LG Air Conditioner Error Code E198

E198 means the control board has detected that the thermal fuse in the indoor unit has opened and broken the circuit. This is a protective failure that prevents the unit from operating until the fuse is replaced. The thermal fuse is a one-time safety device that cannot be reset, only replaced.

The unit will not operate when E198 is active because the open thermal fuse breaks the circuit. This is intentional. Do not attempt to bypass the fuse, as it is there to protect the unit and prevent potential fire or further component damage from overheating.

No. E198 cannot be cleared by resetting or power cycling the unit. Because the thermal fuse is physically open and has no continuity, the control board will continue to detect the fault until the fuse is replaced. A reset will not restore the fuse or allow the unit to run.

Replacing a thermal fuse requires opening the indoor unit, working around electrical components, and using a multimeter to confirm the fault. While a knowledgeable DIYer may be capable of this, a technician should also investigate why the fuse opened in the first place. Skipping the root cause diagnosis risks blowing the replacement fuse again quickly.

The thermal fuse itself is a low-cost part, typically in the range of a few dollars to around twenty dollars depending on the specific unit. Labor costs for a technician to diagnose, access the component, and replace it can range from roughly seventy-five to two hundred dollars or more. If an underlying cause such as a failed fan motor is discovered, total repair costs will be higher.