the cleaning or repair of the external drain air gap and disposal.
1 Remove the lower rack and position the bottom spray arm so a wider vee is open to the front. 2 Turn the inner filter counter-clockwise and take out the assembled inner filter and stainless steel filter.
With the filters removed, check the sump opening and remove any foreign materials, if needed.
Number of Loads Per Week | If you wash dishes before loading | If you scrape and rinse dishes before loading | If you only scrape dishes before loading | If you do not scrape or rinse dishes before loading |
1-3 | Every 6 months | Once a year | Four times a year | Once a month |
4-7 | Every 6 months | Once a year | Four times a year | Twice a month (every 15 days) |
8-12 | Every 6 months | Every 6 months | Every 1.5 months | Every week |
13-14 | Every 6 months | Every 6 mont | Every 1.5 months | Twice a week |
If the spray arm holes are blocked by any food residue, dishes may not be cleaned well due to improper water spray.
It is recommended that the spray arms be cleaned once every two weeks.
Q: | Does this dishwasher require a rinse aid to be used? |
A: | Rinse aid is strongly recommended to enhance the drying performance of the dishwasher. In order to be more energy efficient, the hybrid drying system does not use a heating element to assist in drying, so a rinse aid plays an integral role in the drying process. If a rinse aid is not used, water may remain on the dishes and the tub. Rinse aid helps to ensure that the majority of the water has been sheeted off of the dishes at the end of the rinse and that the load is ready for the dry cycle. |
Q: | What can be done if my dishes have a cloudy, white film on them after a wash? |
A: | The cloudy film is usually caused by minerals in the water reacting with the dishwasher detergent. First, be certain not to use too much detergent. Refer to Adding Detergent to the Dispenser section for recommended detergent amounts. Add an extra rinse to the cycle. LG Dishwashers use less water than traditional dishwashers, so adding an extra rinse aids in rinsing the film away. If the water supply is hard, it may be necessary to add a performance booster that addresses the hard water condition. |
Q: | How do I remove white film on the tub? |
A:
| Measure 3 tbsp. (40 g) of citric acid powder and use it to fill the main detergent compartment. Run a Machine Clean cycle. Do not use detergent. |
Q: | What steps can I take to improve drying results? |
A:
| Drying performance is directly affected by the amount of heat that remains in the tub after the heated rinse is performed. If your dishwasher is far away from your home’s hot water heater, it may be necessary to run the hot water tap in the sink before starting a wash cycle, to ensure that cool water is purged from the hot water lines. This will ensure your dishwasher has a consistent supply of hot water from start to finish. Using the High Temp setting also aids in keeping the inner drum temperature and dishes hotter before drying begins. LG dishwashers are designed to be used in conjunction with a rinse aid. Using a rinse aid will maximize the amount of water that has already been sheeted away from the dishes before the dry cycle begins. If a rinse aid is used and the performance still needs a boost, adjust the amount of rinse aid used. 2 is the default setting, but if necessary set the level to 3 so more rinse aid is used. Water tends to bead rather than sheet off plastic and nonstick surfaces, making them more difficult to dry. If washing plastic items in a Normal cycle, select the Extra Dry or Night Dry option or both for better drying results. When the rinse aid is empty, the Extra Dry option is selected automatically. Allow the dishwasher to completely finish the dry cycle before opening the door. If the door is opened in the middle of the dry cycle, the heat that is necessary for the hybrid dry system to work will escape. This will cause all of the dishes inside to remain wet once the cycle finishes. |
Q: | What is the hybrid drying system? |
A: | The dishwasher does not rely on a heating element for the drying process; instead, it relies on the heat that is retained by the dishes and the tub during the wash and rinse cycles to turn the moisture in the tub into humidity. Warm, moist air in the dishwasher is then pulled into a condensing duct in the door by a fan. The air then cools, which causes the humidity to condense. Room temperature air is also drawn into the duct to help the air cool down faster. When this moisture condenses into a liquid, it is drained out. NOTE • Rinse aid is required to enhance the drying performance. If no rinse aid is used, water may remain on the dishes and the tub. |
Q: | Why am I hearing a whistling sound from the dishwasher? |
A: | It is important to determine the duration of the noise and when it happens (what part of the cycle). When water is drawn into the dishwasher, a whistling noise can be heard. This is normal. If the water pressure is too high, it will be louder, so it may be necessary to adjust the water valve to lower the pressure if the noise is too loud. |
Q: | What kinds of dishes can be placed in the dishwasher? |
A: | Ensure that the dishes you place in the dishwasher are dishwasher safe. Plastic dishware will not dry as effectively as glass and metal dishware. Plastic items do not retain heat as well as glass and metal dishware. Plastic cups and dishes may require some hand drying before being put away at the end of the cycle. |
Q: | Can I perform a drain only cycle? |
A: | To drain standing water, press and hold Start for three seconds until the cycle stops. Once the dishwasher finishes draining, the power turns off. |
Q: | Why does my dishwasher continuously chime if I open the door during a cycle or right after the cycle has finished? |
A: | This is normal. The dishwasher is letting you know that the interior temperatures of the unit are hot and to use caution when placing your hands inside. Once the unit has cooled down, the chiming will stop. |
Q: | What is Control Lock and how is it activated? |
A: | Control Lock is a feature that prevents the controls from being changed during the cycle. It does not prevent the door from being opened or the unit from being powered off. To activate or deactivate, press and hold Half Load and Energy Saver simultaneously for three seconds. |
Q: | Can I add an extension to the drain hose? |
A: | If an extension drain hose is required, use 5/8" or 7/8" inside diameter, 2-3 ft. length hose and a coupler for connecting the two hose ends. |
Q: | An LED is blinking, the machine is chiming, and the dishwasher won't start. What is wrong with the dishwasher? |
A: | This is a safety feature. The door must be closed within four seconds of pressing the Start button. If the door is not closed within four seconds, an LED flashes, an audible alert sounds, and the dishwasher does not operate. To start the dishwasher, open the door and either close the door and press Start (front controls) or press Start and close the door within four seconds (top controls). |
Q: | Before loading dishes, should I pre-rinse dishes? |
A:
| No, you don't need to pre-rinse the dishes before loading especially if using the Normal and Auto cycles. The dishwasher washes dishes clean without pre-rinsing. |
Reference file: LG LDF5545BD Front Control Dishwasher with QuadWash™ and EasyRack™ Plus
Additionally, the document applies to other LG Electronics models: LDF554#**, LDB454***