What E21 actually means
The dryer has lost control of the pump that moves condensed water into the tank, so it has stopped the cycle.
On a condenser or heat pump dryer the water drawn out of your washing is pumped up into the water container in the machine. The control board drives that pump through an electronic switch (a triac), and E21 means the board has found that switch is not behaving as it should. Rather than risk flooding the base of the machine, the dryer abandons the programme.
What usually causes it
- A failed or seized water pump
- A faulty control board he electronic switch that drives the pump has gone short
- Damaged or loose wiring between the board and the pump
- Water container not seated properly, or the float switch inside sticking
- Pump blocked with fluff and lint sludge
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 dryer off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and restart e if the code clears
- Pull the water container right out, empty it and push it firmly back into place
- If the machine is plumbed to a drain, check the outlet hose isn't kinked or trapped behind the machine
- Clean the door filter and, on a condenser model, the heat exchanger filter at the bottom uild-up here makes pump problems worse
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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 tumble dryer codes
- Electrolux C00 — This isn't a fault at all othing is stored in the dryer's e…
- Electrolux C06 — The dryer has been running an automatic (sensor) drying prog…
- Electrolux C07 — The dryer isn't getting hot — it checked for a rise in air t…
- Electrolux C08 — The dryer has stopped because its temperature sensor is givi…
- Electrolux C10 — C10 isn't a fault at all — it's one of the service test posi…
- Electrolux E20 — The dryer has stopped mid-cycle because the fan that cools t…
- Electrolux E22 — The dryer's control board can no longer tell whether the wat…
- Electrolux E23 — The dryer has stopped because it can't run its heat pump saf…