Hisense F03 tumble 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 F03 actually means

The machine can't get the water out of the drum, so it has stopped mid-cycle with the load still wet.

On these Hisense washer dryers F03 is the drainage fault. The control board expects the water level to drop once the pump runs; if it doesn't fall away in a reasonable time it halts the programme and shows F03 rather than carrying on and trying to spin or dry a drum full of water. You'll usually find the door locked and standing water in the drum, and the drying part of the cycle won't start at all until the water has gone.

What F03 looks like on a Hisense tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Hisense tumble dryer, F03 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 pump filter — coins, hair grips, fluff and threads are the usual find
Drain hose kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far into the standpipe
Blockage in the household waste pipe or sink trap the machine drains into
Drain hose frozen, on machines in a garage or outhouse
Failed drain pump, or a pressure sensor reading the level wrongly

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 — this occasionally clears a one-off reading.
Clean the drain pump filter behind the flap at the bottom front. Have a shallow tray and towels ready, as several litres can come out, and only do this with the machine switched off and cool.
Pull the machine forward and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall.
Check the sink or standpipe the hose empties into isn't slow to drain on its own.
If the machine sits somewhere cold, let it warm up in case the hose has frozen.
Once you've dealt with anything you find, press Start/Pause to let the cycle carry on.

Which Hisense models show F03

F03 means the same thing on all 10 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.

WDQY1014EVJM · WF1I1342BWM2 · WF1I8042BWP2BE/X · WF1I8042BWPNB/X · WF1I9042BWP2BE/X · WF5I8043BWF · WF7I1248BBR · WF7I1248BBR/BLX · WF7I1248BWR · WG2PS74A2W

Common questions about Hisense F03

What does F03 mean on a Hisense tumble dryer?

The machine can't get the water out of the drum, so it has stopped mid-cycle with the load still wet. On these Hisense washer dryers F03 is the drainage fault. The control board expects the water level to drop once the pump runs; if it doesn't fall away in a reasonable time it halts the programme and shows F03 rather than carrying on and trying to spin or dry a drum full of water. You'll usually find the door locked and standing water in the drum, and the drying part of the cycle won't start at all until the water has gone.

Can I fix Hisense F03 myself?

There are 6 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on — this occasionally clears a one-off reading.
Clean the drain pump filter behind the flap at the bottom front. Have a shallow tray and towels ready, as several litres can come out, and only do this with the machine switched off and cool.
Pull the machine forward and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall.
Check the sink or standpipe the hose empties into isn't slow to drain on its own.
If the machine sits somewhere cold, let it warm up in case the hose has frozen.
Once you've dealt with anything you find, press Start/Pause to let the cycle carry on.

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

How much does it cost to repair Hisense F03?

£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 F03?

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 tumble 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 Hisense tumble dryer codes

All Hisense fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

tumble dryer drum not turning

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.

Hisense F03 error — tumble dryer