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 E13 actually means

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water away within the time it expects, so it has stopped and flagged a drainage problem.

Bosch machines monitor how long the drain pump takes to clear the drum. If the water level hasn't dropped in the allotted time, the cycle halts with E13 rather than carrying on and spinning a full drum. On some models the code sticks in the control board's memory even after the blockage has cleared, which is why you can end up with a machine that drains and spins normally but still shows the fault and needs the emergency door release to open.

What usually causes it

Blocked pump filter \u2014 coins, hair grips, buttons and fluff
Kinked or trapped drain hose behind the machine
Blockage in the sink trap or standpipe the hose empties into
Worn or jammed drain pump impeller
Fault stored in the control board memory after an earlier blockage

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, leave it a minute, then switch back on \u2014 this clears the code on some models.
Empty and clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine (have a tray and towels ready, water will come out).
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, squashed against the wall or pushed too far down the standpipe.
If the hose feeds into a sink waste, check that waste isn't blocked \u2014 run the sink tap and see if it drains freely.
Run a short rinse and spin to see whether the water clears before deciding it's a pump fault.

When to call someone

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

Bosch E13 error — washing machine

What E13 actually means

What usually causes it

What you can safely check yourself

When to call someone

Other Bosch washing machine codes

Need it looked at properly?