Hotpoint F05 washer 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 F05 actually means

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

On Hotpoint washer dryers, F05 comes up when the drain pump has been switched on but the water level sensor still reads full at the end of the allotted drain time. The control board isn't reporting the pump as electrically dead — that's the separate F11 code — so with F05 the usual story is that water can't get away, or the pump is turning but not shifting anything. Because the machine won't move on past the drain step, the spin and any drying part of the programme won't run either, and the door stays locked while there's water inside.

What F05 looks like on a Hotpoint washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Hotpoint washer dryer, F05 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, buttons, coins and fluff from drying cycles
Kinked, blocked or badly fitted waste hose, or a blocked sink standpipe/trap where the hose joins
Something jammed against the pump impeller so it spins but doesn't pump
Blocked sump hose between the tub and the pump
Worn or failed drain pump
Water level (pressure) switch or its hose reading full when the machine is empty

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 couple of minutes, then power it back up and try a drain or spin programme — occasionally it clears a one-off.
Check the waste hose behind the machine isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or pushed too far down into the standpipe.
If the hose runs into a sink trap, check the trap and the spigot aren't blocked with grease or fluff.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine, following the instructions in your handbook. Have towels and a shallow tray ready — there will be water behind it, and the machine must be unplugged first.
Run the shortest programme you have with no washing in it and listen: if you can hear the pump running but nothing leaves the hose, the blockage is further in and needs an engineer.

Common questions about Hotpoint F05

What does F05 mean on a Hotpoint washer dryer?

The machine has tried to pump the water out, hasn't managed it in the time allowed, and has stopped with the drum still holding water. On Hotpoint washer dryers, F05 comes up when the drain pump has been switched on but the water level sensor still reads full at the end of the allotted drain time. The control board isn't reporting the pump as electrically dead — that's the separate F11 code — so with F05 the usual story is that water can't get away, or the pump is turning but not shifting anything. Because the machine won't move on past the drain step, the spin and any drying part of the programme won't run either, and the door stays locked while there's water inside.

Can I fix Hotpoint F05 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a couple of minutes, then power it back up and try a drain or spin programme — occasionally it clears a one-off.
Check the waste hose behind the machine isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or pushed too far down into the standpipe.
If the hose runs into a sink trap, check the trap and the spigot aren't blocked with grease or fluff.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine, following the instructions in your handbook. Have towels and a shallow tray ready — there will be water behind it, and the machine must be unplugged first.
Run the shortest programme you have with no washing in it and listen: if you can hear the pump running but nothing leaves the hose, the blockage is further in and needs an engineer.

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

How much does it cost to repair Hotpoint F05?

£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 F05?

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 washer 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 Hotpoint washer dryer codes

All Hotpoint fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

washer dryer not drying

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Hotpoint F05 error — washer dryer