Bosch E36-10 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 E36-10 actually means

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time it allows, so it has stopped with a drum full of water.

During the drain part of the cycle the Bosch control board expects the water level to drop within a set time. When it doesn't, it stops everything and shows this code — on older Bosch and Siemens models the same fault appeared as E18 or E03. It's almost always a restriction in the drain path or a failing drain pump rather than anything expensive.

What E36-10 looks like on a Bosch washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Bosch washing machine, E36-10 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
Overfilling, or won't stop filling
Stops with water still inside
Fills and drains over and over
No function at all

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

Blocked pump filter — coins, hair grips, buttons, fluff
Kinked, blocked or badly fitted drain hose
Blockage in the sink standpipe or trap the hose empties into
Drain pump impeller jammed or the pump worn out
Drain hose pushed too far into the waste pipe, causing a siphon or 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 for a minute, then back on, and see if it will run a drain or spin — sometimes it clears a one-off.
Empty and clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine (have a shallow tray and towels ready; the water will come out). Rinse out any debris and refit it hand-tight.
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, trapped or crushed against the wall.
If the hose empties into a sink trap or standpipe, check that isn't blocked or full of grease.
Run a rinse and spin once you've cleared the filter to see whether the water goes away.

Common questions about Bosch E36-10

What does E36-10 mean on a Bosch washing machine?

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time it allows, so it has stopped with a drum full of water. During the drain part of the cycle the Bosch control board expects the water level to drop within a set time. When it doesn't, it stops everything and shows this code — on older Bosch and Siemens models the same fault appeared as E18 or E03. It's almost always a restriction in the drain path or a failing drain pump rather than anything expensive.

Can I fix Bosch E36-10 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on, and see if it will run a drain or spin — sometimes it clears a one-off.
Empty and clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine (have a shallow tray and towels ready; the water will come out). Rinse out any debris and refit it hand-tight.
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, trapped or crushed against the wall.
If the hose empties into a sink trap or standpipe, check that isn't blocked or full of grease.
Run a rinse and spin once you've cleared the filter to see whether the water goes away.

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

How much does it cost to repair Bosch E36-10?

£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 E36-10?

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

All Bosch 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.

Bosch E36-10 error — washing machine