Siemens E36 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 E36 actually means

The machine tried to pump the water out, ran out of time and gave up — so it has stopped with a drum still holding water.

Siemens washing machines monitor how long the drain pump takes to clear the water. If the level hasn't dropped far enough within the time the control board allows, the cycle is halted and E36 is displayed — on older Siemens and Bosch models the same fault appears as E18 or E03. It's a timing complaint about drainage rather than a report of a specific broken part, which is why the cause has to be tracked down by elimination.

What E36 looks like on a Siemens washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Siemens washing machine, E36 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 blocked pump filter — coins, hair grips, buttons or a build-up of fluff and slime
A kinked, trapped or blocked drain hose
Blockage in the sink trap or standpipe the hose empties into
Something jammed in the pump impeller, often a bra wire or a small sock
A worn or failed drain pump

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.

Put a shallow tray and towels down, open the small flap at the bottom front and empty the pump filter — expect a fair amount of water, so take it slowly
Clear out anything you find in the filter housing and rinse the filter under the tap before screwing it back in fully
Check the drain hose along its whole length for kinks or crush points, especially where it goes behind the machine
If the hose goes into a sink trap or standpipe, check that isn't blocked or full of standing water
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then restart on a drain or spin programme to see whether it clears the water

Common questions about Siemens E36

What does E36 mean on a Siemens washing machine?

The machine tried to pump the water out, ran out of time and gave up — so it has stopped with a drum still holding water. Siemens washing machines monitor how long the drain pump takes to clear the water. If the level hasn't dropped far enough within the time the control board allows, the cycle is halted and E36 is displayed — on older Siemens and Bosch models the same fault appears as E18 or E03. It's a timing complaint about drainage rather than a report of a specific broken part, which is why the cause has to be tracked down by elimination.

Can I fix Siemens E36 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Put a shallow tray and towels down, open the small flap at the bottom front and empty the pump filter — expect a fair amount of water, so take it slowly.
Clear out anything you find in the filter housing and rinse the filter under the tap before screwing it back in fully.
Check the drain hose along its whole length for kinks or crush points, especially where it goes behind the machine.
If the hose goes into a sink trap or standpipe, check that isn't blocked or full of standing water.
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then restart on a drain or spin programme to see whether it clears the water.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Siemens E36?

£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 E36?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. 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 Siemens washing machine codes

All Siemens 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.

Siemens E36 error — washing machine