Indesit F08 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 F08 actually means

The machine has a problem with the water heating side of things he switon the control board that switches it on \u2014 so it won't heat and usually stops partway through the wash.

On Indesit washers, F08 is raised when the control board can't get the heating circuit to behave as expected \or, or the heating relay on the board has failed or stuck. The machine sees this as unsafe to carry on with, so it halts mid-cycle rather than continue with cold water. Typically the door stays locked with water in the drum and the wash never gets past the heating stage.

What F08 looks like on a Indesit washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Indesit washing machine, F08 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

A failed heating element in the drum
The heater relay on the main control board stuck or unable to switch
A faulty NTC temperature sensor giving the board wrong readings
Corroded or burnt connections at the heater terminals
Scale or a leaking element that has broken down electrically

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 back on and try a short cold wash \u2014 if it completes cold, that points firmly at the heating circuit
Note whether the drum ever gets warm during a wash; it helps the engineer
If water is left in the drum, run a drain or spin-only programme to clear it before opening the door

Common questions about Indesit F08

What does F08 mean on a Indesit washing machine?

The machine has a problem with the water heating side of things he switon the control board that switches it on \u2014 so it won't heat and usually stops partway through the wash. On Indesit washers, F08 is raised when the control board can't get the heating circuit to behave as expected \or, or the heating relay on the board has failed or stuck. The machine sees this as unsafe to carry on with, so it halts mid-cycle rather than continue with cold water. Typically the door stays locked with water in the drum and the wash never gets past the heating stage.

Can I fix Indesit F08 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and try a short cold wash \u2014 if it completes cold, that points firmly at the heating circuit.
Note whether the drum ever gets warm during a wash; it helps the engineer.
If water is left in the drum, run a drain or spin-only programme to clear it before opening the door.

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

How much does it cost to repair Indesit F08?

£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 F08?

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 Indesit washing machine codes

All Indesit 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.

Indesit F08 error — washing machine