Speed Queen Washer Error Code E Ld: Water Leak During Drain
E Ld means the control noticed the water level fall further than it should when the drain was not meant to run. Look at the floor around the machine and, on a CHM1792C, press any key to clear it. If E Ld returns, ask us for a technician visit.
Medium: a possible leak, so the machine should stay idle until the floor and the valve are checked.
- Code
- E Ld
- Maker
- Speed Queen
- Equipment
- Washers
- Applies to
- Quantum topload (TLW13C family) electronic control; CHM1792C family washer-extractor (QN models, 20-100 lb) front-end control; CHM495R family washer-extractor front-end control (20-100 lb)
What does Speed Queen error code E Ld mean?
The control keeps watching the water level even when it is not draining. If the level drops when no drain step is active, it concludes that water is escaping somewhere it should not, and it shows E Ld. That can point at a drain valve that does not seal, so water slowly leaks out, or at a leak elsewhere in the hoses, connections or tub seams. The pressure sensor and the control's reading of the level matter as well, since a sensor that drifts can make a steady tub look like a leaking one. On the CHM1792C the code stays on screen for a minute once the door is opened at cycle end, which gives the operator time to read it. Quantum topload washers and CHM495R washer-extractors also report it. In every case, the practical first step is to look at the floor and the cabinet base for any sign of water, because a real leak is the one cause that cannot wait.
Affected models and control systems
This page covers Quantum topload washers in the TLW13C family, CHM1792C washer-extractors and CHM495R washer-extractors. A related code, E LF, reports water rising when the fill valves should be closed.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- Water on the floor under or near the washer
- The tub level drops between steps
- E Ld appears at the end of a cycle
Possible causes
Listed in Speed Queen's documentation
- Drain valve seal
- Hose connections and tub seams
- Pressure sensor reading
- Control reading the level
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error code E Ld on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- A drain valve seat holding a bit of lint or a button, so it never closes fully
- A drain hose clamp that has loosened and weeps under pressure
Safe checks before calling for service
- On a CHM1792C, press any keypad to clear the code, as the owner's manual says.
- Look at the floor around the machine.
- Wait until the lock releases before reaching into the drum.
- If E Ld returns, note whether any water reached the floor and at what step the code appeared, and ask us for a technician visit.
How a technician diagnoses error code E Ld
- Read the code and ask whether water was found on the floor.
- Inspect hoses, clamps and tub seams for seepage.
- Check the drain valve for a clean seal and proper closing.
- Compare the pressure sensor reading with the actual level in a held tub.
- Replace the valve, seal or sensor only after it fails a test.
- The drain valve and level sensor are connected behind the panels, and live testing needs a trained technician.
- A tub that leaks with the door locked can put water on a floor where people walk and where power is present.
- Telling a leaking valve from a drifting sensor takes a controlled fill and measurement.
How error code E Ld differs from similar codes
E LF is the opposite case, a level that rises when it should not.
Technical reference
- Document
- Commercial Troubleshooting Topload Washers TLW13C, Part No. 203502R4, March 2024, Error Code Listing (pp. 30-32)
- Edition
- Part No. 203502R4, March 2024
- Models / control
- Quantum topload (TLW13C family) electronic control; CHM1792C family washer-extractor (QN models, 20-100 lb) front-end control; CHM495R family washer-extractor front-end control (20-100 lb)
- Section
- Section 3 General Troubleshooting - 20. Error Code Listing, printed pp. 30-32 (PDF pp. 32-34)
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Speed Queen washer error codes
Is E Ld always a real leak?
Not always. A sensor that misreads the level can raise it too, but check the floor first.
How long does the code stay on a CHM1792C?
It stays on screen for a minute once the door is opened at cycle end.
Can I keep washing?
Not until the floor is dry and the cause is known, since a leak can get worse under a full load.
Need help with Speed Queen error code E Ld?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.