Leisure E01 fridge freezer: what it means & what to check

What E01 actually means

The fridge freezer has lost the reading from the sensor that watches the freezer's defrost heater, so it can no longer tell when the ice has cleared.

The control board checks this sensor and flags a fault when the circuit reads open or short. You'll normally see the error flashing alternately with the freezer temperature on the display, with the warning "!" symbol lit. Rather than shut down, the board falls back to a fixed defrost \u2014 it runs the heater for a set 25 minutes each time defrost is due \u2014 so the freezer keeps cooling, but without proper feedback the defrost is no longer being controlled by actual conditions.

What E01 looks like on a Leisure fridge freezer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Leisure fridge freezer, E01 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Fridge freezer not draining
Water left in the machine at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
Not cooling

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

Defrost sensor failed open or short circuit
Damaged or chafed wiring to the sensor inside the freezer section
Loose or corroded sensor connection at the control board
Water ingress around the sensor from a blocked drain
Faulty electronic control board misreading 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 appliance off at the wall for a minute, then back on \u2014 the error clears itself if the sensor reads correctly again on restart
Note whether the freezer is still holding temperature and whether ice is building up on the back wall, as that tells the engineer how the defrost is coping
Check nothing is packed hard against the rear wall of the freezer or blocking the vents

Which Leisure models show E01

E01 means the same thing on all 2 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

7222548085 · 7231248019

Common questions about Leisure E01

What does E01 mean on a Leisure fridge freezer?

The fridge freezer has lost the reading from the sensor that watches the freezer's defrost heater, so it can no longer tell when the ice has cleared. The control board checks this sensor and flags a fault when the circuit reads open or short. You'll normally see the error flashing alternately with the freezer temperature on the display, with the warning "!" symbol lit. Rather than shut down, the board falls back to a fixed defrost \u2014 it runs the heater for a set 25 minutes each time defrost is due \u2014 so the freezer keeps cooling, but without proper feedback the defrost is no longer being controlled by actual conditions.

Can I fix Leisure E01 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the appliance off at the wall for a minute, then back on \u2014 the error clears itself if the sensor reads correctly again on restart.
Note whether the freezer is still holding temperature and whether ice is building up on the back wall, as that tells the engineer how the defrost is coping.
Check nothing is packed hard against the rear wall of the freezer or blocking the vents.

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

How much does it cost to repair Leisure E01?

£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 E01?

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 fridge freezer 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 Leisure fridge freezer codes

All Leisure 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.

Leisure E01 error — fridge freezer