Altimo E16 tumble dryer: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What E16 actually means

The machine has measured a temperature higher than it should ever reach during drying, so it has cut the cycle short to protect itself.

E16 is logged by the control board as a high temperature error. Something has pushed the drying air hotter than the programme allows — usually because the hot air cannot move through the drum and out as it should, or because the sensor reading it has drifted. Rather than carry on heating, the machine halts and shows the fault, which is why you often find a warm, still-damp load sitting in the drum.

What E16 looks like on a Altimo tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Altimo tumble dryer, E16 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end
Takes hours to dry
Not drying properly
Takes hours to dry a load
Getting hot but the clothes stay damp
Keeps saying empty the water container

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

Lint filter clogged, so air cannot pass through the drum
Blocked or crushed vent hose, or a blocked condenser/heat exchanger on condenser models
Fluff build-up restricting airflow inside the machine
A temperature sensor giving a false high reading
Heater or control board fault holding the heat on too long

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Clean the lint filter thoroughly under running water and dry it before refitting — this is the single most common cause we find.
On a condenser model, take out the condenser/heat exchanger unit where it is designed to be removed by hand, rinse it and refit it.
If the dryer is vented, check the hose is not kinked, crushed behind the machine or blocked with fluff, and that the outside outlet is clear.
Make sure the machine has space to breathe — nothing pressed against the back, and not shut into an unventilated cupboard.
Turn the programme knob to off, leave it for a few seconds, then restart with a smaller load and see whether the fault returns.

Which Altimo models show E16

E16 means the same thing on all 4 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

AWM10142W · AWM6122W · AWM7122WG2 · AWM8142W

Common questions about Altimo E16

What does E16 mean on a Altimo tumble dryer?

The machine has measured a temperature higher than it should ever reach during drying, so it has cut the cycle short to protect itself. E16 is logged by the control board as a high temperature error. Something has pushed the drying air hotter than the programme allows — usually because the hot air cannot move through the drum and out as it should, or because the sensor reading it has drifted. Rather than carry on heating, the machine halts and shows the fault, which is why you often find a warm, still-damp load sitting in the drum.

Can I fix Altimo E16 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Clean the lint filter thoroughly under running water and dry it before refitting — this is the single most common cause we find.
On a condenser model, take out the condenser/heat exchanger unit where it is designed to be removed by hand, rinse it and refit it.
If the dryer is vented, check the hose is not kinked, crushed behind the machine or blocked with fluff, and that the outside outlet is clear.
Make sure the machine has space to breathe — nothing pressed against the back, and not shut into an unventilated cupboard.
Turn the programme knob to off, leave it for a few seconds, then restart with a smaller load and see whether the fault returns.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Altimo E16?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E16?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most tumble dryer faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Altimo tumble dryer codes

All Altimo fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Altimo E16 error — tumble dryer