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 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
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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.
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