Indesit H20 washer dryer: what it means & what to check

What H20 actually means

The machine isn't getting enough water in, so it has stopped and put up H20 rather than run the drum dry.

On Indesit washer dryers, the control board expects the water level to rise by a certain point after the inlet valves open. If the level sensor doesn't see the drum filling in that time, the cycle halts with H20 — the note against this code points straight at the tap, the fill hose and the inlet valves. You'll usually notice it early in the wash, with the door locked and little or no water in the drum.

What H20 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, H20 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
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill

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

Water supply tap turned off or only part open
Kinked, trapped or crushed fill hose behind the machine
Blocked filter screen where the fill hose meets the machine
Faulty water inlet valve not opening electrically
Pressure (level) sensing system misreading, so the machine thinks it hasn't filled

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.

Check the cold tap feeding the machine is fully open — if it's a lever type, make sure it hasn't been knocked shut
Pull the machine out gently and look along the fill hose for kinks, tight bends or anything resting on it
Run the tap into a bucket, if there's an isolating valve you can reach, to confirm you actually have decent pressure and the mains supply isn't off
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and restart the programme — the code can stay latched after a temporary supply problem
If you've recently had the machine moved or a plumber in, check the hose is still on the right tap and hasn't been left half-closed

Common questions about Indesit H20

What does H20 mean on a Indesit washer dryer?

The machine isn't getting enough water in, so it has stopped and put up H20 rather than run the drum dry. On Indesit washer dryers, the control board expects the water level to rise by a certain point after the inlet valves open. If the level sensor doesn't see the drum filling in that time, the cycle halts with H20 — the note against this code points straight at the tap, the fill hose and the inlet valves. You'll usually notice it early in the wash, with the door locked and little or no water in the drum.

Can I fix Indesit H20 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the cold tap feeding the machine is fully open — if it's a lever type, make sure it hasn't been knocked shut.
Pull the machine out gently and look along the fill hose for kinks, tight bends or anything resting on it.
Run the tap into a bucket, if there's an isolating valve you can reach, to confirm you actually have decent pressure and the mains supply isn't off.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and restart the programme — the code can stay latched after a temporary supply problem.
If you've recently had the machine moved or a plumber in, check the hose is still on the right tap and hasn't been left half-closed.

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

How much does it cost to repair Indesit H20?

£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 H20?

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 H20 error — washer dryer