Haden E21 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 E21 actually means

The machine has tried to empty the drum, hasn't got the water out in the time allowed, and has stopped with the water still in it.

On these Haden machines E21 is the drain timeout. The control board expects the water level to drop within a set period once the pump starts; when it doesn't, the cycle halts rather than carrying on and trying to spin a drum full of water. You'll usually find the door locked, standing water in the drum and no spin.

What E21 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, E21 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

Blocked or kinked drain hose
Fluff, coins or hair clogging the pump filter
Drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe or the sink trap blocked
Worn or jammed drain pump
Water level sensor giving a false reading

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 restart to see if it clears
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, squashed against a wall or trapped by the machine's own weight
Check the standpipe or sink trap the hose empties into isn't blocked
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine if your model has one - put a shallow tray and towels down first, as the drum water will come out
Run a drain or spin-only programme with an empty drum to see whether it empties

Which Haden models show E21

E21 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.

HW1216 · HW1512

Common questions about Haden E21

What does E21 mean on a Haden washing machine?

The machine has tried to empty the drum, hasn't got the water out in the time allowed, and has stopped with the water still in it. On these Haden machines E21 is the drain timeout. The control board expects the water level to drop within a set period once the pump starts; when it doesn't, the cycle halts rather than carrying on and trying to spin a drum full of water. You'll usually find the door locked, standing water in the drum and no spin.

Can I fix Haden E21 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then restart to see if it clears.
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, squashed against a wall or trapped by the machine's own weight.
Check the standpipe or sink trap the hose empties into isn't blocked.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine if your model has one - put a shallow tray and towels down first, as the drum water will come out.
Run a drain or spin-only programme with an empty drum to see whether it empties.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Haden E21?

£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 E21?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. 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 E21 error — washing machine