Haden E04 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 E04 actually means

The machine thinks it has too much water inside, so it has stopped filling and locked out until the level reads normally again.

On the Haden HW9140W the water level sensor tells the control board how full the drum is. If it reports an overflow \u2014 or reports something the board can't make sense of \u2014 the cycle halts and E04 is displayed, usually with the machine sitting full or part-full of water. It's a protective stop, designed to prevent water coming out of the door or detergent drawer.

What E04 looks like on a Haden washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Haden washing machine, E04 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

Too much detergent, so foam builds up and reads as an overflow
The water level sensor or its pressure hose blocked, kinked or split
Drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe, siphoning water back in
Water inlet valve not shutting off fully, so the drum keeps filling
Control board misreading the sensor 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.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on, and see if it will drain
Cut right back on detergent for the next few washes \u2014 excess foam is a common trigger
Check the drain hose isn't kinked, and that its end sits no more than a few inches into the standpipe rather than pushed deep down
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front (with the machine switched off) and check the door seal for trapped grit
If the drum still holds water and won't empty, don't run another cycle

Which Haden models show E04

E04 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.

HC61SW

Common questions about Haden E04

What does E04 mean on a Haden washing machine?

The machine thinks it has too much water inside, so it has stopped filling and locked out until the level reads normally again. On the Haden HW9140W the water level sensor tells the control board how full the drum is. If it reports an overflow \u2014 or reports something the board can't make sense of \u2014 the cycle halts and E04 is displayed, usually with the machine sitting full or part-full of water. It's a protective stop, designed to prevent water coming out of the door or detergent drawer.

Can I fix Haden E04 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on, and see if it will drain.
Cut right back on detergent for the next few washes \u2014 excess foam is a common trigger.
Check the drain hose isn't kinked, and that its end sits no more than a few inches into the standpipe rather than pushed deep down.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front (with the machine switched off) and check the door seal for trapped grit.
If the drum still holds water and won't empty, don't run another cycle.

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

How much does it cost to repair Haden E04?

£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 E04?

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 Haden washing machine codes

All Haden 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.

Haden E04 error — washing machine