Bosch F29 washer dryer: 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 F29 actually means

The machine has started a cycle, called for water, and not seen enough coming in within the time it allows — so it stops rather than run the drum dry.

The control board monitors the water going into the machine at the start of the cycle. If the expected amount hasn't arrived in the time the programme allows, it halts and shows F29. On Bosch washer dryers from before roughly 2010 this same filling problem also appears as F17, E17 or E29 depending on the model's software; later machines show it as E30-10. The usual symptom is the same either way — the cycle stalls in the first few minutes, often with little or no water in the drum.

What F29 looks like on a Bosch washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Bosch washer dryer, F29 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening
Programme won't start

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

Water supply turned off, or the tap only part open
Kinked or trapped cold fill hose behind the machine
Blocked filter in the fill hose connection or a partly closed stopcock
Faulty water inlet valve not opening when told to
Flow meter or pressure sensing fault, so the machine cannot tell water is arriving

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.

Check the tap feeding the machine is fully open — turn it off and back on again fully
Look behind the machine and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, crushed or trapped against the wall
Run a cold tap elsewhere in the house to confirm you have normal mains pressure and the stopcock hasn't been left half shut
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power up and start a short cycle to see whether the code returns

Common questions about Bosch F29

What does F29 mean on a Bosch washer dryer?

The machine has started a cycle, called for water, and not seen enough coming in within the time it allows — so it stops rather than run the drum dry. The control board monitors the water going into the machine at the start of the cycle. If the expected amount hasn't arrived in the time the programme allows, it halts and shows F29. On Bosch washer dryers from before roughly 2010 this same filling problem also appears as F17, E17 or E29 depending on the model's software; later machines show it as E30-10. The usual symptom is the same either way — the cycle stalls in the first few minutes, often with little or no water in the drum.

Can I fix Bosch F29 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the tap feeding the machine is fully open — turn it off and back on again fully.
Look behind the machine and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, crushed or trapped against the wall.
Run a cold tap elsewhere in the house to confirm you have normal mains pressure and the stopcock hasn't been left half shut.
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power up and start a short cycle to see whether the code returns.

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

How much does it cost to repair Bosch F29?

£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 F29?

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 washer dryer 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 washer dryer codes

All Bosch fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

washer dryer not drying

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Bosch F29 error — washer dryer