What E12 actually means
The machine has decided there is too much water in the drum, so it has pumped it all out and stopped.
The pressure sensor that watches the water level has read above the overflow point for a continuous 16 seconds. The control board drains the drum as a precaution and then shows the fault, rather than carrying on filling. It can happen during a wash, a rinse, or even while the machine is paused.
What usually causes it
- A water inlet valve that has stuck open and keeps letting water in, even with the machine switched off
- A faulty or drifting water level (pressure) sensor giving a false high reading
- A split, blocked or loose air pipe running from the tub to the sensor
- Damaged wiring between the sensor and the control board
- A fault on the main control board (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, then switch back on and restart a cycle — an occasional one-off reading does clear.
- With the machine switched off at the wall, watch the drum for a while. If the water level creeps up on its own, turn the water tap off and leave it off until it's repaired — that points at a stuck inlet valve.
- Check the tap and inlet hose are in good order and the hose isn't leaking at the joint.
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. 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 ElectriQ washing machine codes
- ElectriQ E00 — E00 isn't a fault — it's the machine telling you there are n…
- ElectriQ E02 — The machine isn't getting water in, so it has stopped and sh…
- ElectriQ E10 — The machine has opened its water valves but not enough water…
- ElectriQ E20 — The machine has tried to drain and the water level hasn't mo…
- ElectriQ E21 — The machine has tried to empty the drum and the water level …
- ElectriQ E30 — The machine cannot lock its door, so it refuses to start fil…
- ElectriQ E31 — The machine has tried to release the door lock and failed, s…
- ElectriQ E33 — The machine has lost the signal from the sensor that tells i…