White Knight E16 tumble 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 machine has detected that the drying air is getting too hot and has cut the cycle short to protect itself.

In White Knight's own service listing this code is logged as a high temperature error, so the control board has seen a temperature above what it will allow during the drying part of the cycle and stopped heating. It is a protective trip rather than a component simply failing — but the machine will keep tripping until whatever is causing the heat to build up is dealt with. Nearly always that is either restricted airflow through the machine or a temperature sensor giving the board a false reading.

What E16 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, E16 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end
Takes hours to dry
Not drying properly
Takes hours to dry a load
Getting hot but the clothes stay damp
Keeps saying empty the water container

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

Lint filter clogged, so hot air cannot move through the drum
Airflow blocked further in — fluff build-up, or a kinked or crushed vent hose where one is fitted
The temperature sensor reading wrongly and telling the board it is hotter than it is
Heater staying on when it should switch off
Machine boxed in with no room for warm air to escape, or standing in a very warm cupboard

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.

Let the machine cool right down before doing anything else — many will restart normally once cool, though the fault will come back if the cause is still there.
Take out the lint filter, clear it thoroughly and rinse it if it feels waxy from fabric conditioner, then refit it dry.
If your model has a condenser or second filter behind a flap at the front, remove and rinse it as the instructions describe.
Check any vent hose is not kinked, squashed behind the machine or blocked at the outside end.
Make sure there is a gap behind and around the appliance, and that the room is ventilated.
Try a smaller load — an overpacked drum restricts air and drives temperatures up.
Turn it off at the socket for a minute, then power back up and start a fresh cycle.

Which White Knight models show E16

E16 means the same thing on all 3 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-AT7WM148W · WK-ATBIWM814W

Common questions about White Knight E16

What does E16 mean on a White Knight tumble dryer?

The machine has detected that the drying air is getting too hot and has cut the cycle short to protect itself. In White Knight's own service listing this code is logged as a high temperature error, so the control board has seen a temperature above what it will allow during the drying part of the cycle and stopped heating. It is a protective trip rather than a component simply failing — but the machine will keep tripping until whatever is causing the heat to build up is dealt with. Nearly always that is either restricted airflow through the machine or a temperature sensor giving the board a false reading.

Can I fix White Knight E16 myself?

There are 7 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Let the machine cool right down before doing anything else — many will restart normally once cool, though the fault will come back if the cause is still there.
Take out the lint filter, clear it thoroughly and rinse it if it feels waxy from fabric conditioner, then refit it dry.
If your model has a condenser or second filter behind a flap at the front, remove and rinse it as the instructions describe.
Check any vent hose is not kinked, squashed behind the machine or blocked at the outside end.
Make sure there is a gap behind and around the appliance, and that the room is ventilated.
Try a smaller load — an overpacked drum restricts air and drives temperatures up.
Turn it off at the socket for a minute, then power back up and start a fresh cycle.

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

How much does it cost to repair White Knight 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 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 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 E16 error — tumble dryer