Electrolux E38 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 E38 actually means

The machine isn't seeing the water level change while the drum turns, so it has flagged the little chamber that feeds the water-level sensor as blocked.

During the wash phases the control board expects the water level reading to move about as the drum rotates. On this Electrolux washer dryer, if the reading stays completely flat for around 30 seconds it sets E38 and skips the heating part of the cycle, so you may notice washing coming out cold as well as the code appearing. It won't clear by switching off at the wall or pressing Start/Pause — the cycle itself has to be reset.

What E38 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, E38 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
Overfilling, or won't stop filling
Stops with water still inside
Fills and drains over and over
Not drying

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

The air trap chamber behind the drum blocked with detergent sludge, fluff or grease
The thin pressure sensor hose blocked or kinked
A broken or slipped drum drive belt, so the drum isn't actually turning
A fault in the motor speed sensor wiring, so the board never sees the drum move

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.

Reset the current programme rather than trying to clear it at the wall — turning the machine off won't clear this one
Look through the glass while a cycle starts: if the drum isn't turning at all, that points to the belt or motor side rather than a blockage
Clean the pump filter at the front and check the drain hose isn't kinked or pushed too far down the standpipe
Run a hot maintenance wash with no load and no detergent if the drum still turns, as heavy detergent residue is part of what silts the air trap up

Which Electrolux models show E38

E38 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 E38

What does E38 mean on a Electrolux washer dryer?

The machine isn't seeing the water level change while the drum turns, so it has flagged the little chamber that feeds the water-level sensor as blocked. During the wash phases the control board expects the water level reading to move about as the drum rotates. On this Electrolux washer dryer, if the reading stays completely flat for around 30 seconds it sets E38 and skips the heating part of the cycle, so you may notice washing coming out cold as well as the code appearing. It won't clear by switching off at the wall or pressing Start/Pause — the cycle itself has to be reset.

Can I fix Electrolux E38 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Reset the current programme rather than trying to clear it at the wall — turning the machine off won't clear this one.
Look through the glass while a cycle starts: if the drum isn't turning at all, that points to the belt or motor side rather than a blockage.
Clean the pump filter at the front and check the drain hose isn't kinked or pushed too far down the standpipe.
Run a hot maintenance wash with no load and no detergent if the drum still turns, as heavy detergent residue is part of what silts the air trap up.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E38?

£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 E38?

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 E38 error — washer dryer