What E18 actually means

The washing machine couldn't spin because the load inside was unevenly spread, so it finished the cycle without a proper spin.

Your machine constantly checks how the laundry is sitting in the drum before it spins. If the weight is bunched to one side, spinning at high speed would shake the machine violently and could damage it or your floor, so it repeatedly tries to redistribute the washing and, if it can't, ends the programme without spinning. E18 is a warning rather than a fault

What usually causes it

One bulky item like a duvet, towel or bath mat balled up on one side
Too little in the drum ",

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.

Open the door, shake the washing out and spread it evenly around the drum, then run a spin cycle
Add a couple of towels if you're washing a single bulky item so it can balance
Avoid washing one large heavy item on its own
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine \u2014 poor draining also stops spinning
Check the machine sits level and doesn't rock, and that nothing is wedged under a foot

When to call someone

This often clears with the checks above, and rarely needs an engineer. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

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.

Blomberg E18 error — washing machine

What E18 actually means

What usually causes it

What you can safely check yourself

When to call someone

Other Blomberg washing machine codes

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