Ariston F01 washer 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 F01 actually means

The control board has detected a short circuit in the switch that feeds power to the motor, so it shuts the machine down rather than risk running the drum out of control.

On Ariston washer dryers the drum motor is switched by a component called a triac on the main control board. When that triac fails short circuit, the board can no longer control whether the motor is on or off, so it stops the cycle and puts up this code. Owners usually see it right at the point the drum should start turning, and in some cases the drum gives a brief kick or a burst of unexpected rotation before everything halts.

What F01 looks like on a Ariston washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Ariston washer dryer, F01 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only
Leaking
Water on the floor
Puddle underneath
Shuts itself down and won't restart

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

A failed motor triac on the main control board — the usual finding
Wider damage to the main control board, often after a power surge or a leak dripping onto it
A shorted or partially failed motor winding taking the triac out with it
Water or detergent ingress into the board housing

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.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a couple of minutes, then switch back on and try a short cycle — occasionally the board clears a one-off glitch
Make sure the drum is not overloaded or wedged with a trapped item, and that it turns freely by hand with the machine switched off
If the code returns straight away, leave it off at the wall

Common questions about Ariston F01

What does F01 mean on a Ariston washer dryer?

The control board has detected a short circuit in the switch that feeds power to the motor, so it shuts the machine down rather than risk running the drum out of control. On Ariston washer dryers the drum motor is switched by a component called a triac on the main control board. When that triac fails short circuit, the board can no longer control whether the motor is on or off, so it stops the cycle and puts up this code. Owners usually see it right at the point the drum should start turning, and in some cases the drum gives a brief kick or a burst of unexpected rotation before everything halts.

Can I fix Ariston F01 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a couple of minutes, then switch back on and try a short cycle — occasionally the board clears a one-off glitch.
Make sure the drum is not overloaded or wedged with a trapped item, and that it turns freely by hand with the machine switched off.
If the code returns straight away, leave it off at the wall.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Ariston F01?

£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 F01?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. 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 washer 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 Ariston washer dryer codes

All Ariston fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

washer dryer not drying

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

Ariston F01 error — washer dryer