What E72 actually means
One of the dryer's temperature sensors (the second NTC probe) is giving a reading the control board doesn't believe, so the machine won't run the cycle normally.
Electrolux dryers use NTC temperature sensors to watch the air temperature and decide when to heat, when to cool and when the load is dry. When the board sees a reading from the second sensor that is impossible \u2014 open circuit or short \u2014 it flags E72 rather than risk heating blind. Depending on when it happens, the dryer may drop into a cooling run and stop, or refuse to continue drying at all.
What usually causes it
- The NTC temperature sensor itself has failed
- A loose or damaged connection in the wiring to that sensor
- Heavy fluff and dust build-up around the sensor and airflow path
- A fault on the main 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 \u2014 an occasional one-off reading will clear
- Clean the door filter and, if your model has one, the condenser filter, and check the vent hose isn't kinked or crushed if it's a vented model
- Make sure the dryer isn't sitting in a hot, poorly ventilated cupboard, which can skew temperature readings
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 E21 — The dryer has lost control of the pump that moves condensed …
- Electrolux E22 — The dryer's control board can no longer tell whether the wat…