Grundig E12 washing machine: 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 E12 actually means

The machine thinks there is too much water in the drum, so it has shut the cycle down and will normally pump out instead of washing.

Grundig machines monitor the water level with a pressure sensor. If that sensor reports the level has reached the anti-flood (aquastop) point, the control board stops the programme to avoid an overflow. The classic symptom is that the machine drains as soon as you switch it on and the programme won't start at all.

What E12 looks like on a Grundig washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Grundig washing machine, E12 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
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle

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

A genuine overfill / faulty water inlet valve letting water in continuously
Faulty or blocked pressure (water level) sensor giving a false high reading
Pressure hose to the sensor kinked, split or full of water
Loose or unseated wiring plug between the level sensor and the control board
Control board fault

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 machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and try a short programme.
Turn off the water supply tap and see whether the machine still fills or keeps draining \u2014 useful information for the engineer.
Check the drain hose is not kinked, and that its end is not pushed too far down a standpipe.
Clean the pump filter at the front of the machine so any water in the drum can drain properly.

Which Grundig models show E12

E12 means the same thing on all 4 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.

7129141100 · 7129141400 · 7134541300 · 7142641100

Common questions about Grundig E12

What does E12 mean on a Grundig washing machine?

The machine thinks there is too much water in the drum, so it has shut the cycle down and will normally pump out instead of washing. Grundig machines monitor the water level with a pressure sensor. If that sensor reports the level has reached the anti-flood (aquastop) point, the control board stops the programme to avoid an overflow. The classic symptom is that the machine drains as soon as you switch it on and the programme won't start at all.

Can I fix Grundig E12 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and try a short programme.
Turn off the water supply tap and see whether the machine still fills or keeps draining \u2014 useful information for the engineer.
Check the drain hose is not kinked, and that its end is not pushed too far down a standpipe.
Clean the pump filter at the front of the machine so any water in the drum can drain properly.

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

How much does it cost to repair Grundig E12?

£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 E12?

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 washing machine 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 Grundig washing machine codes

All Grundig 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.

Grundig E12 error — washing machine