Servis E16 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 E16 actually means

The drying side of the machine has got too hot, so the control has shut the heaters down and stopped the cycle.

On these Servis washer dryers the drying air is pulled out of the condenser area by a fan and blown across two 750W heating elements before it goes back into the drum. A temperature sensor watches that air, and if it climbs past the safe limit the board logs E16 as a dryer overheat and cuts the drying phase. It is almost always a sign that the hot air is not moving or not being cooled as it should, rather than a fault with the heaters themselves.

What E16 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, E16 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

Fluff and lint restricting airflow through the drying circuit
Cold water not reaching the condenser, so the air is never cooled — tap off or dryer valve at fault
Weak or seized dryer fan, so hot air sits on the elements
Faulty dryer temperature sensor reading wrongly or open circuit
Drum overloaded for the drying programme, choking airflow

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 socket for a minute, then back on, and see whether it will start a fresh drying cycle
Make sure both water taps are fully open — the condenser needs cold water to cool the drying air
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front and rinse the detergent drawer, and clear any visible fluff from the door seal and drum
Pull the machine out slightly so the vents at the back and underneath are not blocked against a wall or plinth
Try drying a smaller load — a full wash load is usually too much to dry in one go

Which Servis models show E16

E16 means the same thing on all 4 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.

WD1496FGB · WD1496FGR · WD1496FGS · WD1496FGW

Common questions about Servis E16

What does E16 mean on a Servis washer dryer?

The drying side of the machine has got too hot, so the control has shut the heaters down and stopped the cycle. On these Servis washer dryers the drying air is pulled out of the condenser area by a fan and blown across two 750W heating elements before it goes back into the drum. A temperature sensor watches that air, and if it climbs past the safe limit the board logs E16 as a dryer overheat and cuts the drying phase. It is almost always a sign that the hot air is not moving or not being cooled as it should, rather than a fault with the heaters themselves.

Can I fix Servis E16 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the socket for a minute, then back on, and see whether it will start a fresh drying cycle.
Make sure both water taps are fully open — the condenser needs cold water to cool the drying air.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front and rinse the detergent drawer, and clear any visible fluff from the door seal and drum.
Pull the machine out slightly so the vents at the back and underneath are not blocked against a wall or plinth.
Try drying a smaller load — a full wash load is usually too much to dry in one go.

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

How much does it cost to repair Servis E16?

£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 E16?

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 →

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.

Servis E16 error — washer dryer