Electrolux E20 washer dryer: 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 pump the water out, failed to empty within the time allowed, and stopped mid-cycle with the drum still full.

Electrolux treats E20 as a draining timeout — the control board expects the drum to be empty after a set period of pumping and it isn't. On these machines it's deliberately shown to the owner rather than hidden as an internal fault, because the usual cause is a blocked drain filter; some displays spell it out as "Check drain filter". The cycle is put into pause, the alarm LED shows and the buzzer gives three short beeps every 20 seconds or so until the condition is cleared, and the door will normally stay locked while there's water inside.

What E20 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, E20 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 filter (pump filter) blocked with fluff, coins, hair grips or buttons
Drain hose kinked, trapped behind the machine or pushed too far into the standpipe
Blockage in the sink trap or standpipe the hose empties into
Drain pump impeller jammed by a foreign object, or a failed pump
Pressure sensor or wiring fault making the board think water is still in the drum

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 select a drain or spin programme — if it clears, it was a temporary blockage.
Empty and clean the drain filter behind the flap at the bottom front. Have towels and a shallow tray ready, as a full drum will release a lot of water.
Check the drain hose along its whole length for kinks, crushing or being trapped against the wall.
If the hose goes into a sink trap or standpipe, check that isn't blocked or slow-draining — a slow kitchen sink will trip this code.
Run a spin-only programme after clearing the filter to see whether it empties normally.

Which Electrolux models show E20

E20 means the same thing on all 3 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.

AWF8024D3SC · EA2F6820CF · EDH803J5WCR

Common questions about Electrolux E20

What does E20 mean on a Electrolux washer dryer?

The machine has tried to pump the water out, failed to empty within the time allowed, and stopped mid-cycle with the drum still full. Electrolux treats E20 as a draining timeout — the control board expects the drum to be empty after a set period of pumping and it isn't. On these machines it's deliberately shown to the owner rather than hidden as an internal fault, because the usual cause is a blocked drain filter; some displays spell it out as "Check drain filter". The cycle is put into pause, the alarm LED shows and the buzzer gives three short beeps every 20 seconds or so until the condition is cleared, and the door will normally stay locked while there's water inside.

Can I fix Electrolux E20 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and select a drain or spin programme — if it clears, it was a temporary blockage.
Empty and clean the drain filter behind the flap at the bottom front. Have towels and a shallow tray ready, as a full drum will release a lot of water.
Check the drain hose along its whole length for kinks, crushing or being trapped against the wall.
If the hose goes into a sink trap or standpipe, check that isn't blocked or slow-draining — a slow kitchen sink will trip this code.
Run a spin-only programme after clearing the filter to see whether it empties normally.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux 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 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 →

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

Electrolux E20 error — washer dryer