Electrolux E72 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 E72 actually means

The machine has lost a sensible reading from the temperature sensor that watches the air coming out of the drying circuit, so it has abandoned the drying side of the cycle.

Electrolux washer dryers use two NTC temperature sensors on the drying air path — one on the way in, one on the way out. E72 is the outlet one: the control board is either seeing no signal at all (open circuit) or a dead short, or the temperature it reports isn't moving as much as it should within the expected time. Once that happens the board skips the heating phases and keeps the door shut, so you typically see the machine sitting there with wet laundry locked in rather than a dry load.

What E72 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, E72 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

The outlet drying temperature sensor has failed open or short
A damaged or corroded connection to that sensor
Poor airflow through the drying circuit, so the temperature never rises as expected
Sensor not sitting properly in its housing, giving a false reading
Main control board fault on the sensing circuit (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.

Clear the fluff and lint from the filter and around the door seal, and make sure nothing is obstructing the drying air path — poor airflow can stop the outlet temperature behaving as the board expects.
Turn the programme selector to Off and back, or press Start/Pause at the end of the cycle, to clear the alarm. Note that switching off at the wall alone will not clear this one.
Check the drain hose is not kinked or pushed too far into the standpipe, as condenser drying relies on the drain circuit working properly.

Which Electrolux models show E72

E72 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.

AWF8024D3SC

Common questions about Electrolux E72

What does E72 mean on a Electrolux washer dryer?

The machine has lost a sensible reading from the temperature sensor that watches the air coming out of the drying circuit, so it has abandoned the drying side of the cycle. Electrolux washer dryers use two NTC temperature sensors on the drying air path — one on the way in, one on the way out. E72 is the outlet one: the control board is either seeing no signal at all (open circuit) or a dead short, or the temperature it reports isn't moving as much as it should within the expected time. Once that happens the board skips the heating phases and keeps the door shut, so you typically see the machine sitting there with wet laundry locked in rather than a dry load.

Can I fix Electrolux E72 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Clear the fluff and lint from the filter and around the door seal, and make sure nothing is obstructing the drying air path — poor airflow can stop the outlet temperature behaving as the board expects.
Turn the programme selector to Off and back, or press Start/Pause at the end of the cycle, to clear the alarm. Note that switching off at the wall alone will not clear this one.
Check the drain hose is not kinked or pushed too far into the standpipe, as condenser drying relies on the drain circuit working properly.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E72?

£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 E72?

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 E72 error — washer dryer