Servis E04 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 E04 actually means

The machine has found more water in the drum than the programme should have put there, so it has switched to pumping it out to stop a flood.

E04 is the overflow warning. The pressure sensor that monitors water level has read higher than the point the programme expected, and the control board responds by running the drain pump continuously to hold the level down rather than carrying on with the wash. Servis show it as an end-user code, so it appears on the display rather than only in service test mode, and the usual cause is water continuing to enter when the machine has stopped asking for it — a water inlet valve that is not shutting off fully.

What E04 looks like on a Servis washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Servis washer dryer, E04 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 filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle

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

An inlet valve that no longer closes properly, so water keeps trickling in
A faulty or blocked pressure sensor hose giving a false high reading
Too much detergent creating heavy foam that the sensor reads as excess water
A drain that cannot clear water fast enough, so the level stays high
A control board fault misreading the water level

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 power it back up to see whether the code returns straight away or only once water starts entering.
Turn the water supply tap off at the wall. If the drum keeps filling with the tap closed, water is coming from somewhere else; if it fills only with the tap open and the machine is idle, the inlet valve is the likely culprit.
Check the drain hose is not kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far down the standpipe.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front so the machine can empty freely.
Cut your detergent dose right back on the next wash — heavy foam can trip the same protection.

Which Servis models show E04

E04 means the same thing on all 5 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.

LD752W · WD1496FGB · WD1496FGR · WD1496FGS · WD1496FGW

Common questions about Servis E04

What does E04 mean on a Servis washer dryer?

The machine has found more water in the drum than the programme should have put there, so it has switched to pumping it out to stop a flood. E04 is the overflow warning. The pressure sensor that monitors water level has read higher than the point the programme expected, and the control board responds by running the drain pump continuously to hold the level down rather than carrying on with the wash. Servis show it as an end-user code, so it appears on the display rather than only in service test mode, and the usual cause is water continuing to enter when the machine has stopped asking for it — a water inlet valve that is not shutting off fully.

Can I fix Servis E04 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up to see whether the code returns straight away or only once water starts entering.
Turn the water supply tap off at the wall. If the drum keeps filling with the tap closed, water is coming from somewhere else; if it fills only with the tap open and the machine is idle, the inlet valve is the likely culprit.
Check the drain hose is not kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far down the standpipe.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front so the machine can empty freely.
Cut your detergent dose right back on the next wash — heavy foam can trip the same protection.

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

How much does it cost to repair Servis E04?

£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 E04?

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 Servis washer dryer codes

All Servis fault codes and repairs →

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Servis E04 error — washer dryer