Siemens F18 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 F18 actually means

The machine has tried to pump the water out, not managed it in the time allowed, and stopped with the drum still full.

F18 is a drain fault. The control board expects the water level to drop once the drain pump runs, and when it doesn't the cycle halts rather than carrying on and soaking your clothes. You'll usually find the door locked and standing water in the drum. It's the same fault on Bosch and Neff machines, as they share the Bosch group control platform.

What F18 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, F18 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
Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water

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 tons, coins, hair clips or coins caught in it
A blockage in the sump hose, drain hose or the sink waste it connects to
Something wrapped round the pump impeller, or a damaged impeller that spins without moving water
The drain pump itself has failed
No power reaching the pump (wiring or control board)

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.

Clean out the pump filter behind the kick panel flap at the bottom front ere's usually a small drain tube to empty the water into a bowl first
Check the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far down the standpipe
If the hose goes into a sink waste spigot, check that spigot hasn't blocked up with grease and that the blanking piece inside it was removed when the machine was installed
Use the emergency door release to get the wet washing out if you need to
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then try a spin or drain programme on its own to see whether it clears

Common questions about Siemens F18

What does F18 mean on a Siemens washing machine?

The machine has tried to pump the water out, not managed it in the time allowed, and stopped with the drum still full. F18 is a drain fault. The control board expects the water level to drop once the drain pump runs, and when it doesn't the cycle halts rather than carrying on and soaking your clothes. You'll usually find the door locked and standing water in the drum. It's the same fault on Bosch and Neff machines, as they share the Bosch group control platform.

Can I fix Siemens F18 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Clean out the pump filter behind the kick panel flap at the bottom front ere's usually a small drain tube to empty the water into a bowl first.
Check the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far down the standpipe.
If the hose goes into a sink waste spigot, check that spigot hasn't blocked up with grease and that the blanking piece inside it was removed when the machine was installed.
Use the emergency door release to get the wet washing out if you need to.
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then try a spin or drain programme on its own to see whether it clears.

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

How much does it cost to repair Siemens F18?

£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 F18?

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 F18 error — washing machine