Willow E15 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 E15 actually means

The machine has measured the water or wash temperature as higher than it should be and has halted the programme to protect itself.

E15 is a high temperature error. The control board is reading a temperature above the safe limit for the stage of the cycle it is in, so it stops heating and stops the programme rather than carrying on. In practice this points either at the temperature sensor giving a false high reading, or at the heater staying on when the board has told it to switch off.

What E15 looks like on a Willow washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Willow washing machine, E15 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle
Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
No function at all

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

Faulty temperature sensor in the tub reporting a false high reading
Heating element continuing to heat when it should have switched off
Control board fault misreading the sensor
Very hot water fed to the machine from a hot supply or a recently used hot tap
Wiring or connector problem between sensor and 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.

Turn the programme knob to off, wait a few seconds and switch the machine off at the wall for a minute before restarting — the fault clears if it was a one-off reading.
If the machine is plumbed to a hot water supply, run a cold cycle and see if the fault stays away.
Let the machine stand and cool for an hour or so before trying again.

Common questions about Willow E15

What does E15 mean on a Willow washing machine?

The machine has measured the water or wash temperature as higher than it should be and has halted the programme to protect itself. E15 is a high temperature error. The control board is reading a temperature above the safe limit for the stage of the cycle it is in, so it stops heating and stops the programme rather than carrying on. In practice this points either at the temperature sensor giving a false high reading, or at the heater staying on when the board has told it to switch off.

Can I fix Willow E15 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the programme knob to off, wait a few seconds and switch the machine off at the wall for a minute before restarting — the fault clears if it was a one-off reading.
If the machine is plumbed to a hot water supply, run a cold cycle and see if the fault stays away.
Let the machine stand and cool for an hour or so before trying again.

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

How much does it cost to repair Willow E15?

£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 E15?

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 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 Willow washing machine codes

All Willow 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.

Willow E15 error — washing machine