Servis E04 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 E04 actually means

There's more water in the machine than there should be, so it has started draining to stop a flood.

The water level sensor has detected too much water in the drum. Rather than carry on washing, the machine switches to a protective routine that pumps water out and shows E04. Usually it means water is getting in when it shouldn't, or the level sensor is reading wrongly.

What E04 looks like on a Servis washing machine

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

A water inlet valve stuck open, letting water in continuously
Faulty water level sensor or a blocked/split pressure hose to it
Excess foam from too much detergent confusing the level reading
A partly blocked drain or filter so water isn't leaving quickly enough
Control board fault misreading the 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 switch it back on to see if the code clears
Turn off the water tap at the wall and see whether the drum keeps filling — if it does, leave the tap off and call an engineer
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine, with the machine switched off
Check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or pushed too far down the standpipe
Run a rinse and spin on an empty drum with no detergent to clear excess foam, and use less detergent next time

Which Servis models show E04

E04 means the same thing on all 6 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.

W814FGHDB · W814FGHDS · W814FGHDW · W814FLHDB · W814FLHDS · W814FLHDW

Common questions about Servis E04

What does E04 mean on a Servis washing machine?

There's more water in the machine than there should be, so it has started draining to stop a flood. The water level sensor has detected too much water in the drum. Rather than carry on washing, the machine switches to a protective routine that pumps water out and shows E04. Usually it means water is getting in when it shouldn't, or the level sensor is reading wrongly.

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 switch it back on to see if the code clears.
Turn off the water tap at the wall and see whether the drum keeps filling — if it does, leave the tap off and call an engineer.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine, with the machine switched off.
Check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or pushed too far down the standpipe.
Run a rinse and spin on an empty drum with no detergent to clear excess foam, and use less detergent next time.

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 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 Servis washing machine codes

All Servis 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.

Servis E04 error — washing machine