What E03 actually means
The dryer thinks its water container is full, so it has stopped drying until the water is emptied.
A condenser dryer collects the moisture it pulls out of your washing in a tank rather than venting it outside. A pressure switch (float) watches the water level, and if it reads "full" for around ten seconds the machine halts the drying cycle and shows E03 — often with a light blinking alongside it. Once the tank is genuinely empty and the switch resets, it should carry on normally.
What usually causes it
- Water tank simply full and needing emptying
- Tank not pushed fully back into place after being emptied
- The float or pressure switch sticking and reading "full" when the tank is empty
- Blocked or dirty air trap upsetting the pressure switch reading
- Faulty wiring to the pressure switch, or a failed control board
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.
- Pull out the water container, empty it, and push it firmly back until it seats properly
- If your dryer is plumbed to drain away, check the drain hose isn't kinked or trapped behind the machine
- Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power back on to clear the alarm
- Clean the fluff filters while you're there — a clogged dryer struggles and throws other codes
When to call someone
This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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 Hoover tumble dryer codes
- Hoover E06 — The dryer's main circuit board has failed its own internal m…
- Hoover E07 — The dryer isn't getting enough air through it, and it's blam…
- Hoover E10 — The dryer has stopped because it isn't sensing a normal load…
- Hoover E11 — The dryer has detected that it's getting too hot at the back…
- Hoover E14 — The dryer has lost a sensible reading from the temperature s…
- Hoover E15 — The dryer has stopped because the heating circuit isn't beha…
- Hoover E21 — The dryer has spotted a problem with the heating side of thi…