Electrolux E71 tumble dryer: what it means & what to check

What E71 actually means

The dryer can no longer trust the temperature reading from one of its sensors, so it drops into a cooling cycle instead of heating.

E71 means the control board has lost a sensible signal from the NTC1 temperature sensor — the thermistor it uses to judge how hot the air in the drum is. Because it cannot safely control the heater without that reading, it forces a cooling cycle and stops the drying programme. Typically the load comes out damp and the dryer feels cool rather than hot.

What E71 looks like on a Electrolux tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Electrolux tumble dryer, E71 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end
Takes hours to dry
Not drying properly
Takes hours to dry a load
Getting hot but the clothes stay damp
Keeps saying empty the water container

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 NTC temperature sensor itself has failed
A damaged or loose connection in the sensor wiring
Damp or lint contamination around the sensor connections
A fault on the main electronic control board (less common)

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 start a cycle — if the code was a one-off glitch it may clear
Clean the lint filter and, on condenser models, rinse and refit the filter in the base so airflow past the sensor is not restricted
Check the vent hose, if fitted, is not kinked or blocked

Common questions about Electrolux E71

What does E71 mean on a Electrolux tumble dryer?

The dryer can no longer trust the temperature reading from one of its sensors, so it drops into a cooling cycle instead of heating. E71 means the control board has lost a sensible signal from the NTC1 temperature sensor — the thermistor it uses to judge how hot the air in the drum is. Because it cannot safely control the heater without that reading, it forces a cooling cycle and stops the drying programme. Typically the load comes out damp and the dryer feels cool rather than hot.

Can I fix Electrolux E71 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and start a cycle — if the code was a one-off glitch it may clear.
Clean the lint filter and, on condenser models, rinse and refit the filter in the base so airflow past the sensor is not restricted.
Check the vent hose, if fitted, is not kinked or blocked.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E71?

£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 E71?

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 tumble 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 tumble dryer 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 E71 error — tumble dryer