Indesit E11 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 E11 actually means

The machine has decided the drain pump isn't doing its job, so it stops rather than carry on with a drum full of water.

On the Indesit/Merloni control boards this is fault 11, which the service notes give as a drain pump problem — the board asks the pump to empty and doesn't get the result it expects, so the cycle halts, usually part-way through with water still in the drum. Be aware that the same numbering on some boards is also documented as a hot fill failure, so if your machine is plumbed to a hot tap and stopped while filling rather than draining, that is the other possibility worth checking. Each board behind the control panel has its own diagnostic routine, so the code is a strong pointer rather than a guarantee.

What E11 looks like on a Indesit washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Indesit washer dryer, E11 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle

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 or pump — coins, hair grips, buttons, fluff
Drain hose kinked, trapped behind the machine or blocked at the standpipe
Worn or seized drain pump that no longer shifts water
Wiring or connection fault between the board and the pump
On hot-and-cold plumbed machines, a closed tap or frozen supply pipe

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.

If your model has a filter behind the flap at the bottom front, put a shallow tray and towels down and clean it out — expect standing water to come out
Pull the machine forward gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, squashed against the wall or pushed too far down the standpipe
Make sure the water taps are fully open, and if the pipes have been exposed to frost, let them thaw before trying again
Switch off at the socket for a minute, then power up and run a drain or spin to see if the code returns

Common questions about Indesit E11

What does E11 mean on a Indesit washer dryer?

The machine has decided the drain pump isn't doing its job, so it stops rather than carry on with a drum full of water. On the Indesit/Merloni control boards this is fault 11, which the service notes give as a drain pump problem — the board asks the pump to empty and doesn't get the result it expects, so the cycle halts, usually part-way through with water still in the drum. Be aware that the same numbering on some boards is also documented as a hot fill failure, so if your machine is plumbed to a hot tap and stopped while filling rather than draining, that is the other possibility worth checking. Each board behind the control panel has its own diagnostic routine, so the code is a strong pointer rather than a guarantee.

Can I fix Indesit E11 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

If your model has a filter behind the flap at the bottom front, put a shallow tray and towels down and clean it out — expect standing water to come out.
Pull the machine forward gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, squashed against the wall or pushed too far down the standpipe.
Make sure the water taps are fully open, and if the pipes have been exposed to frost, let them thaw before trying again.
Switch off at the socket for a minute, then power up and run a drain or spin to see if the code returns.

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

How much does it cost to repair Indesit E11?

£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 E11?

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 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 Indesit washer dryer codes

All Indesit fault codes and repairs →

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

Indesit E11 error — washer dryer