What F11 actually means
The machine can't see the drain pump electrically, so it stops with the water still in the drum.
F11 is a drain pump circuit fault. Where F05 means the pump is there but the water isn't going anywhere in the time allowed, F11 means the control board gets no electrical response from the pump at all — an open circuit. The cycle halts, the drum stays full and the door usually stays locked until the water is out.
What usually causes it
- Failed drain pump motor (open winding)
- Broken or disconnected wiring to the pump, often after the pump has been overheating
- Pump connector corroded or loose, sometimes after a leak in the base
- Fault on the control board's pump circuit
- Pump seized by a coin, wire or hair grip so it has burnt out
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 power it back up and try a drain or spin — occasionally the code clears on a one-off glitch.
- Open the flap at the bottom front and clean the pump filter, with a bowl and towels ready as water will come out.
- Check the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed behind the machine, or pushed too far down the waste pipe.
- Make sure the standpipe or sink trap the hose empties into isn't blocked.
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. 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 Hotpoint washing machine codes
- Hotpoint F01 — The machine's main control board has flagged an electrical f…
- Hotpoint F02 — The machine has stopped because it isn't getting the drum to…
- Hotpoint F03 — The machine can't get a sensible temperature reading from th…
- Hotpoint F04 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time…
- Hotpoint F05 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time…
- Hotpoint F06 — The machine can't confirm the door is locked, so it refuses …
- Hotpoint F07 — The machine has spotted a fault in the heating side of its c…
- Hotpoint F08 — The machine has a problem with the water heating side "the h…