Code appears with an empty bucket
The bucket is empty or nearly empty, but the display still shows CH 24 and the machine will not run.
Start here: Pull the bucket out, inspect the float and bucket rails, then reinstall it carefully.
Dehumidifier error code help
LG Dehumidifier CH 24 Error Code
Direct answer: An LG dehumidifier CH 24 error usually means the unit thinks the bucket is full, missing, crooked, or not being sensed correctly. Most of the time the fix is a bucket seating issue, a stuck float, or a water-level switch problem rather than a major internal failure.
Most likely: Start with the bucket fully removed and reinstalled, check that the float moves freely, and make sure a hose setup is not backing water up into the unit.
This one is usually pretty grounded in what the machine is seeing at the bucket area. If the bucket looks empty but the code comes right back, focus on fit, float movement, and the little switch the bucket trips. Reality check: a slightly crooked bucket can be enough to keep the unit locked out. Common wrong move: forcing the bucket in harder instead of checking what is hanging up or out of place.
Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering an electronic board or taking the cabinet apart. This code is more often caused by the bucket and level-sensing parts you can check first.
If the bucket was just emptiedSlide it back in slowly and square, then restart the dehumidifier.
If you use a drain hoseDisconnect the hose temporarily and test the unit in bucket mode first.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What CH 24 usually looks like
Code started after moving or cleaning the unit
The dehumidifier worked before it was carried, tipped, or cleaned, and now the code shows up right away.
Start here: Check for a float stuck in the up position or a bucket that is not sitting flat in its tracks.
Code shows up only when a hose is attached
The unit behaves differently in continuous drain mode, or the code appears after the hose kinks or sags.
Start here: Remove the drain hose and test in normal bucket mode to separate a drain issue from a bucket switch issue.
Bucket feels loose or does not slide in cleanly
You have to wiggle the bucket, the front does not sit flush, or the bucket area feels obstructed.
Start here: Look for debris, a warped bucket edge, or a misaligned float tab that is keeping the bucket from tripping the switch.
Most likely causes
1. Bucket not fully seated
This is the most common reason. The bucket can look installed but still miss the switch by a small amount.
Quick check: Remove the bucket, wipe the rails and contact area, then slide it in slowly until it sits flush without forcing it.
2. Stuck or jammed bucket float
If the float hangs up in the raised position, the dehumidifier reads the bucket as full even when it is empty.
Quick check: Move the float by hand with the bucket out. It should rise and fall freely without rubbing or sticking.
3. Drain hose setup causing backup or false full condition
A kinked, uphill, or partially clogged hose can leave water where the unit expects it to drain away.
Quick check: Disconnect the hose and run the unit with the bucket installed. If the code clears, the hose setup needs attention.
4. Failed dehumidifier bucket switch or water-level switch
If the bucket is seated correctly, the float moves freely, and hose mode is ruled out, the sensing switch is the next likely failure.
Quick check: Listen and feel for the switch being contacted when the bucket goes fully in. No response or intermittent response points to the switch area.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Reset the simple stuff first
A quick reset and careful bucket reinstall clears the easy false trips without taking anything apart.
- Turn the dehumidifier off and unplug it for 2 minutes.
- Pull the bucket out completely and empty it if needed.
- Inspect the bucket lip, rails, and the opening in the unit for lint, slime, or anything keeping the bucket from sitting square.
- Reinstall the bucket slowly, keeping it level so it slides fully home.
- Plug the unit back in and start it on a normal humidity setting.
Next move: If the code clears and the unit starts collecting water, the problem was a bad bucket seat or a temporary false full reading. If CH 24 comes back right away, move to the float and bucket inspection.
What to conclude: The machine still thinks the bucket is full or not present.
Stop if:
- The plug, cord, or outlet shows heat damage or burning smell.
- Water has gotten into the controls or display area.
- The bucket area is cracked badly enough that it will not support the bucket safely.
Step 2: Check the bucket float for sticking or damage
A stuck float is the next most common cause, especially after the bucket was bumped, washed, or set down hard.
- Remove the bucket and find the float inside it.
- Lift and lower the float by hand.
- Make sure it drops under its own weight and does not bind on residue, a warped bucket wall, or a bent guide.
- Clean the float area with warm water and mild soap if you see slime or mineral film, then dry it.
- Reinstall the bucket and test again.
Next move: If the code stays gone, the float was hanging up and the cleaning or repositioning fixed it. If the float moves freely but the code remains, separate bucket mode from drain-hose mode next.
What to conclude: You have ruled out the easy mechanical float problem.
Step 3: Rule out the drain hose setup
A hose problem can mimic a bucket-full condition, and this is an easy way to split the problem cleanly.
- If a drain hose is connected, turn the unit off and disconnect the hose.
- Check the hose for kinks, pinches, sludge, or an uphill run that traps water.
- Make sure the hose outlet is lower than the dehumidifier drain point when you use continuous drain.
- Reinstall the bucket and run the unit in normal bucket mode.
- If it runs normally now, correct the hose routing or replace the hose if it is collapsed or split.
Next move: If the unit works in bucket mode but not with the hose attached, the hose setup was the problem. If CH 24 still shows in bucket mode, the issue is likely at the bucket sensing point inside the unit.
Step 4: Inspect the bucket switch contact area
Once the bucket and hose are ruled out, the next likely fault is the switch or lever the bucket is supposed to trip.
- Unplug the dehumidifier.
- With the bucket removed, look into the bucket opening for the small switch, lever, or contact point the bucket presses when fully installed.
- Check for lint, corrosion, a bent tab, or a switch lever that stays stuck.
- Gently clear loose debris and make sure the contact point can move normally if it is designed to move.
- Reinstall the bucket and see whether it now reaches the switch cleanly.
Next move: If the code clears after cleaning or straightening the contact area, the switch was not being reached consistently. If the bucket reaches the contact area but CH 24 still returns, the switch itself is likely failing.
Step 5: Replace the failed sensing part or call for service
At this point the common external causes are ruled out, so the repair usually comes down to the bucket switch or water-level switch assembly.
- If the bucket clearly seats correctly and the float moves freely, replace the dehumidifier bucket switch or dehumidifier water-level switch that matches your unit.
- If the bucket itself is warped or the float is damaged, replace the dehumidifier bucket float switch assembly if your model uses one.
- After replacement, reinstall the bucket, power the unit up, and run it long enough to confirm the code stays gone.
- If you are not comfortable opening the cabinet or tracing the switch mount, book appliance service and describe it as a persistent bucket-full sensing fault.
A good result: If the unit runs and collects water without CH 24 returning, the failed sensing part was the cause.
If not: If a confirmed good bucket and switch do not fix it, the fault is deeper in the wiring or control side and is no longer a good guess-and-buy repair.
What to conclude: You have reached the point where a simple bucket issue is no longer the likely cause.
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FAQ
What does CH 24 mean on an LG dehumidifier?
In plain terms, the dehumidifier thinks the bucket is full, missing, or not being sensed correctly. The usual causes are a crooked bucket, a stuck float, a drain setup problem, or a failed bucket or water-level switch.
Can I just reset the dehumidifier to clear CH 24?
Sometimes, yes, if the bucket was not seated correctly or the reading was temporary. Unplugging the unit for a couple of minutes and reinstalling the bucket carefully is worth trying first, but a code that comes right back usually needs a physical check.
Why does CH 24 show when the bucket is empty?
Because the code is about what the unit senses, not just how much water you see. A stuck float, misaligned bucket, or bad switch can all make an empty bucket look full to the machine.
Does a drain hose cause CH 24?
It can. If the hose is kinked, routed uphill, or partially clogged, water may not leave the unit the way it should. Testing the dehumidifier in normal bucket mode is the fastest way to rule that in or out.
Which part usually fixes CH 24?
Most confirmed repairs land on the dehumidifier bucket switch or water-level switch after the bucket fit and float have been checked. If the problem only happens with continuous drain, the dehumidifier drain hose may be the real fix.
Is it safe to keep using the dehumidifier with CH 24 showing?
No. If the unit is locked out with a bucket-full error, it is not reading water level correctly. Keep it off until you confirm the bucket, float, and switch are working normally.