Beko E42 washing machine: 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 E42 actually means

The cooling fan in the drying section isn't moving enough air, so the machine has stopped the drying part of the cycle.

This code only appears on Beko washer dryers. During drying, a cooling fan draws air over the condenser to pull moisture out of the hot air coming off the drum; the control board watches for that airflow and shuts the cycle down when it isn't there. Washing itself is usually unaffected — it's the drying stage that fails, often with the load coming out hot and still damp.

What E42 looks like on a Beko washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Beko washing machine, E42 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
Noisy fan

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

Cooling fan seized or failed altogether
Blocked or clogged condenser restricting airflow
Fan capacitor or its wiring connection gone faulty
Fan's thermal cut-out tripped after overheating
Air heaters staying on when they shouldn't, overheating the system

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 minute, then power it back up and try a short drying programme
Check the drying programme isn't being run on an empty drum — the machine flags that as a fault condition
Make sure the machine has clear space around it and isn't drawing in air from a tight, hot cupboard
Clean the pump filter and check nothing is obstructing the vents at the base

Common questions about Beko E42

What does E42 mean on a Beko washing machine?

The cooling fan in the drying section isn't moving enough air, so the machine has stopped the drying part of the cycle. This code only appears on Beko washer dryers. During drying, a cooling fan draws air over the condenser to pull moisture out of the hot air coming off the drum; the control board watches for that airflow and shuts the cycle down when it isn't there. Washing itself is usually unaffected — it's the drying stage that fails, often with the load coming out hot and still damp.

Can I fix Beko E42 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up and try a short drying programme.
Check the drying programme isn't being run on an empty drum — the machine flags that as a fault condition.
Make sure the machine has clear space around it and isn't drawing in air from a tight, hot cupboard.
Clean the pump filter and check nothing is obstructing the vents at the base.

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

How much does it cost to repair Beko E42?

£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 E42?

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 washing machine 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 Beko washing machine codes

All Beko 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.

Beko E42 error — washing machine