Candy E16 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 E16 actually means

The washing machine has detected an electrical fault in the water heating element and has shut the cycle down to protect itself.

Candy's control board (the "Cuore" power card) monitors the heater, and E16 is raised when the element is short circuited or its electrical insulation has broken down. Because a heater with failed insulation can leak current to earth, the machine stops rather than carrying on " often the first thing the owner notices is the household RCD or trip switch going at the point the wash should start warming up, or the cycle stalling part-way through with cold water in the drum.

What E16 looks like on a Candy washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Candy washing machine, E16 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
Leaking
Water on the floor
Puddle underneath
Shuts itself down and won't restart
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

The heating element itself has failed internally and is shorting
Breakdown of the element's insulation, letting current leak to earth
Water or damp reaching the element's electrical connections
Damaged or scorched wiring at the heater
Faulty control board misreading the heater circuit (less common)

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 and back on " if E16 returns straight away or on the next wash, it is a genuine heater fault, not a glitch.
If the machine has tripped your consumer unit, leave it unplugged and don't reset and rerun it repeatedly.

Common questions about Candy E16

What does E16 mean on a Candy washing machine?

The washing machine has detected an electrical fault in the water heating element and has shut the cycle down to protect itself. Candy's control board (the "Cuore" power card) monitors the heater, and E16 is raised when the element is short circuited or its electrical insulation has broken down. Because a heater with failed insulation can leak current to earth, the machine stops rather than carrying on " often the first thing the owner notices is the household RCD or trip switch going at the point the wash should start warming up, or the cycle stalling part-way through with cold water in the drum.

Can I fix Candy E16 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute and back on " if E16 returns straight away or on the next wash, it is a genuine heater fault, not a glitch.
If the machine has tripped your consumer unit, leave it unplugged and don't reset and rerun it repeatedly.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Candy E16?

£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 E16?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. 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 Candy washing machine codes

All Candy 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.

Candy E16 error — washing machine