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 actually means

Your Bosch hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time it allows, so it has stopped the cycle and put the code up.

The machine monitors whether the drum has emptied during the drain phase. If the water level hasn't dropped by the time the drain step should be finished, it flags E36 (shown as E36-10 on newer models, and the equivalent of E18 or E03 on older Bosch machines) and halts, usually leaving you with a drum full of water and clothes that won't spin.

What usually causes it

A blockage in the pump filter or drain hose \u2013 coins, hair grips, buttons
The drain hose kinked, or pushed too far into the standpipe
A worn-out drain pump that hums but doesn't shift water
A sock or similar item jammed in the sump hose under the drum
On machines that have sat unused for months, the anti-siphon ball in the sump hose drying out and sticking shut

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 on \u2013 occasionally that clears a one-off reading
Empty and clean the pump filter at the bottom front (have a shallow tray and towels ready \u2013 there will be standing water)
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or trapped
Make sure the hose end isn't shoved deep into the standpipe or sitting in water in the sink trap
Run a short drain or spin cycle after cleaning the filter to see whether it clears

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 E36 error — washing machine

What E36 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?