White Knight E05 tumble dryer: what it means & what to check

What E05 actually means

The dryer has lost a sensible reading from the temperature sensor on the heater, so it refuses to heat.

Your dryer uses a small temperature sensor (an NTC thermistor) on the heater to keep track of how hot the air is getting. If the control board sees a reading that is impossible \u a resistance suggesting the sensor is disconnected or shorted \u it flags E05 and skips the heating part of the cycle rather than run the heater blind. The drum will usually still turn and the fan will still run, so the machine looks like it is working, but the load comes out cold and damp.

What E05 looks like on a White Knight tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a White Knight tumble dryer, E05 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 drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end

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

The heater temperature sensor's plug has worked loose or fallen off
The sensor itself has failed short or open circuit
Damaged or chafed wiring between the sensor and the control board
A faulty control board misreading a healthy sensor (less common)

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 dryer off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and start a short programme \u this clears a one-off reading
Clean the lint filter and make sure the door is shutting properly, so you can be sure poor drying really is the fault and not a blocked airflow

Which White Knight models show E05

E05 means the same thing on all 2 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.

WK-AT75WDW · WK-AT8CW

Common questions about White Knight E05

What does E05 mean on a White Knight tumble dryer?

The dryer has lost a sensible reading from the temperature sensor on the heater, so it refuses to heat. Your dryer uses a small temperature sensor (an NTC thermistor) on the heater to keep track of how hot the air is getting. If the control board sees a reading that is impossible \u a resistance suggesting the sensor is disconnected or shorted \u it flags E05 and skips the heating part of the cycle rather than run the heater blind. The drum will usually still turn and the fan will still run, so the machine looks like it is working, but the load comes out cold and damp.

Can I fix White Knight E05 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and start a short programme \u this clears a one-off reading.
Clean the lint filter and make sure the door is shutting properly, so you can be sure poor drying really is the fault and not a blocked airflow.

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

How much does it cost to repair White Knight E05?

£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 E05?

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 tumble 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 White Knight tumble dryer codes

All White Knight 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.

White Knight E05 error — tumble dryer