Bosch F29 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 F29 actually means

The machine hasn't taken in the water it expected in the time allowed, so it has stopped rather than run a cycle dry.

On older Bosch washers (broadly pre-2010) F29 is the no-water-detected fault. The control board opens the fill valve at the start of the cycle, waits for the water level to rise, and when nothing arrives within the allotted time it aborts and shows the code. Later Bosch, Siemens and Neff models show the same physical fault as E17, E29 or E30-10.

What F29 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, 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
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

Tap to the machine turned off or only part open
Kinked, crushed or blocked fill hose
Blocked filter in the hose inlet where it screws onto the machine
Faulty water inlet valve not opening
Pressure system or control board not registering the water going in

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 water tap behind or under the machine is fully open — this is far and away the most common finding
Look along the fill hose for kinks or where it's been trapped behind the machine when it was pushed back
Run the kitchen tap to confirm you actually have mains pressure and there's no supply issue in the house
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, switch back on and restart a cycle to clear a one-off fault

Common questions about Bosch F29

What does F29 mean on a Bosch washing machine?

The machine hasn't taken in the water it expected in the time allowed, so it has stopped rather than run a cycle dry. On older Bosch washers (broadly pre-2010) F29 is the no-water-detected fault. The control board opens the fill valve at the start of the cycle, waits for the water level to rise, and when nothing arrives within the allotted time it aborts and shows the code. Later Bosch, Siemens and Neff models show the same physical fault as E17, E29 or E30-10.

Can I fix Bosch F29 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the water tap behind or under the machine is fully open — this is far and away the most common finding.
Look along the fill hose for kinks or where it's been trapped behind the machine when it was pushed back.
Run the kitchen tap to confirm you actually have mains pressure and there's no supply issue in the house.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, switch back on and restart a cycle to clear a one-off fault.

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 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 F29 error — washing machine