Willow E10 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 E10 actually means

The machine can no longer trust the sensor that tells it how much water is in the drum, so it stops rather than carry on filling blind.

E10 is the electronic pressure sensor (EPS) fault. That sensor reports the water level to the main control board as a frequency signal, and the board expects it to sit within a narrow band when the pump runs — if the reading is out of range, or no signal arrives at all, the control board flags E10 and abandons the cycle. Because the control has no reliable way of knowing whether the drum is empty or full, it will not let the programme continue.

What E10 looks like on a Willow tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Willow tumble dryer, E10 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

Blocked, split or kinked pressure hose between the tub and the sensor
Loose or corroded plug on the pressure sensor
Faulty electronic pressure sensor itself
Sludge or detergent residue in the pressure chamber giving a false reading
Fault on the main control board that reads the sensor signal

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 wall for a minute, then power it back up and try a short programme — occasional one-off readings do clear.
Clean the pump filter and make sure it is screwed back in fully; a heavily blocked filter and standing water can leave odd readings behind.
Check the drain hose is not kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far down the standpipe.
Run the machine with no load and see whether the fault appears at the same point every time — that is useful information for whoever attends.

Which Willow models show E10

E10 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.

W6120W · W7120W · WWM712BI · WWM814BI

Common questions about Willow E10

What does E10 mean on a Willow tumble dryer?

The machine can no longer trust the sensor that tells it how much water is in the drum, so it stops rather than carry on filling blind. E10 is the electronic pressure sensor (EPS) fault. That sensor reports the water level to the main control board as a frequency signal, and the board expects it to sit within a narrow band when the pump runs — if the reading is out of range, or no signal arrives at all, the control board flags E10 and abandons the cycle. Because the control has no reliable way of knowing whether the drum is empty or full, it will not let the programme continue.

Can I fix Willow E10 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up and try a short programme — occasional one-off readings do clear.
Clean the pump filter and make sure it is screwed back in fully; a heavily blocked filter and standing water can leave odd readings behind.
Check the drain hose is not kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far down the standpipe.
Run the machine with no load and see whether the fault appears at the same point every time — that is useful information for whoever attends.

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

How much does it cost to repair Willow E10?

£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 E10?

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 Willow tumble dryer codes

All Willow fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

tumble dryer drum not turning

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.

Willow E10 error — tumble dryer