Hoover E14 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 E14 actually means

The dryer has lost a sensible reading from the temperature sensor at the back of the drum, so it has shut the drying cycle down.

On Hoover condenser dryers there's a temperature sensor (the rear NTC) that tells the control board how hot the air leaving the drum is. If its reading goes off the scale — open circuit, shorted, or outside the range the board expects for more than about 15 seconds — the machine ends the programme, usually after a cool-down, and shows E14 with the lights flashing together. Because the board can no longer trust the temperature reading, it will not allow the heater to run.

What E14 looks like on a Hoover tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Hoover tumble dryer, E14 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

Faulty rear NTC temperature sensor
A connector on the sensor pushed off or corroded
Damaged or chafed wiring in the harness back to the control board
Heavy fluff build-up around the sensor upsetting its reading
Less often, a fault on the control board itself

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 dryer off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up and start a short cycle — occasionally it clears a one-off reading.
Clean the door filter and the fluff filter thoroughly, and rinse them if they're clogged with fabric softener residue.
On condenser models, pull out the condenser unit from its housing at the front and rinse it clean, then refit it.
Empty the water container.
Make sure the dryer isn't in a cramped cupboard with no air around it.

Which Hoover models show E14

E14 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.

VHC680C · VTV590NC

Common questions about Hoover E14

What does E14 mean on a Hoover tumble dryer?

The dryer has lost a sensible reading from the temperature sensor at the back of the drum, so it has shut the drying cycle down. On Hoover condenser dryers there's a temperature sensor (the rear NTC) that tells the control board how hot the air leaving the drum is. If its reading goes off the scale — open circuit, shorted, or outside the range the board expects for more than about 15 seconds — the machine ends the programme, usually after a cool-down, and shows E14 with the lights flashing together. Because the board can no longer trust the temperature reading, it will not allow the heater to run.

Can I fix Hoover E14 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up and start a short cycle — occasionally it clears a one-off reading.
Clean the door filter and the fluff filter thoroughly, and rinse them if they're clogged with fabric softener residue.
On condenser models, pull out the condenser unit from its housing at the front and rinse it clean, then refit it.
Empty the water container.
Make sure the dryer isn't in a cramped cupboard with no air around it.

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

How much does it cost to repair Hoover E14?

£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 E14?

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 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 Hoover tumble dryer codes

All Hoover 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.

Hoover E14 error — tumble dryer