Indesit F13 washer dryer: what it means & what to check

What F13 actually means

The machine can no longer read the temperature inside the drum during drying, so it refuses to run the dryer.

F13 on an Indesit washer dryer is a drying temperature sensing fault — it only appears on washer dryers, not on plain washing machines. The control board relies on a sensor to tell it how hot the air in the drum is getting; if that reading goes missing or reads nonsense, the board shuts the drying heater down rather than risk running it blind. In practice the owner sees washing complete normally but clothes come out of the drying phase still wet, or the cycle stops early with F13 showing.

What F13 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, F13 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 drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end
Takes hours to dry

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 temperature sensor (NTC) in the drying circuit
A loose, corroded or damaged plug on the sensor wiring
A fault in the drying heater circuit itself, which the board reads as a sensing problem
Less often, a fault on the main control board that reads the sensor

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 drying cycle again — an occasional one-off reading fault will clear.
Clean the filter and check the drain hose is not kinked or pushed too far down the standpipe; poor draining can leave the machine unable to reach the drying stage at all.
Try a smaller load. A drum packed tight will not dry properly even on a healthy machine, and it is worth ruling out before you book anyone.
Run a wash-only programme. If that completes normally, you have confirmed the problem is specific to drying, which is useful information for the engineer.

Common questions about Indesit F13

What does F13 mean on a Indesit washer dryer?

The machine can no longer read the temperature inside the drum during drying, so it refuses to run the dryer. F13 on an Indesit washer dryer is a drying temperature sensing fault — it only appears on washer dryers, not on plain washing machines. The control board relies on a sensor to tell it how hot the air in the drum is getting; if that reading goes missing or reads nonsense, the board shuts the drying heater down rather than risk running it blind. In practice the owner sees washing complete normally but clothes come out of the drying phase still wet, or the cycle stops early with F13 showing.

Can I fix Indesit F13 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on, and try a drying cycle again — an occasional one-off reading fault will clear.
Clean the filter and check the drain hose is not kinked or pushed too far down the standpipe; poor draining can leave the machine unable to reach the drying stage at all.
Try a smaller load. A drum packed tight will not dry properly even on a healthy machine, and it is worth ruling out before you book anyone.
Run a wash-only programme. If that completes normally, you have confirmed the problem is specific to drying, which is useful information for the engineer.

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

How much does it cost to repair Indesit F13?

£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 F13?

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 →

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 F13 error — washer dryer