Light stays on all the time
The bucket is empty, but the full indicator stays lit and the unit will not run or shuts right back off.
Start here: Start with bucket removal, float movement, and a careful reinstall.
Dehumidifier troubleshooting
LG Dehumidifier Bucket Full Light Stays On
Direct answer: When the bucket full light stays on, the dehumidifier usually thinks the bucket is still full or not installed correctly. Most of the time that comes down to a crooked bucket, a stuck float, water or grime around the switch area, or a failed bucket-full switch.
Most likely: Start with the bucket itself: empty it, wash it out, make sure the float moves freely, and slide the bucket back in square and fully seated.
This one is usually pretty physical. If the bucket feels loose, the float hangs up, or the bucket has to be shoved to make the light change, stay focused there first. Reality check: a dehumidifier can act dead with a perfectly good compressor if the bucket-full circuit never resets. Common wrong move: forcing the bucket in harder and cracking the guides or float.
Don’t start with: Don’t start by ordering electronics or tearing the cabinet apart. This problem is more often a bucket fit or float issue than a major internal failure.
If the light goes out when you lift or wiggle the bucketyou’re likely dealing with bucket alignment, a warped bucket, or a worn switch contact point.
If the bucket is seated correctly and the light never changescheck for a stuck float or a failed dehumidifier bucket-full switch.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What this bucket-full light problem usually looks like
Light changes when you move the bucket
The light flickers or goes out only when you push up, lift, or hold the bucket a certain way.
Start here: Look for a bucket that is not seating square, worn bucket tabs, or a switch lever that is barely being touched.
Problem started after cleaning or emptying
The unit worked before, then the light stayed on after the bucket was washed, bumped, or reinstalled.
Start here: Check that the float was not knocked out of position and that the bucket is fully dry around the switch contact area.
Using hose drain but bucket light is still on
A hose is attached for continuous drain, but the unit still reports bucket full or refuses to run.
Start here: Confirm the bucket or drain insert is still installed the way this unit expects, and make sure the drain path is not backing water up into the bucket area.
Most likely causes
1. Bucket not fully seated or sitting crooked
This is the most common cause, especially when the light changes if you push or wiggle the bucket. A small misalignment is enough to keep the switch from resetting.
Quick check: Pull the bucket out, inspect the rails and front lip, then slide it back in slowly with even pressure until it sits flush.
2. Dehumidifier bucket float stuck in the up position
If the float hangs up from slime, mineral residue, or a bent guide, the unit reads full even with an empty bucket.
Quick check: Move the float by hand. It should rise and fall freely without rubbing or catching.
3. Debris or moisture around the bucket-full switch area
Dust, residue, or a little standing water near the switch can keep the mechanism from moving cleanly or can make the bucket sit slightly off.
Quick check: With the unit unplugged, inspect the switch contact area and bucket cavity for gunk, broken plastic, or pooled water.
4. Failed dehumidifier bucket-full switch
If the bucket and float move normally and the light never reacts at all, the switch itself may be stuck or electrically failed.
Quick check: Watch or feel the switch area while reinstalling the bucket. If the bucket clearly reaches it but the light never changes, the switch is a strong suspect.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Empty the bucket and reinstall it carefully
A bucket that is just a little off track will hold the full light on, and this is the fastest no-parts check.
- Turn the dehumidifier off and unplug it.
- Remove the bucket and empty it completely.
- Check the bucket edges, rails, and front face for cracks, warping, or anything sticking out of place.
- Wipe the outside of the bucket dry so it does not drag or sit on a film of water.
- Slide the bucket back in slowly with both hands so it goes in straight and sits fully flush.
Next move: If the light goes out and the unit starts normally, the problem was bucket seating or a minor fit issue. If the light stays on, move to the float and switch checks.
What to conclude: The machine will not run until it sees the bucket in the right position and the full signal cleared.
Stop if:
- The bucket rails are cracked or the bucket will not sit square.
- You smell burning, see melted plastic, or notice sparking.
- Water has leaked into the control area or power cord area.
Step 2: Check the dehumidifier bucket float for sticking
A stuck float is the next most common cause after a mis-seated bucket, and it often looks exactly like a bad switch.
- With the bucket out, find the float inside the bucket and move it up and down by hand.
- Rinse the bucket with warm water and a little mild soap if you see slime or residue.
- Clean the float guide area and rinse it well.
- Make sure the float drops back down on its own when you let go.
- Reinstall the bucket and test the unit again.
Next move: If the light clears after the float moves freely, the float was hanging up and the repair is done. If the float moves freely but the light still stays on, inspect the bucket cavity and switch area next.
What to conclude: The bucket-full signal may have been coming from a float that was physically stuck in the full position.
Step 3: Inspect the bucket cavity and switch contact area
If the bucket and float are fine, the next likely problem is where the bucket meets the unit. Dirt, residue, or a bent contact point can keep the full signal on.
- Keep the unit unplugged and use a flashlight to look into the bucket opening.
- Check for lint, mineral buildup, pooled water, or broken plastic around the switch area.
- Wipe accessible surfaces with a damp cloth and dry them afterward.
- Look for a small lever, tab, or contact point that should move when the bucket slides in.
- Reinstall the bucket while watching whether that contact point is actually being reached.
Next move: If cleaning or straightening the contact area lets the light go out, the issue was blockage or poor contact at the bucket switch area. If the bucket clearly reaches the switch area and nothing changes, the switch itself is the likely failed part.
Step 4: Confirm whether the bucket-full switch is actually responding
At this point you want to separate a simple mechanical miss from a failed dehumidifier bucket-full switch before buying anything.
- Unplug the unit and remove the bucket again.
- Locate the bucket-full switch or actuator in the bucket opening if it is visible without major disassembly.
- Gently move the actuator by hand only if it is plainly accessible and moves with light pressure.
- Reinstall the bucket and note whether the light ever changes when the actuator is contacted.
- If the bucket, float, and contact point all look normal but the light never changes, plan on replacing the dehumidifier bucket-full switch.
Next move: If the light changes when the actuator is moved or when the bucket contacts it correctly, the issue was alignment or a sticky mechanism rather than a dead switch. If there is no response at all, the switch has likely failed and replacement is the sensible next move.
Step 5: Finish with the right repair path and test the unit
The last step is to either replace the confirmed failed part or stop before turning a simple dehumidifier problem into cabinet or wiring damage.
- Replace the dehumidifier bucket if it is warped, cracked, or no longer hits the switch correctly.
- Replace the dehumidifier bucket float if it is damaged or will not move correctly in the bucket.
- Replace the dehumidifier bucket-full switch if the bucket and float are working normally but the light never responds.
- After the repair, reinstall the bucket, plug the unit in, and run it long enough to confirm the light stays off until the bucket actually fills.
- If you are using continuous drain and the bucket-full light still returns with water backing up, shift your attention to the dehumidifier drain path rather than replacing more bucket parts.
A good result: If the unit runs normally and the light comes on only when the bucket is truly full, the repair is confirmed.
If not: If the light still stays on after the bucket, float, and switch path checks, the problem is deeper in the control circuit and it is time for appliance service.
What to conclude: You’ve covered the common homeowner-fix causes and avoided guess-buying the wrong part.
Replacement Parts
Repair Riot may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
Why does my dehumidifier say bucket full when the bucket is empty?
Usually the bucket is not seated quite right, the float is stuck up, or the bucket-full switch is not resetting. Start with the bucket fit and float before assuming an electrical failure.
Can I keep using the dehumidifier if I push the bucket in and the light goes off?
Only as a short test. If it runs only when you hold or shove the bucket, the bucket alignment or switch contact is still wrong and it will come back. Fix the fit issue before regular use.
Does a stuck bucket-full light mean the pump is bad?
Not usually. On this symptom, the bucket, float, and bucket-full switch are much more likely than the pump. A pump problem usually shows up more as poor draining or water backing up.
How do I know if the float is the problem instead of the switch?
If the float feels sticky, hangs up, or does not drop on its own after cleaning, stay with the float side. If the float moves normally and the light never reacts even with the bucket fully seated, the switch is the stronger suspect.
Will continuous drain mode bypass the bucket-full light?
Not necessarily. Many dehumidifiers still need the bucket or drain insert positioned correctly, and a blocked drain path can still leave water where the unit reads full. If the hose setup is involved, check for a drain issue too.
Should I replace the control board if the bucket-full light stays on?
No, not first. A bad control is much less common than a bucket fit problem, stuck float, or failed bucket-full switch. Work through those physical checks before considering deeper electrical parts.