Electrolux E21 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 E21 actually means

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time allowed, so it has paused the cycle with the door locked and water still in the drum.

During the drain part of the wash, the control board watches the water level and expects the drum to be empty within about 10 minutes. If it isn't, the pump is rested for five minutes and the drain is tried again " after two failed attempts the machine settles on E21, pauses and keeps the door shut so the water can't come out over your floor. In practice this is nearly always a restriction rather than a dead pump.

What E21 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, E21 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

Blocked pump filter at the bottom front " coins, hair grips, buttons, coin-sized debris
Blockage in the sump hose between drum and pump (a sock or bra wire is the classic)
Drain hose kinked, crushed behind the machine, or blocked at the standpipe/sink spigot
Drain pump failing or its impeller jammed
Faulty pressure sensor telling the board water is still there, or a wiring/board fault

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 try a drain or spin programme again " sometimes a one-off obstruction clears itself.
Pull the machine out and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or pushed too far down the standpipe.
If your model has the filter flap at the bottom front, put towels down, drain it into a shallow tray and clean out the filter and its housing. Check the impeller behind it turns freely by hand.
Check the sink trap or standpipe your hose feeds into isn't blocked with grease.
Run a hot maintenance wash with no load afterwards to clear residue if the filter was heavily fouled.

Which Electrolux models show E21

E21 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.

ZWX9115XL

Common questions about Electrolux E21

What does E21 mean on a Electrolux washing machine?

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time allowed, so it has paused the cycle with the door locked and water still in the drum. During the drain part of the wash, the control board watches the water level and expects the drum to be empty within about 10 minutes. If it isn't, the pump is rested for five minutes and the drain is tried again " after two failed attempts the machine settles on E21, pauses and keeps the door shut so the water can't come out over your floor. In practice this is nearly always a restriction rather than a dead pump.

Can I fix Electrolux E21 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then try a drain or spin programme again " sometimes a one-off obstruction clears itself.
Pull the machine out and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or pushed too far down the standpipe.
If your model has the filter flap at the bottom front, put towels down, drain it into a shallow tray and clean out the filter and its housing. Check the impeller behind it turns freely by hand.
Check the sink trap or standpipe your hose feeds into isn't blocked with grease.
Run a hot maintenance wash with no load afterwards to clear residue if the filter was heavily fouled.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E21?

£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 E21?

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 E21 error — washing machine