ElectriQ E20 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 E20 actually means

The machine has tried to drain and the water level hasn't moved, so it has shut the water valve and stopped with the drum still full.

On these ElectriQ machines E20 covers the drain side: the control board either sees no electrical response from the drain pump at all (an open circuit) or it runs the pump and the water level in the tub doesn't fall within about three minutes. Either way it aborts the cycle rather than carry on and spin a full drum, so you're usually left with standing water and clothes that won't spin.

What E20 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, E20 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

Coins, a sock or hair caught in the drain pump filter or pump impeller
Blocked, kinked or trapped drain hose behind the machine
Blocked standpipe or sink trap the hose drains into
Failed drain pump, or a broken connection to it
Main control board fault (uncommon)

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 power it back up and try a drain or spin programme on its own.
Empty the pump filter at the front bottom of the machine (put a towel and a shallow tray down first — expect water) and check for coins, buttons or fluff. Rinse it and screw it back in firmly.
Pull the machine out and check the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or pushed too far into the standpipe.
Check the sink or standpipe the hose empties into isn't blocked — run the tap and see if it drains freely.
If the drum is full, you can bail some water out through the filter opening in stages to make things easier before an engineer attends.

Which ElectriQ models show E20

E20 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 E20

What does E20 mean on a ElectriQ washing machine?

The machine has tried to drain and the water level hasn't moved, so it has shut the water valve and stopped with the drum still full. On these ElectriQ machines E20 covers the drain side: the control board either sees no electrical response from the drain pump at all (an open circuit) or it runs the pump and the water level in the tub doesn't fall within about three minutes. Either way it aborts the cycle rather than carry on and spin a full drum, so you're usually left with standing water and clothes that won't spin.

Can I fix ElectriQ E20 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up and try a drain or spin programme on its own.
Empty the pump filter at the front bottom of the machine (put a towel and a shallow tray down first — expect water) and check for coins, buttons or fluff. Rinse it and screw it back in firmly.
Pull the machine out and check the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or pushed too far into the standpipe.
Check the sink or standpipe the hose empties into isn't blocked — run the tap and see if it drains freely.
If the drum is full, you can bail some water out through the filter opening in stages to make things easier before an engineer attends.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair ElectriQ E20?

£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 E20?

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 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 E20 error — washing machine