Ariston F15 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 F15 actually means

The machine has lost proper control of its heating, so it either won't heat the water or won't heat during drying, and it stops rather than carry on.

The control board switches the heating element on and off through a relay, and it also checks that the water or drum temperature is responding as expected. On F15 that check has failed — the board can no longer confirm the heating is being switched correctly — so it halts the programme. Typically the drum fills and turns but the wash stays cold, or the dryer part of the cycle runs with cold air and then pauses partway through.

What F15 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, F15 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle
Not drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end
Takes hours to dry

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

Failed heater relay on the main control board (the most common finding on washer dryers)
Faulty dryer heating element or its wiring
Faulty wash heating element or a poor connection to it
Temperature sensor giving the board readings that don't match what the heater is doing
Water-damaged or corroded control board

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.

Switch the machine off at the wall socket, leave it a minute, then power it back up — an occasional false trip will clear
Run a cold wash with no heating selected: if that completes normally it confirms the fault is on the heating side and is useful information to pass on

Common questions about Ariston F15

What does F15 mean on a Ariston washer dryer?

The machine has lost proper control of its heating, so it either won't heat the water or won't heat during drying, and it stops rather than carry on. The control board switches the heating element on and off through a relay, and it also checks that the water or drum temperature is responding as expected. On F15 that check has failed — the board can no longer confirm the heating is being switched correctly — so it halts the programme. Typically the drum fills and turns but the wash stays cold, or the dryer part of the cycle runs with cold air and then pauses partway through.

Can I fix Ariston F15 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Switch the machine off at the wall socket, leave it a minute, then power it back up — an occasional false trip will clear.
Run a cold wash with no heating selected: if that completes normally it confirms the fault is on the heating side and is useful information to pass on.

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

How much does it cost to repair Ariston F15?

£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 F15?

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 F15 error — washer dryer