ElectriQ E12 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 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 E12 looks like on a ElectriQ washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a ElectriQ washing machine, E12 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle

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

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.

Which ElectriQ models show E12

E12 means the same thing on all 4 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

EIQWM12KG · EIQWMTL6 · EIQWMTL75C · EIQWMTL8A

Common questions about ElectriQ E12

What does E12 mean on a ElectriQ washing machine?

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.

Can I fix ElectriQ E12 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

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.

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

How much does it cost to repair ElectriQ E12?

£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 E12?

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 ElectriQ washing machine codes

All ElectriQ 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.

ElectriQ E12 error — washing machine