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 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
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.
Other Bosch washing machine codes
- Bosch E01 — The machine can't confirm the door is properly locked, so it…
- Bosch E03 — Your Bosch hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time …
- Bosch E13 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water away within the…
- Bosch E16 — The machine thinks the door isn't shut, so it won't start or…
- Bosch E17 — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it allo…
- Bosch E18 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out within the …
- Bosch E29 — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expe…
- Bosch E30 — The machine has tried to fill with water and not enough has …