Flavel E18 fridge freezer: what it means & what to check

What E18 actually means

The fan that circulates cold air through the Biofresh (crisper/chilled food) compartment isn't reporting back to the control board that it's turning properly, so the machine has flagged it.

These fridge freezers use fans with a feedback wire, so the control board knows the actual running speed rather than only sending power. If the Biofresh compartment fan stops, slows or stops reporting, the board logs E18. In practice you'll usually notice the Biofresh drawer running warmer than it should while the rest of the appliance seems normal, because without airflow that compartment loses its share of the cold air.

What E18 looks like on a Flavel fridge freezer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Flavel fridge freezer, E18 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Fridge freezer 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
Fridge freezer not draining
Water left in the machine 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

Ice or frost building up around the fan blade so it can't spin freely
Food, packaging or an overfilled drawer blocking the air vents
The fan motor itself worn out or seized
A loose or damaged plug on the fan's feedback wiring
A fault on the control board that reads the fan's signal

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.

Take the food out of the Biofresh drawer and make sure nothing is pressed against the air vents at the back or side of the compartment
Look for a build-up of frost or ice around the vents — if there is a lot, empty the appliance and let it defrost fully with the doors open before restarting
Check the doors are closing and sealing properly, as warm air getting in causes frost that stalls fans
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power back up and see whether the code returns
Avoid putting warm food straight in and keep door openings short while the fault is present

Which Flavel models show E18

E18 means the same thing on all 2 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

7248541919 · 7248741919

Common questions about Flavel E18

What does E18 mean on a Flavel fridge freezer?

The fan that circulates cold air through the Biofresh (crisper/chilled food) compartment isn't reporting back to the control board that it's turning properly, so the machine has flagged it. These fridge freezers use fans with a feedback wire, so the control board knows the actual running speed rather than only sending power. If the Biofresh compartment fan stops, slows or stops reporting, the board logs E18. In practice you'll usually notice the Biofresh drawer running warmer than it should while the rest of the appliance seems normal, because without airflow that compartment loses its share of the cold air.

Can I fix Flavel E18 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Take the food out of the Biofresh drawer and make sure nothing is pressed against the air vents at the back or side of the compartment.
Look for a build-up of frost or ice around the vents — if there is a lot, empty the appliance and let it defrost fully with the doors open before restarting.
Check the doors are closing and sealing properly, as warm air getting in causes frost that stalls fans.
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power back up and see whether the code returns.
Avoid putting warm food straight in and keep door openings short while the fault is present.

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

How much does it cost to repair Flavel E18?

£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 E18?

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 fridge freezer 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 Flavel fridge freezer codes

All Flavel 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.

Flavel E18 error — fridge freezer