ElectriQ F03 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 F03 actually means

The machine can't get the water out fast enough, so it has stopped and put F03 on the display.

F03 is ElectriQ's drainage warning. The machine expects the drum to be empty within a set time after it starts pumping out; when the water level doesn't drop, it halts the cycle rather than carrying on into the spin. You'll usually find the drum still holding water and the door locked until the level falls.

What F03 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, F03 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water

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

Drain hose kinked, trapped behind the machine or pushed too far into the standpipe
Blocked pump filter — coins, hair grips, buttons or fluff
Blocked or slow household waste pipe or sink trap the hose feeds into
Debris jammed in the drain pump itself
Failed drain pump or level sensor

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.
Pull the machine forward gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, squashed against the wall or crushed by the machine's own weight.
Empty and clean the pump filter at the bottom front (put a shallow tray and towels down first — expect a lot of water), and check nothing is caught in it.
If the hose empties into a sink waste or standpipe, check that isn't blocked — run the kitchen tap and see if it drains away freely.
Make sure the hose end isn't sitting too low or pushed too far down the standpipe, which can siphon or restrict flow.

Which ElectriQ models show F03

F03 means the same thing on this model. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

EIQWMH12KG

Common questions about ElectriQ F03

What does F03 mean on a ElectriQ washing machine?

The machine can't get the water out fast enough, so it has stopped and put F03 on the display. F03 is ElectriQ's drainage warning. The machine expects the drum to be empty within a set time after it starts pumping out; when the water level doesn't drop, it halts the cycle rather than carrying on into the spin. You'll usually find the drum still holding water and the door locked until the level falls.

Can I fix ElectriQ F03 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.
Pull the machine forward gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, squashed against the wall or crushed by the machine's own weight.
Empty and clean the pump filter at the bottom front (put a shallow tray and towels down first — expect a lot of water), and check nothing is caught in it.
If the hose empties into a sink waste or standpipe, check that isn't blocked — run the kitchen tap and see if it drains away freely.
Make sure the hose end isn't sitting too low or pushed too far down the standpipe, which can siphon or restrict flow.

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

How much does it cost to repair ElectriQ F03?

£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 F03?

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 F03 error — washing machine