Hoover E16 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 E16 actually means

The heating element that warms the water has failed electrically \u2014 it's shorted or leaking to earth \u2014 and the machine has shut the cycle down rather than power it.

Hoover's control board (the "Cuore" power card) monitors the heater circuit, and E16 is raised when it sees a short circuit or a breakdown of the element's electrical insulation. Because a heater leaking to earth is an electrical safety issue, the machine stops instead of carrying on with a cold wash. In practice we usually find it at the point in the cycle where heating starts, and it often trips the house RCD at the same time \u2014 so the first sign for many owners is the machine and the sockets going dead together.

What E16 looks like on a Hoover washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Hoover washing machine, E16 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
Leaking
Water on the floor
Puddle underneath
Shuts itself down and won't restart
No function at all

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

Failed water heating element with a shorted or earth-leaking coil
Element degraded by scale or long-term corrosion
Damp or damaged wiring at the heater connections
Water leaking onto the element or its terminals
Fault on the Cuore power card misreading the heater circuit

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 switch back on and start a cold programme with no heating \u2014 if that also fails, the fault is confirmed rather than a one-off.
If your consumer unit has tripped, note whether it trips again as soon as the machine reaches the heating stage; that information is worth passing on to the engineer.
Leave the machine unplugged if it repeatedly trips the electrics.

Common questions about Hoover E16

What does E16 mean on a Hoover washing machine?

The heating element that warms the water has failed electrically \u2014 it's shorted or leaking to earth \u2014 and the machine has shut the cycle down rather than power it. Hoover's control board (the "Cuore" power card) monitors the heater circuit, and E16 is raised when it sees a short circuit or a breakdown of the element's electrical insulation. Because a heater leaking to earth is an electrical safety issue, the machine stops instead of carrying on with a cold wash. In practice we usually find it at the point in the cycle where heating starts, and it often trips the house RCD at the same time \u2014 so the first sign for many owners is the machine and the sockets going dead together.

Can I fix Hoover E16 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and start a cold programme with no heating \u2014 if that also fails, the fault is confirmed rather than a one-off.
If your consumer unit has tripped, note whether it trips again as soon as the machine reaches the heating stage; that information is worth passing on to the engineer.
Leave the machine unplugged if it repeatedly trips the electrics.

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

How much does it cost to repair Hoover E16?

£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 E16?

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 Hoover washing machine 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 E16 error — washing machine