Indesit F04 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 F04 actually means

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

On Indesit washing machines and washer dryers, F04 (and F05, which is closely related) is a drain timeout — the control board expects the water level to drop within a set period once the drain pump runs, and it hasn't. It usually shows up at the end of the wash or as the machine tries to move into spin, and you'll typically find the drum still full and the clothes soaked. Because a washer dryer will not proceed to the drying part of the cycle with water sitting in the tub, the load stops dead at that point.

What F04 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, F04 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
Overfilling, or won't stop filling
Stops with water still inside
Fills and drains over and over
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

Blocked pump filter — coins, hair grips, buttons or a build-up of fluff and sludge
Kinked, trapped or wrongly routed drain hose behind the machine
Blockage in the waste pipe or the sink spigot the machine drains into
Debris jammed in the drain pump itself, so it hums or runs but shifts nothing
Split or blocked sump hose between drum and pump
Faulty drain pump or, less often, its circuit on the control board

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 and leave it for a couple of minutes, then switch back on and try a drain or spin programme — the code sometimes clears if it was a one-off
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine (have towels and a shallow tray ready, there will be water behind it)
Pull the machine forward gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or pushed too far down the standpipe
If it drains into a sink waste, check that trap and spigot for a blockage — a slow-draining sink is a common giveaway
Run a hot wash with no load once it drains again, to shift sludge if the filter was heavily clogged

Common questions about Indesit F04

What does F04 mean on a Indesit washer dryer?

The machine has tried to pump the water out and hasn't managed it in the time allowed, so it has halted with water still in the drum. On Indesit washing machines and washer dryers, F04 (and F05, which is closely related) is a drain timeout — the control board expects the water level to drop within a set period once the drain pump runs, and it hasn't. It usually shows up at the end of the wash or as the machine tries to move into spin, and you'll typically find the drum still full and the clothes soaked. Because a washer dryer will not proceed to the drying part of the cycle with water sitting in the tub, the load stops dead at that point.

Can I fix Indesit F04 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall and leave it for a couple of minutes, then switch back on and try a drain or spin programme — the code sometimes clears if it was a one-off.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine (have towels and a shallow tray ready, there will be water behind it).
Pull the machine forward gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or pushed too far down the standpipe.
If it drains into a sink waste, check that trap and spigot for a blockage — a slow-draining sink is a common giveaway.
Run a hot wash with no load once it drains again, to shift sludge if the filter was heavily clogged.

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

How much does it cost to repair Indesit F04?

£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 F04?

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 Indesit washer dryer codes

All Indesit 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.

Indesit F04 error — washer dryer