Electrolux E12 washer dryer: what it means & what to check

What E12 actually means

The machine tried to take in water at the start of the drying part of the cycle, didn't get enough within the time allowed, and paused with the door locked.

Electrolux washer dryers of this type run a short water fill as drying begins — the water is used in the condensing system, and the fill doubles as a check that the water circuit is working. The control board gives it around ten minutes to reach the level it expects; if the level sensor never confirms that water has arrived, E12 is raised, the cycle is held in pause and the door stays shut. Worth knowing: this alarm is not cleared by switching off at the wall, so it will still be logged when you come back to it — it clears by pressing Start/Pause or cancelling the cycle.

What E12 looks like on a Electrolux washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Electrolux washer dryer, E12 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
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill

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

Water tap turned off, part-closed, or mains pressure too low
Kinked or trapped inlet hose behind the machine
Blocked mesh filter where the hose meets the tap
Faulty or sticking water inlet valve for the drying fill
Pressure sensor or its air hose not reading the level correctly

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.

Check the cold tap feeding the machine is fully open and that water is running normally elsewhere in the house
Look behind the machine and make sure the inlet hose isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or trapped by the appliance
Press Start/Pause to clear the alarm, then run a drying cycle and see whether it fails at the same point
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute before restarting — bear in mind this alone will not clear the stored alarm

Which Electrolux models show E12

E12 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.

EA2F6820CF

Common questions about Electrolux E12

What does E12 mean on a Electrolux washer dryer?

The machine tried to take in water at the start of the drying part of the cycle, didn't get enough within the time allowed, and paused with the door locked. Electrolux washer dryers of this type run a short water fill as drying begins — the water is used in the condensing system, and the fill doubles as a check that the water circuit is working. The control board gives it around ten minutes to reach the level it expects; if the level sensor never confirms that water has arrived, E12 is raised, the cycle is held in pause and the door stays shut. Worth knowing: this alarm is not cleared by switching off at the wall, so it will still be logged when you come back to it — it clears by pressing Start/Pause or cancelling the cycle.

Can I fix Electrolux E12 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the cold tap feeding the machine is fully open and that water is running normally elsewhere in the house.
Look behind the machine and make sure the inlet hose isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or trapped by the appliance.
Press Start/Pause to clear the alarm, then run a drying cycle and see whether it fails at the same point.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute before restarting — bear in mind this alone will not clear the stored alarm.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux 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 washer dryer 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 Electrolux washer dryer codes

All Electrolux fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

washer dryer not drying

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Electrolux E12 error — washer dryer