Electrolux E20 washing machine: what it means & what to try

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 can't get the water out, and Electrolux flags it as a blocked drain filter.

E20 comes up when the machine tries to pump the water away and the level doesn't drop as it should. Electrolux treat it as a user-fixable warning rather than a hard fault "Check drain filter" on models with a text display and it will pause the cycle mid-way, usually with water still in the drum, and beep in short bursts until the problem is dealt with.

What E20 looks like on a Electrolux washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Electrolux 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
E20 flashing on the display
Beeping and showing E20

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 lint, coins, hair grips or bits of tissue
Drain hose kinked, squashed behind the machine or pushed too far into the standpipe
Blocked sink trap or standpipe where the hose empties
Something jammed in the drain pump itself, so it hums but shifts no water
Failed drain pump or a pressure/level sensor that wrongly reads water still in the tub

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 socket for a minute, then switch back on \u2014 if the cause has cleared, the warning goes
Clean the drain filter at the front bottom of the machine (lay towels down first, the drum water comes out here) and check for coins, buttons or fluff
Look behind the machine and make sure the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or crushed against the wall
If it drains into a sink waste or standpipe, check that isn't blocked \u2014 a slow-draining sink is a strong clue
Run a short rinse and spin afterwards to see whether it now empties properly

Common questions about Electrolux E20

What does E20 mean on a Electrolux washing machine?

The machine can't get the water out, and Electrolux flags it as a blocked drain filter. E20 comes up when the machine tries to pump the water away and the level doesn't drop as it should. Electrolux treat it as a user-fixable warning rather than a hard fault "Check drain filter" on models with a text display and it will pause the cycle mid-way, usually with water still in the drum, and beep in short bursts until the problem is dealt with.

Can I fix Electrolux E20 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the socket for a minute, then switch back on \u2014 if the cause has cleared, the warning goes.
Clean the drain filter at the front bottom of the machine (lay towels down first, the drum water comes out here) and check for coins, buttons or fluff.
Look behind the machine and make sure the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or crushed against the wall.
If it drains into a sink waste or standpipe, check that isn't blocked \u2014 a slow-draining sink is a strong clue.
Run a short rinse and spin afterwards to see whether it now empties properly.

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 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 Electrolux washing machine codes

All Electrolux 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.

Electrolux E20 error — washing machine